Worried (past mental health issues and informed consent clinic)

[lostforalltime]

Hey guys,
I'm currently waiting for a call back from a local GLBT health clinic. I am a bit worried about the fact that they look at relevant  mental health history when assessing people for HRT (it is an informed consent clinic.) I have no issue with them knowing that I have had mental health issues and was hospitalized several times for them in high school (I graduated in 2007) but I am worried that they may use this as a reason to not allow me to start on T. I have been in a stable mental state (besides social anxiety and gender issues, which are likely related) for the last several years and my current therapist and psychiatrist know that I am trans and are supportive of the fact that I intend on transitioning. Sorry for the rambling I guess my issue is what qualifies as "relevant?" If my issues are well controlled now (and have been for years) are they still going to hold the fact that they weren't then against me?

[Kreuzfidel]

I think that if your issues are under control and your mental health has been stable for a while (this could be supported by your psychiatrist, etc.) then I don't see why they would hold your past against you.  The real red flags that most professionals look at are psychotic disorders such as Schizophrenia (or illnesses within the Schizophrenia spectrum) which may sometimes result in a loss of touch with reality or delusional beliefs.  Other illnesses that are sometimes flagged are Dissociative Identity Disorder.  That being said, even people with histories of these illnesses can start T if their mental health is under control.  I wouldn't worry - especially if your psychiatrist is supportive.

[lostforalltime]

The issue there is that I am diagnosed as Schizoaffective which is on the spectrum. I never had delusions even at my worst though (just creepy visual hallucinations) and my psychiatrist does not believe my gender issues are related...I guess if they are concerned I could have them contact him too. I'm probably worried for nothing, I've just been putting off contacting the clinic for several weeks and now that it is done I am picking myself apart.

[aleon515]

I don't know how that has to do with informed consent. Unless you have lost the legal ability to make an informed consent. (Probably couldn't post here coherently if that were the case.) I may be totally off base though.

--Jay

[Kreuzfidel]

The issue there is that I am diagnosed as Schizoaffective which is on the spectrum. I never had delusions even at my worst though (just creepy visual hallucinations) and my psychiatrist does not believe my gender issues are related...I guess if they are concerned I could have them contact him too. I'm probably worried for nothing, I've just been putting off contacting the clinic for several weeks and now that it is done I am picking myself apart.

Your illness is obviously under control and you have a psychiatrist backing you on this, so they can't just disregard his professional opinion.