What If a Professional Said You Weren't Trans?

[iiMTF]

I was just sitting and thinking.. What if some highly trained, professional, experienced, bla, bla, bla etc etc doctor told you that you are not trans and should not seek further medication. (Tho maybe get a therapist for depression reasons)

What would you do if that happened?

~A~

[alabamagirl]

Move on to the next doctor.

Actually, why would I even be asking a doctor? Shouldn't I be starting with a gender therapist? Isn't that how this usually works?

[Jaz650]

You can always get a second opinion.

[iiMTF]

Yes, I meant after you already had a gender therapist. The person who tells you is some very huge professional, like big name in the medical world. Not just any doctor.

[Kaylee Angelia]

This has actually happened. Hopefully it's happening less and less. No one can tell you whether you're trans or not.

It reminds me of the Oracle's quote in "The Matrix."

"No one can tell you you're in love (Trans) you just know it...through and through. Balls...to bones."

[Jessica Merriman]

Get a new Therapist. Seriously! If you go in for gender related issue's strong enough to make you go in, um, chances are you have a gender issue. Gender Dysphoria is notorious for depression, anxiety and other assorted mood and emotional disorders. That is why I sought out a therapist with gender issue experience because I had been diagnosed with depression, PTSD (career oriented), anxiety and sleep problems by a regular therapist and all the drugs in the world did not help. Being on HRT has resolved all of my issue's and I have not had, but one or two isolated PTSD flashbacks. I look at it this way, if you are not really trans if you take "E" you will notice it immediately. 

[Miss_Bungle1991]

I would be, like,  and I would walk out.

[Jennifer.L]

I would explain to then that I knew were a bag of d**ks where and, that when they where done s**king them all they could have an opinion.  just cause they are a shrink doesn't mean they aren't prejudiced.

[iiMTF]

I'd imagine in a few decades, or centuries, science will have advanced enough to look inside your brain and figure out if you have gender dysphoria or not. (Of course, it may require some sort of brain surgery)

If that were to happen, would it be possible to tell somebody if they had the disorder or not? Or if their depression, feelings, etc may be caused by something else? These are just what I've been thinking as I lay in bed. (Which is when I think the most and the deepest)

[alabamagirl]

It's my understanding that a good, responsible therapist is never going to tell you whether or not you're trans. They will talk to you about it and you will eventually come to the conclusion yourself. If you're already certain of your identity, then they are there to confirm that and recommend you to an endocrinologist to begin hormone therapy. I don't believe an endocrinologist is supposed to tell you you're not trans. It's not like there's some simple blood test or something they can run to determine your transness. If there was, life would be way simpler. It's something only you can know. If any doctor claims they know more about your gender identity than you do, drop them ASAP, as they are not conducting themselves in a professional manner.

[iiMTF]

I like Pikachu's answer. :p

[alabamagirl]

I like Pikachu's answer. :p

Aww, thanks.

[iiMTF]

Let me ask possibly one of the easiest and hardest questions at the same time:

Would you, honestly, ever quit? What is something that might make you quit? My answer to this is simply: Death. I'd prefer to stay away from death, so if I knew, I was sure that I would die if I continued, that is the ONLY thing that could make me stop. I tend to believe a crappy life is better than no life at all.

How about all of you?

[Misato]

Yes, I meant after you already had a gender therapist. The person who tells you is some very huge professional, like big name in the medical world. Not just any doctor.

Giving respect or deference to someone simply because they have a big name or are perceived as smart, it occurs to me that at that point you're pretty much surrendering to faith that the person in question is in fact respectable and/or smart. This, speaks to why we need to think and trust ourselves in such matters because the person in question could have faded long ago and is trading on the name they once built or be having a bad/off day today or they were always incompetent but made so much noise they rose through the ranks getting respect they never deserved in the first place.

[Jessica Merriman]

Honestly I would rather die than live how I did before. I mean it.

[iiMTF]

Misato - I did not mean just because of they're title, I meant like if they had some sort of "evidence"

[iiMTF]

Honestly I would rather die than live how I did before. I mean it.

I'm on the fence about that. All my life I've been scared of death, and what comes after. Possible reincarnation or afterlife? Or just disappearing from existence altogether? And not having the ability to spectate over those who still lived and would later live. And then the end of the world, millions of years from now. The possibility of living on another planet, in a new galaxy, or simply all intelligent life wiped out completely? All hard to bare to me. This is only the beginning of the thoughts I've had of death. And I don't exactly want to find out.

[alabamagirl]

It's hard to say... What part of transition would I have to cease? What part would cause me to die? If I was unable to take hormones because of some medical condition, I would still transition without them. I obviously would not be quite as feminine, but I'd do what I could. There are lots of aspects of transition that don't require medical intervention. Particularly, with enough practice and dedication, you can make some pretty miraculous changes to your voice. I've heard many amazing vocal transformations without resorting to surgical methods, although it is quite a lot of work sometimes to achieve it. Voice and mannerisms go a long way towards being read as your target gender. Then there are the changes to appearance you can make without medical aid, as well, such as growing your hair out/purchasing a good wig, learning to apply makeup and what works for you, clothes, etc.

[Miss_Bungle1991]

Honestly I would rather die than live how I did before. I mean it.

That's where I was at in 06, 07. I was pretty desperate about getting the ball rolling. (finally!) If that had not happened when it did, I probably wouldn't be here right now.

It's my understanding that a good, responsible therapist is never going to tell you whether or not you're trans. They will talk to you about it and you will eventually come to the conclusion yourself. If you're already certain of your identity, then they are there to confirm that and recommend you to an endocrinologist to begin hormone therapy. I don't believe an endocrinologist is supposed to tell you you're not trans. It's not like there's some simple blood test or something they can run to determine your transness. If there was, life would be way simpler. It's something only you can know. If any doctor claims they know more about your gender identity than you do, drop them ASAP, as they are not conducting themselves in a professional manner.

True. My therapist just wanted to know the specifics about my life, family relationships and how all of that related to my gender issues. My (first) endo just wanted to have the appropriate bloodwork done and a letter from my therapist. Both of those things were a piece of cake.

[iiMTF]

It's hard to say... What part of transition would I have to cease? What part would cause me to die? If I was unable to take hormones because of some medical condition, I would still transition without them. I obviously would not be quite as feminine, but I'd do what I could. There are lots of aspects of transition that don't require medical intervention. Particularly, with enough practice and dedication, you can make some pretty miraculous changes to your voice. I've heard many amazing vocal transformations without resorting to surgical methods, although it is quite a lot of work sometimes to achieve it. Voice and mannerisms go a long way towards being read as your target gender. Then there are the changes to appearance you can make without medical aid, as well, such as growing your hair out/purchasing a good wig, learning to apply makeup and what works for you, clothes, etc.

Is it weird that I've never had an interest in makeup? I just don't find it very appealing. Tho clothes, hair, voice are all a definite yes. Love it.