Would you say I'm atypical Gender Dysphoric?

[BreezyB]

Ok, I'Ve just been to another Psychiatrist appointment and the diagnosis?

Still Gender Dysphoria, but not just any Gender Dysphoria, I'm apparently atypical Gender Dysphoria.

Huh? Are you kidding me, I surely can't be the only transgender girl who has hidden this secret really really well for my entire life.

I'm told because I haven't spoken openly about it when growing up, or played with dolls, played dress ups or done a number of the other things you may commonly associate with a Gender Dysphoric individual, I'm in the atypical category. I just find that ridiculous.

I just find that really surprising and wondered how many others fit this bill?

So from a young age (17), Ive dressed in women's clothing, I've had mainly all female friends, have suffered depression, suicide attempts, drug abuse issues etc. but I still sit in the atypical group, I'm just struggling to understand there are not others who have hidden this secret so perfectly well that practically no one else would have known had you not 'come out'.

Do I sound atypical Gender Dysphoric based on what I've written above or definetly typical Gender Dysphoric?

[immortal gypsy]

Waves from across the nullarbor

Knew since I was a teenager but never went to see my G.P
Don't frequent any trans* clubs or the gay and lesbian areas
Didn't play with dolls
Dressed up once
Didn't talk about it
Wasn't suicidal, depressed or have any drinking or drug issues growing up
I didn't tell my parents (hey they let me get away with a lot but this is way outside of there box)
I didn't talk about wanting to be a girl at all. (Half the time I keep my cards so close to my chest, I didn't know if I was holding cards)

And around and around we went. None of us are cookie cutter ginger bread people,  we are all individuals. (cue the Monty Python voice in the background "No I'm not"). About the only thing I did that was close to giving anyone a hint is not complaining when I spent all those years sleeping in my sister's room while she had mine.  Seriously are you sure ours didn't read from the same textbook

[kaye]

Most transgenders are like this. The trouble is the media likes to promote the ' always played with dolls and dressed in girls clothes' thing and that becomes the typical trans story.

The reality is that most of us don't get the opportunity to express who were are until much later for all manner of reasons.

[Alice Rogers]

I refused to be baited into saying I played with dolls and pee'd sitting down and stayed honest and open about my life and my therapist made no attempt to single me out as more different then I already was.

Everyone is different and frankly I would find the idea of being labelled 'typical' anything insulting, congrats on confusing your therapist, hopefully he/she will learn something from it!

Alice
xx

[BreezyB]

Waves from across the nullarbor

Knew since I was a teenager but never went to see my G.P
Don't frequent any trans* clubs or the gay and lesbian areas
Didn't play with dolls
Dressed up once
Didn't talk about it
Wasn't suicidal, depressed or have any drinking or drug issues growing up
I didn't tell my parents (hey they let me get away with a lot but this is way outside of there box)
I didn't talk about wanting to be a girl at all. (Half the time I keep my cards so close to my chest, I didn't know if I was holding cards)

And around and around we went. None of us are cookie cutter ginger bread people,  we are all individuals. (cue the Monty Python voice in the background "No I'm not"). About the only thing I did that was close to giving anyone a hint is not complaining when I spent all those years sleeping in my sister's room while she had mine.  Seriously are you sure ours didn't read from the same textbook

Howdy neighbour    so it sounds like you to are "atypical Gender Dysphoric". I think they did read fom the same text book, only problem is I've read the WPATH The Standards of Care (which I know that my psychiatrist has on his bookshelf) and I don't find a doll or a dress mentioned in there once!

Most transgenders are like this. The trouble is the media likes to promote the ' always played with dolls and dressed in girls clothes' thing and that becomes the typical trans story.

The reality is that most of us don't get the opportunity to express who were are until much later for all manner of reasons.

I would agree Kaye, I haven't met anyone who meets the criteria of typical gender Dysphoric as described by my psychiatrist.

I should just tell him, yeah yeah, blah blah blah, just give me the letter, I'm clearly upset about my gender 

Ok that may be a bit extreme. But we need some realistic views given to some of these health professionals. Don't get me wrong, he's great and all, but I'm only seeing him to get a letter with a formal diagnosis of gender Dysphoria. My GP is already prescribing hormones but still in case I need it in the future, I thought I best entertain his ideas. He even said to me today, "your looking very feminine today" ... "Umm, remember, I'm transgender and a woman so why wouldn't I be" lol

[BreezyB]

I refused to be baited into saying I played with dolls and pee'd sitting down and stayed honest and open about my life and my therapist made no attempt to single me out as more different then I already was.

Everyone is different and frankly I would find the idea of being labelled 'typical' anything insulting, congrats on confusing your therapist, hopefully he/she will learn something from it!

Alice
xx

Thanks Alice, I was pretty wrapped for stumping him. I thought he was was going to call in the other Psychiatrists to study me, like I was the first trans woman who hadn't played with a doll lol

[Alice Rogers]

Thanks Alice, I was pretty wrapped for stumping him. I thought he was was going to call in the other Psychiatrists to study me, like I was the first trans woman who hadn't played with a doll lol

It is a shame the trans community isn't large enough for there to be many of us in the therapy/phsychiatry job ourselves, I suspect having a therapist who understands what you are going through would help!

I liked transformers and WWF, that doesn't make me male, it makes me me!

Alice
xx

edit: Still love WWE, it's a soap opera with muscly men wearing practically nothing in it! XD

[kelly_aus]

I don't think there is actually is a typical case of GD.. My almost complete lack of body dysphoria made me therapist scratch his head for a bit..

4 years after I came out, it's all done and dusted - transition was right for me..

[BreezyB]

It is a shame the trans community isn't large enough for there to be many of us in the therapy/phsychiatry job ourselves, I suspect having a therapist who understands what you are going through would help!

I liked transformers and WWF, that doesn't make me male, it makes me me!

Alice
xx

edit: Still love WWE, it's a soap opera with muscly men wearing practically nothing in it! XD

Well I didn't like WWF, but you know it's fake right Alice?  I mean a pile driver would kill a man sorry, I shouldn't have gone their. Your right, muscle men in tights, it's like soft porn 

But seriously my Psychiatrist works in this field and is highly recommended in my state, that's probably why I was surprised with his finding. I think it would be great to see a psychiatrist who is themselves trans, I'm sure we wouldn't hear the word 'atypical' or 'typical' from them.

I don't think there is actually is a typical case of GD.. My almost complete lack of body dysphoria made me therapist scratch his head for a bit..

4 years after I came out, it's all done and dusted - transition was right for me..

Good to hear Kelly, I bet they go to the ANZPATH conference and just scratch their head going "I haven't had a single typical GD Client yet!" Lol

[Alice Rogers]

Of course its fake! That doesn't stop it from being entertaining! In fact for me it makes it that much funnier!

We are all different, trans or not.

I would be insulted if someone called me normal! XD

Alice
xx

[kelly_aus]

Good to hear Kelly, I bet they go to the ANZPATH conference and just scratch their head going "I haven't had a single typical GD Client yet!" Lol

He's the President of ANZPATH.. 

And he's not my therapist any more.. He set me free a couple of weeks ago. He sees no need for me to have ongoing therapy. He even accused me of being a strong, happy and confident woman..

[BreezyB]

We are all different, trans or not.

I would be insulted if someone called me normal! XD

Thanks girls, you know I feel so much better, in fact I'm feeling like 'the strangest, most different and oddest' transwoman that my therapist has come across. Good on me, yay 

He's the President of ANZPATH.. 

Oh dear Kelly, we're all doomed. Even the president can't figure us out how will the therapists lol

[kelly_aus]

Thanks girls, you know I feel so much better, in fact I'm feeling like 'the strangest, most different and oddest' transwoman that my therapist has come across. Good on me, yay 

Oh dear Kelly, we're all doomed. Even the president can't figure us out how will the therapists lol

Nah, he was all good.. He got a handle on it pretty quick. In fact, he was ready to recommend hormones for me long before I asked for them.

[BreezyB]

Cool, that's good Kelly. I think they just want to make sure we know what we're getting into. Next appointment for me is 6 weeks and he's said he'll write a letter to my GP endorsing hormones. So that's all good. He did say he would have endorsed much earlier but previous depression and substance abuse were both complicating factors.

[kelly_aus]

Previous meth and coke addict.. But clean for over 10 years, so it wasn't an issue..

[BreezyB]

Previous meth and coke addict.. But clean for over 10 years, so it wasn't an issue..

That's awsome Kelly, you should be so proud. I know it's not easy but once we  get clean life's just so much better. Mine was 8 years ago so I didn't think it would have been an issue but he thought it was. Plus there were earlier times when I was younger too. But haven't touched it in 8 years and wouldn't ever again 

[kaye]

Why do you need to see a psychiatrist to get a letter?

My gender dysphoria was once completely dismissed as a psychosis by a psychiatrist once. Tried to get me onto anti-psychotic meds which I never took.

[kelly_aus]

Why do you need to see a psychiatrist to get a letter?

My gender dysphoria was once completely dismissed as a psychosis by a psychiatrist once. Tried to get me onto anti-psychotic meds which I never took.

Report them for malpractice..

I was working under some dodgy legislation and the previous version of the SoC's - 3 months therapy required..

[BreezyB]

Why do you need to see a psychiatrist to get a letter?

My gender dysphoria was once completely dismissed as a psychosis by a psychiatrist once. Tried to get me onto anti-psychotic meds which I never took.

I need either a Psychiatrist or Psychologist to endorse the use of hormones. Endo won't prescribe unless he has endorsement that I'm not insane 

Report them for malpractice..

I was working under some dodgy legislation and the previous version of the SoC's - 3 months therapy required..

That was my understanding Kelly, are you saying version 7 doesn't require 3 months therapy?

[BreezyB]

Version 7 of the SOC does not require 3 months therapy. I'll need to update my Psychiatrist.

The criteria for hormone therapy are as follows:
1. Persistent, well-documented gender dysphoria;
2. Capacity to make a fully informed decision and to consent for treatment;
3. Age of majority in a given country (if younger, follow the SOC outlined in section VI);
4. If significant medical or mental health concerns are present, they must be reasonably well- controlled.