Is there a link between being transgender and depression?

[miyann]

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[Michelle_P]

There absolutely is a link.  Being a transgender person breaks the social convention or taboo in Western culture that there are two sexes and gender is the same as sex.  Questioning one's gender identity, that disquiet that makes us transgender persons, breaks taboo.

We experience at some level a fear of being 'discovered', a fear that someone will discover we are not the standard womanly woman or manly man, but instead have a gender identity not exactly the same as our sex assigned at birth.  This constant disquiet, discomfort with ourselves and concern about being found out, manifests as a constant level of anxiety that wears at us and brings about depression.

This anxiety and depression is not a mental illness, but stems directly from the social pressure acting on a transgender person.  A gender therapist can help us process this pressure and find more appropriate ways to deal with it, and reduce the degree of anxiety and depression.

[Jessica]

I think depression (in the transgender sense) can occur as soon as you have the first thoughts that something is wrong and feeling there was nothing you can do about it.  Depending on your age when this happens, you could brood on this for years, compounding the depression.  With some this depression can be alleviated with hormones or other medications, giving a better balance of mind and body.  Which then can trigger a different depression from social pressures.
If your social network crumbles around you it's hard not to feel down.

How to climb out of that pit of self despair is as individual as personalities.  Are you a person that sees the glass half empty or one that sees it half full?  If you can switch thoughts to the positive aspects and not dwell on the negative in ones life, even for a moment, it can show you that there is a handhold within reach.  Find the next and you start to feel that fresh air above.

Once you get to the top, after much work, how do you stay there?
Find life!  If life isn't where you are, go to where it is.
Do you feel free in your daily decisions?
Are you happy when you walk down the street where you live?
Can you comfortably interact with others in your local social area?
Will you ever?

If the answer is no, then consider moving to where you can.
Life is worth it.

Hugs and smiles from a California girl

[Janes Groove]

If one is in the closet, suffering in isolation, for years and years on end, how does one not develop depression?

[Jessica]

I've had depression since I was a child although it was never diagnosed until I became an adult. I've always have had constant and cyclical suicidal ideations. Most likely due to the emotional and mental abuse which hurt much more than the physical abuse I've had. I still remember when I was around 9 or 10 years old and my mother chasing me around the house with a kitchen knife yelling that she would cut off my tongue. Her boyfriend had to hold her back as she was screaming at me that she would kill me. This same boyfriend of hers bought me a bb gun during christmas then told me to stand by the couch while he shot me with it for fun. I also remember thinking that in 2nd grade, I thought about killing myself near the trash room by the apartment so that the trash collectors could throw out my body more easily so I wouldn't be a hassle to anyone.

(lol, all that along with being trans and somehow I ended up being a normal adult male.)

So...when people talk about trying to think positive, find life, and other bunk, it's insulting because depression isn't so simple and you can't just fix it by "being positive"

I apologize as I know you're trying to be helpful and I appreciate that, I'm not trying to attack you in any way, it's just that I've heard that type of narrative many times before, especially from people who don't regularly go through clinical depressio

I totally understood the last part of my "narrative" was not what you wanted to hear, it was more general thoughts for others since others may not have heard them.  The first part was more as an answer to your question.

Sorry if you feel insulted, maybe there is a better word for how you feel though, since we just met.

[miyann]

Thank you and I'm sorry for being so pessimistic. The depression just hit me today out of nowhere and now I'm seriously considering some things. Just like dysphoria, it seems to get worse as I get older. I honestly can't see myself after past 49 to be honest.

Anyway, I'm going to delete my previous posts since they don't seem to really serve a purpose other than make me appear manic.

[Devlyn]

Everyone is different. For me, being transgender has been a learning and liberating experience. I haven't suffered from depression. If there is a link, it's certainly not set in stone for everyone. I'm not going to tell you to just be happy and enjoy life, I know it doesn't work like that.

Hugs, Devlyn

[Kylo]

Almost certainly. The initial experience of the condition seems to be negative in almost all cases, so someone will have experienced depression at some point. Not usually as a direct result of the condition, but the physical/social alienation, stress and confusion resulting from it.

[Ryuichi13]

Thank you and I'm sorry for being so pessimistic. The depression just hit me today out of nowhere and now I'm seriously considering some things. Just like dysphoria, it seems to get worse as I get older. I honestly can't see myself after past 49 to be honest.

Anyway, I'm going to delete my previous posts since they don't seem to really serve a purpose other than make me appear manic.

I really, truly hope that you seek therapy, whether it is a gender therapist or a regular one.  No one should feel that way.  No one.

Good luck.

Ryuichi

[Katie Jade]

Yes.

Simple answer.

Please try and talk to someone who can help you with your issues face to face.

I did, and my very severe depression (et al.) has gone permanently so I do advise you to take some small steps to discretely start to remove this ->-bleeped-<- that causes us so much trouble.

I did, and I am so much loving life at the moment you wouldn't believe it, im just getting on with life as it should have always been. I have a few more small steps to take but the journey is so worth it. We are all here to discuss stuff with you so don't hesitate to ask hun, seriously.

Luv n Hugz

Katie

       

[Brenda80]

Yes for sure. It follows thru my entire life even now.
Prior to transitioning, the Difference and perspective from public and close ones Drove me to slit my wrist (well miraculously the Doc manage to pull me thru the 2 times.)
Post transitioning, the career and relationship Drove me into severe Depression and it builds on from there. Without supporting ones, honestly I believe I would very much attempt suiciDe again.
I Guess somewhere hormones might play a part to me sinking constantly in this moDe thou.

[Rayna]

For me, it's not really been about my own identity, but I've definitely felt deep depression about what it was doing to my wife and to our relationship.

Sent from my Victor 9000 using Tapatalk

[Maybebaby56]

For me, yes, definitely. 

I have suffered my whole life from low self-esteem and poor sense of self. I cannot tell you how many times in my  life I wished I were dead rather than be me.  I never understood where those "perverted" desires to be a girl were coming from, and I felt so ashamed of myself when I gave in to them and dressed in secret.  It was a horrible, horrible way to live.

I am still amazed I found the courage to transition. I am free from much of that self-abuse now, but I still suffer from low self-esteem and self-confidence, despite all I have accomplished in my life.

It sucks to be transgender, but at least I know now why I had all those feelings, and I understand now who I am. I am grateful for that. 

Terri

[DawnOday]

I have been depressed since childhood because I was always on the fringe. Super introverted. Fear and others opinions have ruled my life. Since I began HRT two years ago it has left the building.

[VickyS]

I think there is a link between depression and having to live as the wrong gender for years, once that is realised and corrected, the depression usually goes (unless there are other reasons for it).

For me, I was completely unaware I had severe depression causing physical symptoms similar to fibromyalgia.  Once my memory loss got to the point of affecting my work, I sought medical help which is when the realisation of being trans surfaced.  But it was only when I saw that transition was a possibility for me that the depression lifted and the PHYSICAL symptoms went away.  My psychiatrist said my body was shutting down.  I no longer suffer with the joint pain, fatigue and memory loss that was really debilitating.