No Proven Link Between Transgenderism and Mental Disorder

[Johnni Gyrl]

There's the accusation from more transphobic quarters that transgender people must have a 'mental disorder.' This particular slur has echoes of the past. Isn't that the same thing that used to be said about gay people only a generation ago?

Up until 1973, the psychiatric disorder guidebook - 'the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders' [DSM], used to include homosexuality as a mental illness. The diagnosis was then updated to "sexual orientation disturbance," but it was removed completely by 1987.

Just as with homosexuality, there is no proven direct link between transgenderism and mental disorder:

"A psychological state is considered a mental disorder only if it causes significant distress or disability. Many transgender people do not experience their gender as distressing or disabling, which implies that identifying as transgender does not constitute a mental disorder."

- American Psychological Association

Feel free to copy/paste the above quote whenever this false accusation is raised on-line.

Solidarity, brothers & sisters!

[Michelle_P]

...
"A psychological state is considered a mental disorder only if it causes significant distress or disability. Many transgender people do not experience their gender as distressing or disabling, which implies that identifying as transgender does not constitute a mental disorder."

- American Psychological Association

I find this to be absolutely correct for me.  While I suffered from depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, these were not due to my gender identity, but rather to fears related to social rejection and absolute, utter denial of the validity of my identity.

The intensity of rejection of transgender persons in this culture is much more intense than for some other marginalized categories of people. Rather than being seen as inferior, we are often told we simply do not exist, that being a transgender person is not real.  That has a significant impact on our mental health and well-being.

In my case, the source of my depression and anxiety was clearly cultural or social, and not an internal mental issue.  (And my hate mail bears this out!)

[Johnni Gyrl]

In my case, the source of my depression and anxiety was clearly cultural or social, and not an internal mental issue.  (And my hate mail bears this out!)

So sorry to hear that Michelle. The prejudice against the trans community is still strong, just as you alluded to.

[AnneK]

"A psychological state is considered a mental disorder only if it causes significant distress or disability. Many transgender people do not experience their gender as distressing or disabling, which implies that identifying as transgender does not constitute a mental disorder."

When I was a kid, I thought there was something wrong with me, because I wanted to wear my sister's things and that feeling lasted a long time.  Now I fully accept it as me.

[sarahc]

I definitely am one of those who did not have much psychological distress or disability - I just wanted to be a woman. And the lack of other distress caused me to think, "I can push through this," when I really should have transitioned earlier.

I am definitely not a fan of being transgender being labeled a disorder and hope it gets taken out of the next DSM.

[Donica]

I find this to be absolutely correct for me.  While I suffered from depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, these were not due to my gender identity, but rather to fears related to social rejection and absolute, utter denial of the validity of my identity.

The intensity of rejection of transgender persons in this culture is much more intense than for some other marginalized categories of people. Rather than being seen as inferior, we are often told we simply do not exist, that being a transgender person is not real.  That has a significant impact on our mental health and well-being.

In my case, the source of my depression and anxiety was clearly cultural or social, and not an internal mental issue.  (And my hate mail bears this out!)

I suffered from depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, but I don't think I suffered for the same reason. I think my reason was more from the lack of being able to transition. I always knew I was trans and life didn't seem importent ot me if I couldn't be me. Fear of rejection or not. Of course we all worry about rejection, but if it wasn't for the health care coverage, I would have never survived the depression and suicidal ideation. My god, I was a three time heart attact patient, still smoking and drinking, hoping I didn't wake up the next morning. Now I am the happiest trans women in the world, full time and not giving a crap about what anyone else thinks.

IDK? Maybe this was just another way to say the same thing you've said. To me, there just wasn't any point of going on if I couldn't transition. I couldn't be honest to myself. I thank God every day for the health care coverage.

[LizK]

There's the accusation from more transphobic quarters that transgender people must have a 'mental disorder.' This particular slur has echoes of the past. Isn't that the same thing that used to be said about gay people only a generation ago?

Up until 1973, the psychiatric disorder guidebook - 'the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders' [DSM], used to include homosexuality as a mental illness. The diagnosis was then updated to "sexual orientation disturbance," but it was removed completely by 1987.

Just as with homosexuality, there is no proven direct link between transgenderism and mental disorder:

"A psychological state is considered a mental disorder only if it causes significant distress or disability. Many transgender people do not experience their gender as distressing or disabling, which implies that identifying as transgender does not constitute a mental disorder."

So I was bored yesterday and decided to take on a Utube transphobe about this very statement...he made the usual sweeping statement....its a mental illness and they should get treatment not "lop their bits(I cleaned this up) off"...So I pointed out the futile argument he made. I made the following points


If we agree with the bigot for the sake of the argument and allow this for one moment...so I asked him if this were a mental illness as defined by him being a true Christian you would want them to get help? Right? So what do you think the Psychs are going to suggest as "treatment" for many who suffer GD... transition to the gender the align with...and the big difference is we have to prove to at least two psychiatrists/psychologists that we are sane enough to make this decision...How about you latest research says that bigotry is  a mental illness....his response....nothing, nada, zip zero.

I don't know how effective this line we be on a consistent basis but it certainly shut that transphobe down.


Liz

Edit: The DSM no longer classifies gender dysphoria as a mental illness but lists it purely for diagnostics

[Johnni Gyrl]

How about you latest research says that bigotry is  a mental illness....his response....nothing, nada, zip zero.

I don't know how effective this line we be on a consistent basis but it certainly shut that transphobe down.


Liz

Liz, completely awesome work! I'd say you had the desired effect on him. lol

[Allison S]

Edit: The DSM no longer classifies gender dysphoria as a mental illness but lists it purely for diagnostics

This is how I think of it. Since it's a diagnosis it needs to be medically treated. Psychotherapy just (usually) doesn't work well enough. I think the medical field is understanding a lot better, but health insurance companies seem behind. At least in the US and still, I might be generalizing.

Sent from my VS501 using Tapatalk

[RobynD]

I'm with Michelle on this. My distress comes from rejection and/or cultural factors. HRT actually solved most of the GD and related depression from before. Unfortunately yeah, it replaces one form of it with another and that often and in my case requires treatment.

There are many, many things we correct with medical treatment that are not disorders.

[Angelic]

I would say its more of a body disorder of being trapped in a body you never asked to be trapped in. And yes naturally being trapped in the wrong body will most likely cause some kind of emotional instability and/or psychosis.

It's like this. If someone makes a game and the game is terrible and hideous and you eject the CD rom and stop playing. You dont call the person mentally ill for not wanting to play the game. And if you continue to play the game you will be unhappy. So if a trans person commits suicide its because they were trapped in a world and body they didn't want to be in. Being trapped in the world and body can cause mental illness. But not liking the world and body you've been given is not inherently a mental illness.

[Michelle_P]

Being a transgender person is no more a mental disorder than is being left-handed.  Further, just like atttempts to 'cure' being left-handed, trying to 'cure' being a transgender person causes only harm to the treated person, and only serves to make others slightly more comfortable around the affected person.

I fully expect that in the next 50 years we will see that being a transgender person is simply another form of intersex fetal development.  We already have a significant body of evidence showing correlations between variations in fine brain structure in specific regions and one's gender identity and orientation. 

I do not expect this sort of research to lead to a definitive 'instant diagnosis' or a 'cure', as the trillions of pathways that are involved in the brain have almost uncountable possible configurations, and attempts to definitively interpret all of these would br problematic.  Attempts to 'cure' by restructuring the brain would constitute a horrific 'death of personality', unethical in the extreme.

By the way, I strongly suggest avoiding recently coined terms like transgenderism, which are intended to signal that being a transgender person is merely a lifestyle choice or a belief system.  This is not.  Accepting myself and living as my authentic self saved my life.  I did this in spite of knowing I would become a marginalized person and surrender much of the privilege I held in this culture.  I feel very fortunate to still have housing and resources to continue my life.

[Angelic]

Being a transgender person is no more a mental disorder than is being left-handed.  Further, just like atttempts to 'cure' being left-handed, trying to 'cure' being a transgender person causes only harm to the treated person, and only serves to make others slightly more comfortable around the affected person.

I fully expect that in the next 50 years we will see that being a transgender person is simply another form of intersex fetal development.  We already have a significant body of evidence showing correlations between variations in fine brain structure in specific regions and one's gender identity and orientation. 

I do not expect this sort of research to lead to a definitive 'instant diagnosis' or a 'cure', as the trillions of pathways that are involved in the brain have almost uncountable possible configurations, and attempts to definitively interpret all of these would br problematic.  Attempts to 'cure' by restructuring the brain would constitute a horrific 'death of personality', unethical in the extreme.

By the way, I strongly suggest avoiding recently coined terms like transgenderism, which are intended to signal that being a transgender person is merely a lifestyle choice or a belief system.  This is not.  Accepting myself and living as my authentic self saved my life.  I did this in spite of knowing I would become a marginalized person and surrender much of the privilege I held in this culture.  I feel very fortunate to still have housing and resources to continue my life.

Why don't we remove the zero and change that number to a 5. Because I'm tired of having to live in fear

"amen"

the cure of transgender is giving me a female body

"amen"

crowd goes wild