Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Gender dysphoria — a treatable condition in mainstream medicine
Irish Medical Times
By Sara-Jane Cromwell
March 31 2009


http://www.imt.ie/clinical/mental-health-cns/gender-dysphoria-a-treatable-c.html (http://www.imt.ie/clinical/mental-health-cns/gender-dysphoria-a-treatable-c.html)


Gender identity disorder (GID)/gender dysphoria is a little known but much misunderstood congenital intersex condition, which is clinically diagnosable and treatable. The growing body of evidence points to GID being neurobiological in nature and has nothing whatever to do with fetishistic compulsions or lifestyle choice, with which it has been too long associated.

As a clinically diagnosable and treatable condition, there is a need for a much greater level of intervention from health service providers as a whole, and certain disciplines in particular; i.e. GPs, consultant psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, endocrinologists, counsellors and psychotherapists.

"In fairness to healthcare professionals, there is an argument to be made insofar as GID has traditionally been associated with terms such as transsexualism, ->-bleeped-<-, etc. These terms are rightly associated with fetishistic lifestyles and sexual compulsions, but emphatically not with gender identity disorder."

I don't like that last sentence, as much as the article on the whole seems to be in the right direction.

There much talk about GID and the fact the health care industry needs to take it more seriously.  But there is still no action being taken.

Health Care providers still see SRS as 'cosmetic'.  But those who suffer with it, it is the only thing that can save a life.  Why can they see that.  They are suppose to help life be more rewarding and healthy.

Janet

...

how do they determine what is a neurological disorder?

It was interesting to see that it was The Irish Medical Times that published this and leads me to ask what promted them. Is there a specific debate there about GID?

The health care industry has a vast amount of published data to work with regardless of what country needs it but I can only hope that certain people resident in Vatican City take note that it is a MEDICAL issue and not FETISHISTIC or a sin against God or catholic doctrine.

Medical life has woken up to us as can be seen by ever lengthening waiting lists for clinical assessment and ultimately SRS, the media have dealt with it in many ways from documentary films to Hollywod films and now it is time for the faith industry to also wake up rather than condemn us as immoral, perverted or beasts to be kept away from children.  End of rant.

Quote from: Saraloop on April 01, 2009, 01:45:15 PM
...

how do they determine what is a neurological disorder?

I am not sure of your question Sara but Neurology is about the physical nervous system and should not be involved in psychology or psychiatry, the mind sciences.  It is my belief that GID is a battle that rages within the mind and heart and perhaps that is the only possible link to neurology.....am I waffling Sara or helping in any way with this reply?

...Do you think this would be a good thing to leave up on the computer for my dad to read?

Quote from: Heartwood on April 01, 2009, 02:33:27 PM
...Do you think this would be a good thing to leave up on the computer for my dad to read?

Would he have any idea what it meant?

Quote from: JENNIFER on April 01, 2009, 03:26:37 PM
Would he have any idea what it meant?

I've come out to him if that's what you mean.

Quote from: Heartwood on April 01, 2009, 03:27:44 PM
I've come out to him if that's what you mean.

No, not exactly but it is good that you have lowered at least one obstacle.  I hope the outcome is good for you both.

Quote from: JENNIFER on April 01, 2009, 02:09:50 PM
I am not sure of your question Sara but Neurology is about the physical nervous system and should not be involved in psychology or psychiatry, the mind sciences.  It is my belief that GID is a battle that rages within the mind and heart and perhaps that is the only possible link to neurology.....am I waffling Sara or helping in any way with this reply?

Not exactly accurate. A neurological condition, depressive disorder or bi-polar disorder for instance and very likely schizophrenia, are intimately involved with psychological and "mind sciences."

For that matter, in so far as there is psychic stress and deterioration as a result of living with what we now call GID, alcoholism, rape and other forms of violent abuse and warfare, etc, all of those are very intimately bound up with the "mind sciences."

That transsexuals would like to claim some sort of "I'm-not-crazy-I-have-a-neurological-intersex-condition" is to make distinctions firmly that are rather fine, in fact.

The loss of a limb has nothing to do with a psychological condition, nor, often does homelessness; however, the onset of such non-psychological events is often as well the onset of psychological difficulties. 

Nichole

I would look at this on a personal and simplistic level........I had three strokes, left me disabled, caused by a Neurological trauma........I am transsexual, 'caused' by a state of mind, a deeply held belief that I am a gender contrary to physical and documentary evidence, thus a phycological issue.

Any conflict resides within myself but I relate it to you and others Nichole in good faith and with a smile.

Quote from: JENNIFER on April 01, 2009, 05:36:14 PM
I would look at this on a personal and simplistic level........I had three strokes, left me disabled, caused by a Neurological trauma........I am transsexual, 'caused' by a state of mind, a deeply held belief that I am a gender contrary to physical and documentary evidence, thus a phycological issue.

Any conflict resides within myself but I relate it to you and others Nichole in good faith and with a smile.

Yeah. I really don't see how it could be considered a neurological disorder. Gender doesn't have anything to do with the nerves. Well, I mean a gender doesn't have different nerves.
In any case, if it were neurological I'd like to see the scientific data so that I could understand.

Do some searchs to find it. Many of the studies have been cited and even linked here. Try "science and Medical News" and take a trip to http://aebrain.blogspot.com/ (http://aebrain.blogspot.com/) and do a small bit of digging. Zoe always publishes news of the new findings.

I'll be honest, I'd do the work for you, but then you wouldn't learn anything. :) Always hated that when my parents and teachers said that!! :laugh:

But the studies are there that show it. Whether you believe what you read ... well that's up to you. Another hint: also look for Free University of Amsterdam, studies by Cohen-Kettenis, Gooren, Schwab and/or Zhou and for studies done at Australia's Prince Henry Institute.

There, now ya won't have to work as hard as I have. :)

Nichole

Urh, thanks Nichole :)

I'll check that out soon.

Interesting read.  I got a little too hopeful when the article mentioned that the condition is "treatable."  Of course I read it and it towed the standard line that the only treatment is transition. :(  I guess I'll have to wait for more research to be done before other treatment options become available.

On one hand I'm heartened by this kind of comment.  I mean, the more clearly it is understood that there is a radical difference between fetishism, lifestyle choice, and a deep inner *need* to live as a different gender than your assigned one, the better.  I definately have fetishes, but while I can go indefinately without eg. tying someone up and spanking them,*  it would be literally painful and, ultimately, untenable for me to live and present as a female full-time with no breaks.  Completely different aspects of my life.  A diganostic category such as GID lets physicians treat patients as suffering from a condition that needs and deserves attention--hip replacements instead of nose-jobs.

On the other hand, there's a risk that if GID is seen as a medical condition, some elements are going to argue for "fixing" the inner man or woman to match the body, rather than confirming the person's own gender identity through medical intervention.  This strikes me as kind of horrible;  I'd like not to have my body dysphoria and the misery that comes with it, but not at the cost of having my identity scrubbed out and replaced by something socially acceptable.   "Me" is an androgyne on the FtM spectrum, not a woman.  What would I have gained?  Nothing, coz there'd be no "me" left to gain anything!


*You all needed to know that.

Quote from: Lokaeign on April 03, 2009, 09:06:00 AM
On the other hand, there's a risk that if GID is seen as a medical condition, some elements are going to argue for "fixing" the inner man or woman to match the body, rather than confirming the person's own gender identity through medical intervention.  This strikes me as kind of horrible;  I'd like not to have my body dysphoria and the misery that comes with it, but not at the cost of having my identity scrubbed out and replaced by something socially acceptable.   "Me" is an androgyne on the FtM spectrum, not a woman.  What would I have gained?  Nothing, coz there'd be no "me" left to gain anything!

There are those with depressive symptoms that refuse to be treated for them.  That is their right to live how they want to live.  Is a person with a depressed condition due to a mental defect who gets medicated no longer themselves?  Is the real person the depressed one or the non-depressed one?  What is their core identity?  I think their true identity is that of a person without depression - thus the treated version because that is how they would have been without the defect.

In my opinion, GID is the same thing.  It is a mental condition that causes distress.  The real me is not the me with GID, the real me is the me without GID - the me I was supposed to be had I not been born with this condition.  Thus a treatment to fix my "inner self" is a treatment to restore me to what I would have been had I been normal.  My body is not dysfunctional - my brain is.

You all still have your option to change your body, but I sincerely hope no one will impede my potential option to change my mind.

If that's the kind of outcome which would benefit you, then I hope the treatment becomes available.  I just hope that it is left up to each individual to decide what they want to do, rather than being pursued as a more desirable treatment than transitioning physically.

..'tis just my own opinion but if it were likely that a 'resolution' was found to correct GID and avoid the trauma and need for transition and surgery etc.,  frankly I think it is for those that are still to be concieved and through the use maybe of pre-birth screening technologies as applied to 'saviour siblings' and genetic preventatives like cancers. 

I, like many of us here have already endured torture by being who we are and such treatments have come too late for us.  I am now contented with my lot, happy to be on the way to the rest of my life within the body and mindset of ME.  The battles of transition and the future pain of SRS are a small price to pay for finally gaining peace and harmony.

Quote from: JENNIFER on April 03, 2009, 02:50:19 PM
..'tis just my own opinion but if it were likely that a 'resolution' was found to correct GID and avoid the trauma and need for transition and surgery etc.,  frankly I think it is for those that are still to be concieved and through the use maybe of pre-birth screening technologies as applied to 'saviour siblings' and genetic preventatives like cancers. 

Have there been aspects that have been painful? Yes.

Does some sort of in-uetero test strike anyone as a positive much? Such in-uetero tests normally result in the pregnancy being terminated before completion if an anomaly is found.

"Better dead than transsexual?" Some may say yes.

I cannot and think in-uetero testing is an extraordinarily poor idea.

If I have mis-read what you were saying, Jennifer then I apologize, but that's what I thought I was reading in that last bit.

Nichole

My train of thought was towards those people that in the future and in full awareness of our condition, that they make use of future technologies and knowledge to screen out potentials for GID in the same way as Cancers and other disorders that surface currently post birth.

It is natural for potential parents to seek a perfect child and I am sure my own parents expected much from my birth as a boy.  Sadly, it is only after a few years that I and others display in various degrees any abnormalities to gender.  It is my view that if GID could be intercepted pre-birth then it is possible parents may elect to travel that pathway. If they had this facility, I may never have been born and thus not had to deal with my current trials. Good, Bad or Ugly?

Bad idea, we would end up getting aborted left right and centre just for having a possible future TS tendency.

I'm pro choice BTW but Eugenics are an obscenity.

Quote from: JENNIFER on April 03, 2009, 04:28:23 PM
My train of thought was towards those people that in the future and in full awareness of our condition, that they make use of future technologies and knowledge to screen out potentials for GID in the same way as Cancers and other disorders that surface currently post birth.

Cancer kills.  Many other screenable disorders can kill, or at least drastically shorten life.  Some mean that the child might lack for independence and require support the parents can't give.

Me?  My gender and its mismatch with my body is not a burden on ANYONE except me.  Yeah, the NHS (in my country) might have to spring for medical treatment in some cases--a cost far outweighed by having a more productive and happier member of society at the end of it. 

As for what my parents might have wanted:  I don't give a tinker's cuss TBH.  The fallout from my family background is responsible for WAY more of my problems than my gender issues.  If I'd been female inside as well as outside I might not have survived at all, given the scathing misogyny that was part of my daily diet.

Well said :)