Who else has been diagnosed with a mental illness other than myself? Not talking about GID but other disorders? I have been diagnosed with bipolar type 1 disorder and add. Is it normal maybe for trans to have other underlying mental illness?
I was diagnosed with extreme depression, but that was a direct result of "being trans". I believe that trans people have higher incidences of "mental illnesses" because we live higher stress lives than the average person and face generally more in terms of identity issues, body dysphoria, family rejection, employment issues, etc. I'm not a man with a female-appearing body BECAUSE I have a mental illness though. Never.
Quote from: Wesley_33 on August 18, 2011, 10:40:16 PM
Who else has been diagnosed with a mental illness other than myself? Not talking about GID but other disorders? I have been diagnosed with bipolar type 1 disorder and add. Is it normal maybe for trans to have other underlying mental illness?
How ironic... I went to my doctor yesterday for an antidepressant followup appointment. I kept the appointment though I went off the antidepressants three weeks ago. And even though I felt immensely better after only 6 days on the pills, they gave me other side effects that I couldn't deal with. At the appointment, I told her about my lifelong suspicion that I was ADD given all of the evidence throughout the years (not to mention the fact that every born male on my mom's side of the family has it).
She concurred with the ADD diagnosis and told me that my response to the SSRI (not to mention my patterns of depression over the last 24 years) indicated that I may also be bipolar despite my never having a manic episode in my life. So she put me on Ritalin to find out if my intensely creative and hyper periods were ADD taking over when my depression goes away, or if I've spent years cycling between depression and hypomania, which would mean I'm type 2 bipolar.
REALLY hope that I'm not bipolar, but she's the third doctor in my life to give me that diagnosis. :(
Bipolar type 2, and what I'm pretty sure is OCD, though it was diagnosed as GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). Was on meds for both for awhile, but am currently off all meds, and doing fine. So who knows... perhaps the T did the job, or maybe I'm just better at self-regulation now than I was before.
I have a mild form of OCD. It's not to the degree that you see on the show "Obsessed", thank god. But it does interfere with my daily life in the form of intrusive/repetitive thoughts, perfectionism and random obsessions.
I also believe I have Social Anxiety Disorder or something similar to it, though that is a self-diagnosis.
A couple doctors diagnosed me with panic/anxiety disorder as well as depression. I knew something was wrong, but I wasn't down with their plan of putting me more pills (had a bad experience on Xanax) so I sought natural and alternative treatments and cured myself.
Quote from: Wesley_33 on August 18, 2011, 10:40:16 PM
Who else has been diagnosed with a mental illness other than myself? Not talking about GID but other disorders? I have been diagnosed with bipolar type 1 disorder and add. Is it normal maybe for trans to have other underlying mental illness?
Quote from: -Ryan- on August 18, 2011, 10:51:30 PM
I was diagnosed with extreme depression, but that was a direct result of "being trans". I believe that trans people have higher incidences of "mental illnesses" because we live higher stress lives than the average person and face generally more in terms of identity issues, body dysphoria, family rejection, employment issues, etc. I'm not a man with a female-appearing body BECAUSE I have a mental illness though. Never.
Agree with being Trans... have been DX'd with Major Depression, BiPolar 2, no GID. Funny, seen the Therapist twice, told my Psych the other day. He sat up in his chair instead of the GAF look he has given me last 3 months, didn't write a thing!
Found Dr Anne Vitale's website the other day, she's Trans also, retired Therapist, and in her latest book
The Gendered Self, Further commentary on the Transsexual phenomenon, she proposes the term "Gender Expression Deprivation Anxiety" instead. Makes sense to me...what do "ya'll" think?
I have depression. I'm not sure how much is related to GID. And I still get SAD every winter (well, it starts in the fall); I suspect that I'll never completely get rid of it. But time will tell.
Oh, and one of my closest buddies is trans, and he is bipolar.
I have been to therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder, and also depression. saw a doc for a while and she got a lot of my compulsions knocked off, and I was on antidepressants for a while, but I stopped them because they made me feel very sociopath-ic and they made it hard to orgasm, which therefore made me depressed lol.
I still have both of those, im just not on any medicine.
Quote from: SandraJane on August 19, 2011, 12:18:27 AM
she proposes the term "Gender Expression Deprivation Anxiety" instead. Makes sense to me...what do "ya'll" think?
wow that makes complete sense. right on!!
Anxiety and depression here. Used to be on Zoloft for it, which actually helped a lot, but I stopped taking it because I had a bad habit of trying to OD whenever I got pissed/really depressed/bored. So now I just take whatever I can get hold of through friends.
Depression. Four different prescription pills used. All ineffective. The score sheet:
Zoloft caused me a Mike Tyson type of rage attacks, the same complaint from Mike who was on that stuff at the same time. It didn't help my nephew either, the U.S. Army enlistment sure as hell did though! He is in school and will go to OCS when he graduates. I weaned myself from that after my doctor (the good one) died in an auto crash. My other doctor gave the 3 others:
Efflexor was somewhat effective, but wore off. The doctor increased that dosage and it did not do much better and did some damage to my liver.
Remeron: ineffective. Cause a sense of "why am I doing this?". Some rage attacks. I did not get many things done with that, the house turned into a pigsty!
Serzone: Somewhat effective, but leg cramps were a problem. It gave me a charlie horse while I was out in Florida. I ended up trying to walk off that charlie horse instead of enjoying that walk on the beach!
Herbals: Didn't work at all.
Herbal Feminization: Wee progress here, waned after 3-4 months. Did more damage to my prostate the herbs claimed to heal.
HRT, E, P, S: It is repairing the damage to the prostate as expected. Cancer is still a possibility though. ??? HUH??? What happened? Why am I not having this depression now? This stuff was NOT supposed to do this effect! Ask me in 3 months. ???
Joelene
Quote from: -Ryan- on August 19, 2011, 12:33:19 AM
wow that makes complete sense. right on!!
Here's a link to Dr. Vitale's site, and the presentation she gave this past April in SF on GEDA.
http://www.avitale.com/ (http://www.avitale.com/)
I am diagnosed schizoaffective. Am on Seroquel and Zoloft for that, and Elavil for clinical insomnia. I was diagnosed when I was around 15 or 16 (I am now 25). I've gone through months of inpatient and outpatient CBT, so I have a very good handle on it. I recently got my GID diagnosis (which is mandatory here to be considered for SRS).
That's good, how do you feel these days on "T"?
Quote from: SandraJane on August 19, 2011, 01:11:57 AM
That's good, how do you feel these days on "T"?
I feel good. I'm not sure if it's the T itself, or the fact that I know I'm on T. It could be both though. Either way it's a positive thing :) I think it will get even better once I start seeing changes.
Better than a lot of Nuclear grade antipsychotics!
I've been officially diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and ADD, but I've heard from many doctors (though it's never been officially diagnosed) that I could have some form of schizophrenia. I've been on so many different meds and in and out of hospitals since I was 14.
Quote from: Wesley_33 on August 18, 2011, 10:40:16 PM
Who else has been diagnosed with a mental illness other than myself? Not talking about GID but other disorders? I have been diagnosed with bipolar type 1 disorder and add. Is it normal maybe for trans to have other underlying mental illness?
being transgender IS a mental illness in my country.
Quote from: skakid on August 19, 2011, 01:42:52 AM
I've been officially diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and ADD, but I've heard from many doctors (though it's never been officially diagnosed) that I could have some form of schizophrenia. I've been on so many different meds and in and out of hospitals since I was 14.
Have they DX'd you with GID? Are on HRT? Getting any relief from any symptoms? I have 2 Siamese kitties.
I've suffered from anxiety disorders since childhood. I've suffered from selective mutism, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and other crap no one told me until I was older. I also had childhood bulimia until puberty. It's a very different illness in a child than in an adult. I remember sometimes being so nervous in a public situation I'd make myself vomit, no mater where I was to lower the anxiety I was feeling. Yeah, I was way too young to be placed on anti-anxiety meds XP. I was also on a ->-bleeped-<--ton of medication from my asthma. I had it pretty bad ;_;. I think a lot of this stems from the fact that anxiety disorders run really deeply in my family. It also doesn't help that my home situation sucked XP. Let's just say I have the best crazy dad stories xD. One day I'll talk about the time he had a threesome with some crazy bitch and his brother. Oh, and in adulthood none of this is nearly as bad. I still have the OCD and anxiety, but I'm doing much better. No medication either :'D.
I'm not sure if drug addiction counts as a mental illness. I was addicted to pain pills my whole teenage years. Oxy and Vicodin were the drugs I abused most often. I don't even know how I graduated high school, I was that high that often. All I remember is going through withdrawal when I walked for graduation. Then I relapsed @_@. At this point, I've been off that stuff for over two years now. My boyfriend asked me to get sober a year into the relationship. Other than the occasional beer or blunt, I'm sober.
Woah, too much. I actually have more stuff, but I think I should stop here. Let's just say my parents probably shouldn't have ever had sex with each other XP. I'm grateful for my life, but from a medical standpoint, they were the worst mix of genes ever xD. So much mental and physical illness in both sides @_@.
I have Major Depressive Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and ADHD.
I take Wellbrutrin, Lamictal, Concerta and Temazepam. The dose I'm at for those is fairly high but it seems to be working for me.
Quote from: Darth_Taco on August 19, 2011, 03:52:38 AM
Lets just say my parents probably shouldn't have ever had sex with each other XP. I'm grateful for my life, but from a medical standpoint, they were the worst mix of genes ever xD. So much mental and physical illness in both sides @_@.
Nobody's genes are perfect! I'm glad your parents eh er...
had sex with each other uhum, or else you wouldn't be here on the forums posting!
Bi-Polar type II here.
I take Abilify and Tranzodone. I've probably been on every mood stabilizer, anti-depressant on the market....
I have been diagnosed with mild depression. I take a low dose of Zoloft. However, since starting counseling and coming to terms with GID we have decreased my Zoloft and likely I will come off it once I start T and have top surgery. My doctor said she chose zoloft but have a slight anxiety problem too.
Quote from: Darth_Taco on August 19, 2011, 03:52:38 AM
I'm not sure if drug addiction counts as a mental illness. I was addicted to pain pills my whole teenage years. Oxy and Vicodin were the drugs I abused most often. I don't even know how I graduated high school, I was that high that often. All I remember is going through withdrawal when I walked for graduation. At this point, I've been off that stuff for over two years now. My boyfriend asked me to get sober a year into the relationship. Other than the occasional beer or blunt.
this is the story of my life. i could have written this.
I've been diagnosed with recurrent major depression, anxiety, and ADD-inattentive, with possible borderline personality disorder or bipolar II. I'm on Vyvanse, Abilify, Effexor, and Seroquel. The list of drugs I went through to get to that cocktail is at least two or three times as long... D:
I've only been formally diagnosed with PTSD, but I'm a very, very nervous and paranoid person, and my depressive episodes are terrible. I can't even remember how many times I've tried to kill myself. I was on Lorazepam for a little while, but I stopped taking it as often and I think someone may have either stolen my pills or I lost them. Both are likely, my paranoia says the former. :P
major depressive disorder (though not so much now that I'm out,) PTSD, which has fortunately subsided a lot, and OCD which I'm struggling with a lot less as well now that I'm out, and I was anorexic in high school. Actually, coming out has helped with pretty much everything. But, I'm still prone to depressive episodes, and I have to keep an eye on my drinking. I've never been a full blown alcoholic, but I've walked the line. I tried a few antidepressants years ago, and they all made me feel like a zombie, so I never stayed on any of them for long.
Depression, a couple of flavours of anxiety disorder. I agree with "being trans" as being a major cause for those.
I'm not on meds any more, I was in my teens — earlier than I should have been taking those meds. They caused me to become delusional, paranoid, 5+ panic attacks a day, increased my self harm, etc. My doctor refused to let me try anything else so I flat out stopped taking them. He said he refused to help me if I refused to help myself and go back on the pills that made me insane. I never went back to that doctor, but due to the anxiety I didn't do anything else about it either. That was almost ten years ago and I'm fine now, I still have some avoidance issues but I'm rarely depressed or very anxious, so nobody start worrying or anything... but I wish I'd had some sort of supportive figure in my life then to take that doctor to task.
I also have PTSD due to childhood abuse, not a formal diagnosis as my therapist at the time said I'd have to see another (much much more expensive) therapist to get one and there "wasn't much point", I'm fine with that. It doesn't affect me that often any more except when I'm triggered unexpectedly, like someone will slam the front door and I have to actively stop myself hyperventilating. Usually I can deal with it. It makes it very stressful for me to deal with conflict, though.
Bipolar Type I, PTSD and Social Phobia. And if addiction counts as a mental illness, that too. And I had a past diagnosis of Anorexia but I recovered from that.
I was originally diagnosed as having ADHD with depression, then diagnosed as being ADD with depression, then as bipolar, then I saw my counselor to start transition and she said, "Does it really matter?" She had a point, I thought. So I just tell people I'm ADHD and sometimes have really bad days that last a month or more. I have noticed most of the other guys I know have been diagnosed as being somewhere in the bipolar spectrum, many diagnosed during puberty. I wonder if that has anything to do with all those horrific changes...
I've never seen a psych in my life, that's probably why I'm still so messed up. I'm in a waiting line to see one though and get help for my transgender issues, OCD (GP gave me Prozac but after 3 months I don't feel any difference) and severe social anxiety.
OCD. anxiety. deppression.
I've been diagnosed with dysthymia (chronic depression), major depression, social anxiety disorder, general anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and probably another one or two that I don't remember. I'm also pretty sure I've got PTSD, and did have a therapist that was considering it at one time, but I quit seeing her not long after she told me that. I've been on a ton of different meds over the years. Also been in the hospital a few times due to being suicidal.
I have been diagnosed with depression. I was on Prozac for a short while but they effected me negatively and I decided to stop taking them. I only feel depessed because I care too much about people who say rude things to me. I am trying to learn to ignore them slowly.
All this diagnosing is tricky, very tricky.
If you GID it will start to squeeze out of every crack and crevice in your psyche --- usually disguised as God knows what form of depression, disorders, from OCD, AADS, BI-polar, etc. etc. Add alcoholism, maybe even Asperger's if you wish.
Most, if not all psychiatrists like to feed you with the latest pharma inventions, and in an effort to put a lid on it all, so to speak.
Welcome to 'mothers little helpers'!
Being GID, undiagnosed for a long time, makes you 'collect' an on going number of coping mechanism/disorders.
Like insisting to place thing in just one place "the only right one", stressed out forms of perfectionism, OCD, and on. All to create a sense of security in our ever so "square peg in a round hole" life situation.
I wish those psychiatrists (we mostly are referred to) would be more knowledgeable in a "holistic sense".
Most are not, and stick to how they where trained --- save ground, not to be sued.
Interesting to me, my GP tells me WE ARE ALL BI-POLAR.
Only if we can't cope with it, do we have to do something about it.
My 2 cents,
Axelle
ADD, Dysthymia, and Social Anxiety here.
it's 1.5 year that i'm depression free. i tried loads of different pills, and venlafaxinum (alventa/effexor) was that cured me. i was depressed as long as i remember myself, even in my diary, when i was 9 years old, i wrote how i want to die. at this age i started cutting myself.
i also have an eating disorder for more than 10 years, and an extreme dissociation.
however, don't think that any of those are because of gid (which i can't get diagnosed or helped with anyways). i think it has something to do with a decade of constant abuse.
Bipolar 'Not otherwise specified' with psychotic features was my actual diagnosis. I did the drug cocktail bullcrap the hospital psychiatrist prescribed for a bit, gained a bunch of weight with Depakote, got a permanent neurological tic (facial twitches and hand trembling) from Abilify, then finally took initiative in my recovery and dropped the meds and improved my diet, lost the weight, and used exercise to combat mania and depression. I've been episode free since early 2006, and rarely have depression and when I do it's not of the suicidal variety and I'm still functional and hold down full time (and then some) employment. I do not believe that I have a mental illness, it's just part of who I am, and if I don't take care of myself I can become mentally ill. *shrug*
Quote from: SandraJane on August 19, 2011, 03:28:36 AM
Have they DX'd you with GID? Are on HRT? Getting any relief from any symptoms? I have 2 Siamese kitties.
I haven't been diagnosed with GID yet and I'm not on HRT. My symptoms have been the same since I was 11. My parents never really bothered to do anything for me when I was younger except put me in the hospital. I was just always considered the child who had problems and my brother was the one who got my parent's attention. I turned 18 a couple months ago though, so now I can start doing things for myself.
I love Siamese cats too! Mine is named Norm and he has the bluest eyes I've ever seen on a cat. He's the best.
Bipolar type 2, major depressive, ocd symptoms, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, ptsd...whole "kit and caboodle" ha
Quote from: Bahzi on August 20, 2011, 10:27:41 AM
Bipolar 'Not otherwise specified' with psychotic features was my actual diagnosis. I did the drug cocktail bullcrap the hospital psychiatrist prescribed for a bit, gained a bunch of weight with Depakote, got a permanent neurological tic (facial twitches and hand trembling) from Abilify, then finally took initiative in my recovery and dropped the meds and improved my diet, lost the weight, and used exercise to combat mania and depression. I've been episode free since early 2006, and rarely have depression and when I do it's not of the suicidal variety and I'm still functional and hold down full time (and then some) employment. I do not believe that I have a mental illness, it's just part of who I am, and if I don't take care of myself I can become mentally ill. *shrug*
Thats most peoples problem is living in a easy life with not working for daily food etc.. also living in cities has so much polution and poisons and bad air etc etc that they cause us all kinds of problems. I also exercise out here just surviving and it has really helped me to find balance with my life. I have been in mental hospitals since i was 12 and finally living in the country away from lots of city people and that hurried life i am doing so much better. I also take care of my 88 yr old mom. I am bipolar and borderline and paranoid and depression makes me cry a lot but i am doing much better this last yr. I go outside and chop wood or play in the garden or build something etc etc. My life is hard for some people because i have no running water or plumbing in my house but it gives me more to do and that all fills my life with stuff to do. I kinda wonder why a FTM doesn't want to live this rustic life but it seems many want to live in cities. Oh well when mom dies i know i will be depressed and i just pray i find a roommate by then. In the mean time i have done a lot of positive work here in the last 10 months. http://directory.ic.org/22661/Central_Pa_Mountain_farm___for_Hip_open_minded_people (http://directory.ic.org/22661/Central_Pa_Mountain_farm___for_Hip_open_minded_people)
PS: I use to do every type of medicine but they all made me feel depressed and eat more and i got too fat and well i need simple things to do to make life filled and meaningful
I was sort of diagnosed with depression, but it was never actually made formally because there would have been no benefits to them to actually do it, they didn't believe that I would ever get medicated for it so continued with the worlds most pointless counselling sessions. Had I been able to tell the truth to them (a cocktail of knowing the answers to their questions, being too scared of accepting I really was depressed, thinking there was nothing wrong as I'd been like it since I was 7, and being terrified of shrinks and wanting to get out of there ASAP has stopped me ever being able to open up), it would almost certainly been taken further.
Other than a few voices in my head telling me otherwise when I'm most vulnerable (ie dysphoric) I've managed to sort myself out enough to have my shrinks file closed.
For those with PTSD what caused it? If your up for sharing that is.
Maybe we should start our own anxiety group and write a book or something.
I'm the poster boy for axis II. I take 7 different meds for that.
For me, taking spiro has been the most help in a lot of different ways.
So the score is crazy 7 to GID 1.
Ativan
Quote from: Wesley_33 on August 21, 2011, 07:23:39 PM
For those with PTSD what caused it? If your up for sharing that is.
Maybe we should start our own anxiety group and write a book or something.
Where were you deployed, Iraq, Afghanistan? Receiving any treatment from the VA?
Yes deployed to Iraq. Drove convoys while there. I am getting help from military now. I have a few more weeks of active duty left. I'm on terminal leave now.
Quote from: Wesley_33 on August 21, 2011, 09:10:17 PM
Yes deployed to Iraq. Drove convoys while there. I am getting help from military now. I have a few more weeks of active duty left. I'm on terminal leave now.
Do checkout the TAVA website, and make sure that you check in with VA as soon as you can. When I got of the Navy years ago, they were wording the DD 214's in such a way for Dental Care, that the VA was not the accepting them. Screwy! Let them give you all the treatment for the PTSD that you can stand! My Dad was a WWII Vet and suffered from it (back when it didn't exist), didn't make home life any easier for us.
And by the way...Thank You for your Service, really! ^-^
Quote from: Wesley_33 on August 21, 2011, 07:23:39 PM
For those with PTSD what caused it? If your up for sharing that is.
Maybe we should start our own anxiety group and write a book or something.
I'll share wit you on facebook or email or somethin. The anxiety group and book writin is a good idea, i dig it. Btw bro i didnt know you were in the force. Respect all the way. I gotta talk to you more now bout some ish. Hit you up on FB
Getting medically retired so I'm covered for life thankfully.
Have you heard of the Marine who will be getting the medal of honor in the next few weeks? Well he's getting it for his actions to be sure a friend I served with made it home. Sadly by the time he reached my friend and the others with him they had all be killed. Hes not the only friend I lost over there but hes the one that bothers me most.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/07/marine-dakota-meyer-medal-of-honor-071911w/ (http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/07/marine-dakota-meyer-medal-of-honor-071911w/)
I've been diagnosed with bipolar II and major depression, both of which runs in my family. I've taken all sorts of antidepressants over the last four years and I still haven't found anything that works for me.
Quote from: Wesley_33 on August 21, 2011, 10:20:24 PM
Getting medically retired so I'm covered for life thankfully.
Have you heard of the Marine who will be getting the medal of honor in the next few weeks? Well he's getting it for his actions to be sure a friend I served with made it home. Sadly by the time he reached my friend and the others with him they had all be killed. Hes not the only friend I lost over there but hes the one that bothers me most.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/07/marine-dakota-meyer-medal-of-honor-071911w/ (http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/07/marine-dakota-meyer-medal-of-honor-071911w/)
God Bless you from one marine (vietnam era) to another may you stand tall and proud. Semper Fi
I think a fb group for anxiety- and depression- suffering transfolk would be an excellent idea. As for ftms on here, I think I'm already connected with most of you guys--- let's get that started!
I started the fb group up today. Trans Anxiety couldn't think of better name. Insomnia been kicking my butt and my brain is mush. Made it a closed group to protect privacy. Made a few folks admin so just ask to join and start talking.
I had mild Dissociative Identity Disorder and Dissociative Panic. It was actually a result of being trans, but being raised in a traumatic situation that didn't allow me to explore my identity. I basically developed a female persona to live parts of my life for me and make things easier, as well as make people happy. The problem was that, it was only a persona, not a full personality, so when I started to have strong dissociation and dysphoria, there wasn't a full personality left to make proper decisions.
I had that for over 4 years, but when it started falling apart was when I started having panic attacks. I was in therapy for it for a time. Since coming out to close friends almost a year ago I haven't had any dissociation, and since I started living full-time I haven't had any panic attacks or anxiety attacks.
I'm still on anti-depressants, though.
My main diagnosis is schizoaffective disorder. But my worst problems are my OCD and anxiety problems. I'm hoping T will help the anxiety as I'm pretty confident in the fact that it was me hating who I was that caused me to be anxious.