So, I've been on this site long enough and have noticed that, many of us are still saying/using GID (Gender Identity Disorder) instead of GD (Gender Dysphoria) and I have to wonder, why? If you know the reasoning behind why they changed the name from GID to GD and know what the difference between the two means then, why continue to use the word/initial GID instead of GD?
I'm only raising this question simply because GID is VERY misleading which only does our community as a whole more harm than good where as GD tells it like it is and doesn't do our community harm like GID does. (I'm referring to the two's meaning here)
I kindly ask everyone to be civil and not get into or start fights please. This thread wasn't created for that but just to raise a fair question as well as awareness on this matter. :angel:
The old version of DSM had it listed as "Gender Identity Disorder."
The new version has it listed as "Gender Dysphoria."
It's less stigma plus it's not really a disorder.
Well, I'm guilty of referring to myself as having GID on this site but only because I thought GID and GD where interchangeable terms for the same thing. Having read up on the subject a bit more after reading this post I agree with the Shana-Chan
I'm not really shore, I've always used that term gender dysphoria, but as far is I know some have such an extreme case that it becomes a disorder to every day life, but to be honest I've never herd the term gender identity disorder... Maybe I should look it up for a little history lesson.
I haven't used either term decisively for myself yet, but I have described myself as "exploring my gender identity" or "having gender identity issues" - the Identity part of the equation is a really important thing for me. I'd agree that Disorder doesn't feel like it fits (good thing it's getting changed) but I tend to refer to dysphoria as specific feelings rather than who I am. I no more want to be defined or identified by my dysphoria as I do by my depression. It's complicated though, to draw the line. Ultimately being trans* does come down to differences in the way we think. I've actually looked at this from other perspectives before - how I percieve disability, difficulty and difference when dealing with being neuro-atypical, minor physical disability, and depression.
I kind of like the term Anne Vitale coined GEDAD. Gender Expression Deprivation Anxiety Disorder - The dysphoria and anxiety arises from suppression and non-expression of one's gender identity.
Just my 2 cents.
I don't even like Gender Dysphoria, since I didn't suffer from it. TG for me felt more like euphoria - an excitement and amazement when I thought of myself as a female.
I've always thought something like brain/body gender mismatch would be a better descriptive term.
The problem is that the medical industry requires codes for everything, so from the common cold to problems fitting in to this "society" we have to live with a diagnostic code. Don't worry, you know who you truly are. No one in society can see the code, it's not written on you. I participated in this argument years ago when I worked for community mental health, then realized that everyone on the planet fits into some code or another in the DSM. It is rather vitally important that you have the best possible code for your situation, so that you can take advantage of every possible help you can get, especially in the medical field, i.e. surgery, etc. We can loathe the state of medicine and health care as it stands, but don't refuse to take advantage of it. Just make certain you are being diagnosed the best possible way.
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GID or GD? I do not really care which. No matter what you call it I will still have it.
Some practices are so slow to make the switch. I know that in the clinic I work at, I enter the diagnostic code for Gender Identity Disorder when I encounter a trans patient. My work is pretty ahead-of-the-curve with trans care, imo, so tbh, I thought GID was still the standard term.
Imagine my surprise when my therapist gently explained, ''Look, I don't want to make you feel like I'm pathologizing your gender, but I have to enter in a code, so I'm diagnosing you with Gender Dysphoria.'' I was so used to the old term that I almost started laughing. GD sounds so much nicer than GID to my ears that his hesitance and tact almost seemed over the top.
I believe the official changeover was in 2013, but it does come slowly. Some people prefer to pathologize us. Changes to the DSM are never 100% supported.