Many people think you're mentally ill if you have GID. And the DSM is there to prove them right. After all, it is a manual of mental disorders and GID is in it.
A lot of what we see and read shows people out there talking about things like bathroom privileges being the same as allowing pedophiles in the womens bathroom, blah, blah, blah. Of course we know this is an irrational fear, or phobia.
Well, phobia is in the DSM too. It's under anxiety disorders. According to one psychiatrist,
"As per the DSM-IV, a phobia is defined as a significant amount of anxiety due to a specific stimulus or situation that subsequently leads to avoidance of that stimulus or situation. Phobias are clearly related to anxiety disorders. They both present with a syndrome of anxiety-like symptoms that when exacerbated can cascade into a full-blown anxiety attack, but the difference is that phobias are stimulated by a perceived fear of a particular stimulus or situation."
"leads to avoidance", "perceived fear", sounds a lot like the people who are trying to tell us we're nuts.
The next time you're faced with someone who says you need psychiatric help, ask then why they think that. Eventually you'll get the the fact they simply don't know anything about being TG and their opinions are most likely rooted in phobia.
Then you can let them know they might have an anxiety disorder called phobia and you can suggest a good therapist to help them.
This is rich.
I love it. I am definitely going to remember that. :laugh: :laugh:
Blessed Be
Hugs and Love
Janet
:D That is brilliant, Julie!!
I Really love this Julie ! ;D
Jamie
This made me lol.
Thanks!
Quote from: Julie Marie on November 30, 2009, 12:50:20 PM
The next time you're faced with someone who says you need psychiatric help, ask then why they think that. Eventually you'll get the the fact they simply don't know anything about being TG and their opinions are most likely rooted in phobia.
My reaction would be either to depart their vicinity immediately as an inbecile not worthy of debating and perhaps a danger as well, or asking if she/he was the psychiatrist or patient? I know, that sounds like a flee or fight response and a half. Who said I was balanced?
SusanKG
lovvvvv it thanks julie
jessica
JM -
You hit the nail on the head!
KK
If you really ever managed to really nail the community of therapists down I think they believe that everyone ought to be in therapy anyway.
Quote from: tekla on December 01, 2009, 11:47:10 AM
If you really ever managed to really nail the community of therapists down I think they believe that everyone ought to be in therapy anyway.
Everyone is crazy!
But thanks for the good laugh Julie
That's great, I think I'll use this at some point.
Quote from: tekla on December 01, 2009, 11:47:10 AM
If you really ever managed to really nail the community of therapists down I think they believe that everyone ought to be in therapy anyway.
I'm not sure I would disagree with them if they did.
Quote from: shanetastic on December 01, 2009, 06:23:29 PM
Everyone is crazy!
But thanks for the good laugh Julie
Oh, it wasn't intended to be for laughs. I'm serious. Just because the majority of people are phobic doesn't mean they don't have an anxiety disorder. And there's no reason we can't turn this around. Hell, there's a book the mental health professionals use as their bible that backs us up. Why not use it to our advantage rather then letting them keep beating us over the head with it? ;D
Great point, Julie. We need to be more on the offensive.
Gennee
:)
I have had a few conversations that went this way. Usually if someone is willing to talk, I'm willing to listen, even if they have a negative reaction. I try to be reasonable and ask questions, and eventually it gets down to their fear -- their fear of me, or their discomfort, or whatever. And that's my cue to start comforting them in their difficult time of crisis and transition.
The only problem is that when people say, "this is hard for me," it's a little empty. I'm sorry, but I don't see how. Just use the right name and gender; it's not any harder than a vocab quiz in Spanish 101. Meanwhile, I'm (metaphorically) writing a doctoral dissertation on sociology and gender. So it can be hard to have any pity.