To think that the majority of trans people are neurodivergent

[SlipperSliders]

...and I sort of think it's a form of neurodivergence in itself.

By the way I'm trans affirmative.

I don't think I've met a trans person who I thought was neurotypical.

I think it's far more about being ND, they feel they're different and don't fit in, being trans seems like a reason why. The high levels of people who transition seems to me to support this.

@Daleksatemyshed sorry please can you clarify?

I think it's far more about being ND, than what?

The high levels of people who transition seems to me to support this. Do you mean the high levels of ND people?

I'm quietly proud to consider myself enby, my body, my life, my choice, and so many reasons.

And I'm ND.

And I've a massive social network of other alternative, ND queers.

It's a huge area of study I wish I had the degree to be undertaking at post grad level; the way various things from autoimmune and genetic conditions/ disabilities intersect with being non heterosexual or otherwise identifying as queer/ gender queer, and those intersecting with being ND...

But it's important that people don't equate someone being ND as meaning their sexuality or gender identity is therefore somehow invalid.

No two disabled ND queer folk are identical.

I know five trans or nb teenagers through my work, ranging from 14 to 19 years old.

Every one of them is nd. This cannot be a coincidence.

Very small group here but out of 4 nieces/nephews I have who are ND, 3 are/have been trans.

A huge amount of friends with ND young adult children also identify as trans. Doesn’t mean they all are but there seems a higher percentage.

I've never transitioned but it seems to me there isn't one single group of people who do. I know that about ten years ago 35% of referrals to GIDS were either diagnosed ND or present with very strong traits of neurodiversity (must look up the exact stats) which is obviously a HUGELY significant overrepresentation, so i agree with you to an extent.

What I don't know is what proportion of those were male and what proportion female. Because of the people I know who have transitioned, I would say all the women are neurodivergent (usually undiagnosed, or diagnosed post transition).

Having said that, the men I know who've transitioned may indeed be ND - if anything they are men who present with traits associated with the female presentation of ASD, if that's not too confusing.

I hope in 100 years we will know far more about what neurodiversity really is, and what makes people want to transition.

@glittercunt

But it's important that people don't equate someone being ND as meaning their sexuality or gender identity is therefore somehow invalid.

Yes I whole heartedly agree.

I just wonder if some transphobic people may hate less if they realised that they are being hateful to a group of marginalised ND people.

I completely accept I'm saying this with no supporting evidence. I can't recall who it was who was talking about it either, apologies 🤦‍♀️

But, a guy I watched online made alot of sense to me in describing research on trans individuals. He did say that a high proportion were ND and associated this with Identity struggles experienced by many ND people translating into a gender identity issue. The second group were victims of severe abuse and trauma wishing to disassociate with their body and identity.

I myself wonder if there are individuals where there is some biological difference on a level we can't measure. There is just some change or something going on biologically that predisposes one to identify with the opposite sex. I feel this because it's a hell of a life to ' choose' with alot of prejudice and hardship tbh.

Just picking up on some of the language in this thread. Is queer now an acceptable term? In the 90s this was an all out insult. Need to update my mindset clearly so please educate me!

Seeing ND girls and young women going for mastectomies and identifying as trans long before they can access any meaningful support for living as ND people in an NT world doesn't make me feel hate. It's fucking distressing.

The trans people I know have all been abused.

As I said, a lot of ND people feel they're different, they may find it hard to make friends or are bullied at school. No one wants to feel left out, everyone wants to belong in a group. People talk about being trans and some ND people think that's the answer, that's the reason why they don't feel accepted, because they should have been the opposite sex. They transition and find a new peer group but unfortunately some of them find it doesn't help so they change their minds.
I'm not saying it's the case for everyone by a long way but as you said yourself the ND do seem much more likely to see themselves this way. I hope that my bluntness isn't offensive, it isn't meant to be

75% are autistic.

I think sometimes it’s a reflection of the parlous state of CAMHS in this country, my son is autistic and I’m assuming he will have a hard time as a teenager with hormones etc. I know there won’t be support for him, and I know that he will be vulnerable.

I've said this before. 100% correlation in those I know too.

There is definitely a link. I know 10 people that all said they were trans and each one had either autism or Asperger’s. Thankfully each one saw sense.

OK. What's your point?

I think that any difference in people is picked up on at a young age and that is an easy targeted for bullies and abusers.

I hope you're not ignorant enough to think that being abused causes being trans.

I think so too. I think it’s down to not feeling you fit in anywhere, trying to work out who you are and the fact it’s being thrust upon young people too.

I am ND myself and always struggled to know where I fit in, followed many different styles and trends as a teen trying to find my own style. I’m sure if it was waves in my face as a teen I would have decided to be trans. I always fit in better with the boys, was/am a Tom boy. At the age of 42 is still often feel like I don’t fit in especially around females……though I am 100% female and not trans.

My dd is trans and also diagnosed ASD and ADHD.

Yep clear link. I again think for some folk it can be an identity issue - not feeling like fitting in, and having to change elements of self until they find somewhere they feel they belong. Imo

Those who identify as trans are more likely to be ND, female, teenager, history of trauma, to name a few. This isn't a surprise to anyone who's been following this.

No, it’s a disgusting homophobic slur and I’ve reported that post

None of the trans people I know have been abused….I would say they are ND though.

My knowledge is limited, a psychologist explained to me, is that many ND people don't see gender in the binary way neurotypicals do.
Re language ( someone up thread mentioned) ASD is offensive to much of the autistic community given the word disorder.

Guess depends what you consider the definition of neurodivergent. Many can't imagine thinking that way because they aren't trans, so I guess they're divergent. But thats only because the way they think and see things isn't considered the 'normal'. Personally I don't really see neurotypical as a thing. What if 60% of people were ND in some way, does that then become neurotypical as thats what most are?

What about LGBTQ+ ....what does the Q stand for??

What is "trans affirmative"?