Just a question re transgender

[drasticdonkey]

I'm part of a following online (think sci-fi) and I've noticed that this group of people is increasingly made of trans people/gender fluid/queer people etc.

Not only that, but as I've gotten to know the group more/become closer to people I've noticed the following:

• The prevalence of mental health issues in this group
• the prevalence of adhd/autism in this group
• many of them have POTS, or chronic pain conditions or ehlers Danlos.
• the clothing and hair is also very similar, almost like a uniform
• they enjoy certain sci fi shows/certain characters and really become fixated on every aspect of it
• fights often erupt as people get easily offended over very silly things and almost compete to be the "worst off or have the worst mental health" if that makes sense

I suppose my question and thoughts turned to "is any of this connected?!". Has any science/research properly investigated these links? Aibu to wonder if all these things are connected - in particular the medical aspects?

I'm not aiming to offend on this thread but really I'm just curious re the genetic aspect

The autism link is fairly strong. It's not surprising. If you feel different to other people you seek an explanation on why you're different.

If you find people who confirm and praise you for this difference you feel accepted. You are likely to do whatever they say to keep that acceptance.

You may have rigid thinking that confirms gender stereotyping rather than challenging it.

In young people I think it's mostly about trying to find acceptance/somewhere to fit in.

The autism link with "nerdy" things, and then with intense online communities that are now learning more trans is strong.

I am ND and have left a lot of spaces because it has been completely inundated.

I was called a Terf a few times, but the worst was for talking about how shit infertility is for women and the pressure of going to family events and being asked "when are you guys having a baby".

Because I didn't say "infertility is shit for cis and trans women" I wasn't being inclusive and I was ignoring their pain.

At that point, I had had enough.
It is NOT the same taking hormones to mess with your body and then becoming infertile.

And anyone that can't see the societal pressure placed on women and what we go through with infertility treatments is an idiot.

I have EDS/POTS ADD etc but am fully GC (and not into sci fi etc). They're is a huge correlation between ADD/Asd and EDS though, that is proven

As the mother of autistic children I can say this seems accurate my boys are misgendered often and the medical and school community and staff try to push this onto my children and give me pitying looks if I tell them no they are definitely MALE it's almost like they are fighting the urge to pat me on the head (there there deluded one) then they speak to the boys who tell them they are boys they then randomly decide that they are parroting my views and give them "opportunities" and "space" to discuss things if they need to elder ds takes his space elsewhere because these people are weirdos

You are in contact with real live not of this earth aliens???
👽👽👽 < ???

Do they realllly hang out in area 52??

Autism and mental health issues are hugely over represented in those with transgender identities. So are childhood trauma and having lost a parent.

Hannah Barnes’s book Time To Think goes into the comorbidities and it makes pretty alarming reading. These kids have so much they need help with.

That’s an interesting observation, I know a family who live near me where the parents are professional sci-fi/fantasy/speculative fiction writers. The mum who is the more successful author has chronic fatigue syndrome and has recently (in her 40s) come out as bi, the dad has long covid and has just announced he has sensory processing issues, the eldest son has autism and a recent history of school refusal; and they transed their younger son when he was only about 9 or 10 and the parents are very vocal on social media about having a ‘sweet trans daughter’ so the poor boy has been left no room to one day change his mind and put it all down to normal experimentation with his identity.

Around 10 years ago they presented as a ‘normal’ family with both parents in regular jobs, both boys happy and thriving young boys and it seems like since their speculative fiction writing careers took off they have all seeming developed all these labels and become very vocal members of the alphabet community. Was this a prerequisite of being accepted by their peers or all coincidental I wonder?

Unfortunately a lot of people self diagnose with POTS, Ehlers Danlos and so on because there is so much misinformation about the conditions online. This has led to those who really have the conditions being treated even more badly by doctors than in the past: they're basically being seen as "TikTok illnesses" now! It's not surprising that when people are picking up other identity labels via social contagion, they'd also acquire disability labels too.

Autistic people are especially vulnerable to online pressure, so that may be a factor, but equally not everyone who thinks they are non neurotypical really is: it's another situation of labels becoming fashionable in certain online places like Discord and Reddit and TikTok. I'm not saying these conditions aren't real (of course not! I am autistic myself), but there absolutely are people with a "gotta catch 'em all" mentality.

It's not actually definitively proven. There is some suggestive but early evidence. The diagnostic criteria for each condition are completely separate.

My nephew is trans and has adhd

I think it’s about seeking acceptance on every level. About not being judged and being celebrated for who you are. I think the link is a social one, predominantly. So, naturally spaces and places where individuality is celebrated are proportionately more weighted towards difference. I do think there is a link between autism and social me kinds of role play as ‘wearing a mask’ is a very natural thing for an autistic person to do. I am a carer to an autistic teen, that’s what’s informing my beliefs.

OP, as a GP of nearly 30 years, it is my observation that those things often go together. Predominately young women. Often long Covid too. Make of that what you will.

Yes, I know a few people who tick every box described here. All early to mid 30s women. All quite hard work, avid tiktokers, identities very wrapped up in being a chronically ill nerd.

I have observed that people who have been damaged by long term situations e.g. narcissistic parents, sibling or school bullying, often associate themselves those they perceived to be persecuted minorities. See also: animal rights activists.

Absolutely connected, to be a part you have to wear the uniform, tick the many boxes too, helps if you're autistic (self diagnosed) have funky coloured hair or a shaved part, EDS is a popular one, POTS, be trans or non binary, I could go on.

There is a very very strong link between girls who identify as trans and severe mental illness and past childhood sexual abuse or trauma. Also, according to one autism society report, up to two thirds of all people with autism claim to be trans. So there is a definite link mental illness and autism, which suggests its not actually 'trans' but mental illness and running away from trauma to something that gives them 'status'.

What kind of uniform are they wearing?

If your whole life is predicated on pretending you're something you're not, mental stability is not likely to be a predominant trait.

This is the one time I would have loved for you to say Trans women ARE women. Just to see them splutter in outrage. 😆

I think this is partly a human in-group desire which isn't new. "Tribes" have always been there and there always have been people who have made membership of their "tribe" and the various markers thereof the core of their identity, with the majority just going along with it.

Online communities have given previously socially marginalised individuals the opportunity to form groups in ways they previously couldn't (good!) but come with the same behaviours as all other tribes (sometimes bad).

Examples of online tribe behaviour outside this particular community that I noticed when I was first pregnant nearly 20 years ago was the use of signature tickers which detailed children, baby/pregnancy losses, disabilities of children, disabilities of the parent. It did come across in some of the users as a way of displaying your "badges", with the more badges you had, the more respect you could expect on the forum.

What starts with a supportive community to help people through isolation and pain can morph into something less healthy fairly easily - possibly inevitably.

Edited to add, an as we well know, people on the internet (and in real life tbh) aren't always who they say they are. People who are lacking in some way in their own life can sometimes be attracted by any sort of attention hence made-up or exaggerated twins, triplets, terminal illness, chronic illness etc.

You don't need science/research to make a list of attention-seeking behaviours.

The only one missing is veganism.

Very true.

Hang on a sec, if transwmen ARE women, then surely it's transphobic to other them and list them separately to actual women?

You're well out of that group of mindless, groupspeak-spouting idiots. Idiots who believe that they're inclusive, supportive heroes if they bash someone when she's down.

ditalini.
Some great points.👍