"Gender" Dysphoria Is A Mental Illness.

[TruscumTeen]

I want to start this off by saying that I am transsexual, and that I am in no way intending to offend people - I merely wish to explain why it is extremely important to acknowledge this fact.

For a long time now I have been reading threads from this talk topic. I used to be somewhat of a very politically correct SJW, however I had my eyes opened by these threads (thank you all for that, by the way).

I find it completely and utterly absurd that stating biological facts is now considered "transphobic", and that people actually accept the self-identification of people declaring themselves as trans. I am extremely aware that I am biologically female, and that I always will be. I strongly, strongly disagree with self-identification, and with the idea that transgenderism is not the result of a mental illness.

So, firstly, a definition:
Mental illness = a condition which causes serious disorder in a person's behaviour or thinking.
Now, in the title I put the word "gender" in quotations. This is because transsexuals like myself experience SEX dysphoria - not dysphoria of a social construct.
So, SEX dysphoria causes extreme discomfort and distress. It can lead to other mental illnesses such as eating disorders, depression, anxiety and suicidality. It results in people wanting to mutilate their own bodies. SEX dysphoria literally fits the definition of a mental illness.

Just a quick "rant": We all find it atrocious when people say things like "oh, I'm so OCD"; "you are skinny, so obviously are anorexic", or when people self-diagnose themselves with mental illnesses. So why do people find it acceptable in this case? I see it all the time: "I want short hair, so I'm gender dysphoric"; "I love wearing make up - I must have gender dysphoria". It totally makes a mockery of people who actually have SEX dysphoria, who face a continous struggle against themselves.

Now on to why this fact is important:

If we declasssify SEX dysphoria as a mental illness, we face the inevitability of widespread self-identification. There are so many problems with this (I'll just mention a few):

As many of you will know, there have been documented cases where males self-identify as women and go on to abuse females in supposedly "safe spaces". None of these abusers will have dysphoria, yet are considered "trans" - disagree and you are a bigot.

Males can self-identify as women and threaten lesbians into sleeping with them. This is downright disgusting, and is a real problem.

Declasssifying it will mean removing the treatments (hormones, surgery) from the NHS, having a disastrous, detrimental affect on transsexuals - such as myself -who experience debilitating SEX dysphoria. We cannot afford tens of thousands of pounds in order to alleviate the symptoms of our mental illness. This will lead to a huge increase in transsexual suicides (REAL suicides, not the debunked, skewed current claims), which will be hidden and overlooked due to shouts of a "progressive society" from transactivists and transtrenders.

This is just a relatively brief overview of why acknowledging dysphoria as a mental illness is important. I apologise for the rambling, inarticulate and probably incoherent nature of my post. I am more than happy to answer questions/debate if that is what people wish (though probably tomorrow as I am tired). I just wanted to vocalise my views, as there is a minority of us genuine transsexuals in the "community" who are constantly berated and insulted for stating facts.

Also, to every woman posting in Feminism Chat - I agree with you wholeheartedly and stand with you.

Thank you so much TT. All the best.

Prawnofthepatriachy I think you hugely exaggerate the influence and power that transgender people have. Their lobbying has certainly been more successful recently. They are not presented as freaks and objects of mockery in the press, and their needs are more widely respected.

In what way are eugenics and medical transition analagous other then you think people are "pushing for them"?

TT welcome to FWR! So pleased to have your contribution.

Has the fact that you have come to the same conclusions as gender critical feminists caused you any difficulties with your peers or accessing support from trans-focused organisations?

I sincerely hope you find ways to lessen your dysphoria. Like many women I too loathed my body as an adolescent; I self harmed and developed eating disorders. Fortunately I received amazing care from NHS - it took a long time (2 years) to get through the system & end up at the right place though. Those 2 years were the darkest time of my life (I am nearly 40), and even once I got the right help recovery took many years. But the life I have gone on to live has been glorious, Technicolor, full of adventure & laughter. Something I could never have even imagined in my wildest dreams. So, I just want to say... hang on. Hang in there. Day at a time, or even 30 mins at a time when its really dark. There's no shortcut through the pain, just grit your teeth and hang on. The longer you can delay doing anything irreversible the better.

Blimey! I didn't mean to go off on a personal one there... I'll leave it there though, in case it helps in any small way.

I find it very sad, and a bit annoying, that in a time when we are and should be breaking down stigma about mental health we are constantly reminded that transgenderism is most definitely not a mental health issue, as if that were somehow shameful. Seems a bit defensive to me.

DadJoke

Amongst the other mainstream lobby groups that Maria Miller's committee consulted was Action for Trans Health.

Their manifesto calls for the immediate release of all transgender prisoners, hormones to be given out over the counter, and trans people to be trained in the art of surgery so they can operate on one another.

They also 'loved' a tweet online calling for the violent attack of women, which resulted in the conviction of a transactivist for battery.

Another transactivist consulted, prior to becoming a transactivist, was merely a man who had relentlessly advocated for the legalisation of extreme pornography, involving serious injury to breasts, vaginas and anuses. And the lowering of the legal age of participants.

It would be interesting, for me, to hear, on what basis you think these people were consulted in the context of '...the exaggeration of the influence and power trans people have'.

Thank you Betty

UpStanding Thank you I'm sorry to hear about your adolescent years; it's good to hear you're doing better. I'll definitely wait for as long as I can, and anything medical is a last resort.
In answer to your question, yes. I've never met another trans person in real life who didn't ostracise me. I had to have "a word" with my school's "LGBT officer" because some students were "offended" by me answering a genetics question in biology. I'm not welcome at my sixth form's LGBT society. Those are just a few examples. Thankfully, my friends and most people my age can also see through many current claims, and think it's ridiculous.

TruscumTeen

I'm sure I'm not alone in expressing the wish that you stay around on these boards.

It's incredibly refreshing to hear your experience. As well as interesting. It's not every day we get people willing to answer questions about their gender dysphoria.

And you never know, it might help!

PapaSmurf It has a number of serious consequences as you say, also as outlined by the OP and others.

see also:
Guardian article www.theguardian.com/education/2018/may/15/transgender-row-teachers-afraid-challenge-breast-binding

(extracts)
"This rise is reflected in referrals to the children’s Gender Identity Development Service (Gids), run by the Tavistock and Portman NHS trust, which increased by 1,978% – from 97 in 2009 to 2,016 in 2016-17. Of those children, 70% are biologically female.

Bernadette Wren, a clinical psychologist at Gids, says many young people seen by the service have been bullied or self-harm, and a number are on the autistic spectrum."

"Adele Robinson (not her real name), a head of year at a secondary school, shares Davies-Arai’s worries. The school has had 12 children, all girls, come out as transgender in the past 18 months. The majority, she says, have autism, and some have experienced sexual abuse."

Worth listening to Dr Polly Carmichael, who runs the GIDS. She gave a recent talk to the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Link here:
soundcloud.com/user-664361280/dr-polly-carmichael-developments-and-dilemmas

TruscumTeen

I'm going to link this thread to one running which focuses on the role and experiences of teachers.

Your knowledge, opinion and experience is really important.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3301871-What-do-educators-make-of-what-is-happening-in-our-schools

Thank you Datun. I'll definitely be sticking around - I've got a 10 week holiday with nothing to do!

Thanks R0wan.

You're 16? I hope that when my 11 year old is 16 she is as articulate as you are.

Thank you bellini

DadJoke

You might also want to check out the thread the Ro has linked above.

There are several incidences of the far-reach of powerful and well funded transactivism, in real life.

Including the organised campaign to no platform objectors, specifically radical feminists. And the NHS endorsing propaganda from GIRES, which ignores safeguarding protocols.

As the teacher said, after the training she received, if she had to provide the right answers, according to the training, it would mean her ignoring safeguarding altogether.

Wake up.

truscum your experiences and those of other gender critical transexuals / transgender people are very enlightening, and valuable even though I disagree, and you do not deserve the kind of unpleasantness directed at them by certain transactivists.

I disagree thoroughly with Miranda Yardley, for example, but I think she deserves to be treated with respect. I had no idea you were so young, your articulate writing and confidence led me to believe you were an adult. I wish you every success with your journey.

Thank you DadJoke, I appreciate it

Oh it was all a long time ago now .

Yes I thought you'd probably have problems going against the current trans ideology. Well done you for going against the tide, and I'm glad you have supportive friends.

Definitely stick around here, you are extremely welcome

Many gender critical women here are concerned that it will become impossible for transexual people to get treatment on the NHS under the new rules.

Yes, I really do think this will happen, and honestly think this is why the Tories seem to be behind selfID. Or were, until they realised how unpopular it was with the voting public anyway. Its now a choice for them, between saving the NHS cash, and potentially losing a lot of votes.

Thanks for your post OP. I don't want to say your name as I know transactivists use it as a term of abuse for actual transsexual people..so it doesn't seem right to say it myself.

Thanks for starting this thread. It links with another that's running today:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3303573-This-is-what-the-Portman-Clinic-had-to-say-about-Gender-Transition-in-2002

I also think it's regressive to not be able to talk about the possibility of gender dysphoria being a mental illness. Women are only too experienced in mental illness! We have empathy for that.

Throwing your fellow trans people under the bus won't make transphobes accept you.

AuntMsVanillaRose did you miss that TT is 16?
And if you are accusing people of being transphobes please show some evidence.

I wish all the best for the OP. His clear-eyed and thoughtful consideration of his condition, at such a tender age, bodes well for a good future. I truly hope it may be so.

To address another issue about medicine and conspiracy theories.

The medical fraternity are no more immune to social contagion than anyone else in the community. Nor are they immune to the lure of money: scandals about pharmaceutical companies and kick backs to doctors are common enough to not require references.

There is no need to posit conspiracy theories which can be explained by peer pressure, gullibility and corruption.

The so-called "shaken baby syndrome" comes to mind. Women have gone to prison because of fixed ideas about head trauma in babies.

More recent research has brought this into question and upon review, several convictions have been overturned.
www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/investigations/shaken-baby-syndrome/Mother-released-from-prison-It-hurts-too-bad-to-remember.html

www.newscientist.com/article/mg23230994-100-evidence-of-shaken-baby-questioned-by-controversial-study/

Another example of this kind of moral panic is the "satanic child care" cases of the 80s and 90s. The idea gripped authorities, including the police, courtswww.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/08/24/accused-of-satanism-they-spent-21-years-in-prison-they-were-just-declared-innocent-and-were-paid-millions/?utm_term=.7886da79cf7f and medical system. Again, people went to jail because an entrenched panic created a whole swathe of people who believed, despite any evidence to the contrary.

Once an idea, even an idea which lacks a proper evidence based becomes entrenched, it's very difficult to shift.

For example, there is a concept called "sticky numbers". In this case, statistic appears, which may be nothing but a guess. If the number is repeated often enough, quoted by the media & etc, it develops a credibility which has nothing to do with reality. Once that statistic is in the public sphere, its credibility often goes unquestioned, and those who question it are met with hostility.

Aunt you talk as if being trans is some hive mind. TruscumTeen has no obligation to her "fellow trans people", who, after all, include fetishistic cross dressers and those who are gender fluid, i.e. most of us. Transsexuals have little in common with either group.

As for transohobia, if you see a transphobic comment, please report it. Otherwise don't throw accusations or slurs about.

I also think it's regressive to not be able to talk about the possibility of gender dysphoria being a mental illness. Women are only too experienced in mental illness! We have empathy for that.

There are still people who think that being gay is a mental illness too. Personally I think both are equally regressive attitudes.

Thank you Person

I agree Plants.

Aunt So it's perfectly okay for all of these transtrenders and transactivists to throw women and transsexuals "under the bus", but as soon as we speak up with facts and evidence, we're in the wrong? Okay then.
Also, for all the many months I've been reading this forum, I have never seen a transphobic post on this forum - and I know what "transphobia" is and feels like.

Thank you Dance and Prawn