Gender identity as a trauma response

[BonfireLady]

I'm aware that the Cass Report cites trauma as one of the co-morbidities that needs to be unpicked when examining the reasons why someone might feel gender dysphoria, that looked after children are over-represented proportionally in gender clinics (and many have experienced trauma) and of lots of anecdotal accounts of people who have experienced trauma (e.g. sexual assault) identifying as the opposite sex. The common theme behind all of it is the idea of a gender identity developing as a trauma response.

What I'm not aware of, but would like to collate to share with someone I'm talking to currently, is any papers or books specifically on this.

Does anyone on this board know of any?

I don't have any articles to hand but will be interested to see what is (hopefully) posted here in response to your question.

In the meantime, have you heard of the Bayswater Support group? Quite a lot of info on their site:

https://www.bayswatersupport.org.uk/

It reminds me of watching shows where people are very overweight and disproportionately seem to have suffered sexual abuse in their childhood and teens and say they feel that they ate in order to feel protected from men. Which I guess makes sense. No longer wanting to appeal to the opposite sex, for saftey purposes.

So maybe there's some studies on that that would be useful to learn about and, could be transferable.

You would think that the government would task someone the job of looking into that further, wouldn't you?

Thank you. I hadn't thought to look through their resources. I've just had a look now and unfortunately there is nothing specifically on a trauma response. I'll have a look through Transgender Trend, Sex Matters and Safe Schools Alliance too to see if they have anything on it.

It's frustrating that we hear it so often anecdotally but I don't recall seeing anything specifically about it.

Yes, likewise for anorexia.

Whilst it's useful to say it's similar to these things (because it is) it would be so much better to have something to point to that pulls it all together. Otherwise it just comes across as me offering an opinion that it's similar.

It may be that there's just night enough information, or at least, official studies on it yet.

Many people don't want to talk about their childhood abuse until they've grown up afterall and this new wave of trans identity is still in its relative infancy.

Not to mention , it suits some people and institutions for such discussions and studies to be quashed.

I suspect 20 years from now it'll be common place discussion from many detransitioners.

I have never ever head anyone else talk about the prevalence of the development of ocd in teenage girls and how when coupled with and revolving around physical vulnerability or things like tokophobia (fear of pregnancy on childbirth) it can cause extreme distress and discomfort about one's body. That was my own experience and I'm so glad i wasn't around with trans was a big thing as I would have absolutely viewed myself as a boy. Because my body (and its vulnerablities) were just 'not me' or anything I wanted to be a part of. I wanted to distance myself from it - for saftey.

Going on the pill and overcoming my ocd, resolved things for me.

Some women may of course feel vulnerable due to sexual assaults. Causing that severe wish to disconnect with their bodies. But for me it was the ocd that upped the anxieties.

If you look at childfree forums, you'll see many people discuss tockophobia and also, being trans. But like I say I've never heard other people talk about the obvious connections. Even though we know things like ocd amd other mental health issues often develop in teen years. And so can anxieties and phobias.

Thank you for sharing that @Pinkbonbon 💐

Also, this seems pertinent:

It may be that there's just night enough information, or at least, official studies on it yet.
Many people don't want to talk about their childhood abuse until they've grown up afterall and this new wave of trans identity is still in its relative infancy.

There should be something in the US or Canada. I saw a youtube video in which someone referred to statistics. I will look for it.

Another problem never mentioned is that traumatised children often have severe toileting issues: incontinence, soiling, urinating, smearing poo at walls etc. They are often very scared of going to the toilet, of being locked in cubicles etc. Toilets are a huge issue for many traumatised children and this often continues into the teenage years. They need safe spaces in which they can go to the toilet, free from people of the opposite sex.

No problem.

Side note, iactuslly got banned last week from a childfree forum discussion about tockophobia for basically just sharing my experience as above. Nothing disrespectful. Just pointing out my experience.

Because how dare I point out that many young women may be going through similar and instead of getting the correct treatment for them, being told their discomfort is gender dysphoria.

Meaningful discussions that may help others, are being silenced for fear of upsetting the minority of radical activists unfortunately.

Found this;
www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2022/04/81999/

It's not going to be possible I would imagine to break apart the hologram. I look at a child with a history of trauma and a trans identity and I see them in that order (that a trans identity is a coping strategy, more or less maladaptive). Someone else looks at a trans child with a history of trauma and sees them in that order (that being trans means people abuse you). Even I wouldn't try to deny that children with trans identities definitely get abused and bullied, and once in a blue moon murdered.

Eg
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10914351/

I have not rewatched it, but I think Jenn Smith mentioned some statistics. The figures might have been on children in care, who are of course all traumatised.

This is only really commentary but might of background interest genspect.org/gender-identity-through-the-lens-of-developmental-trauma/

Not empirical of course but this article struck me as a likely example of this

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jun/10/elliot-page-juno-hollywoods-dark-side-coming-out-twice

From this article

“Returning to the case of Ms Kiefel, her lawsuit raises questions about how mental health, and particularly past trauma, may play a role in gender dysphoria and in the desire for some TGNB individuals to pursue treatment such as gender-affirming hormones or surgeries. Viewing traumatic experiences and gender dysphoria in strict isolation from each other may pose problems in delivering “culturally competent, evidence based, and effective treatment” given the high rate of exposure to trauma for those with gender or sexual minority status.27 Furthermore, limiting clinical focus to the stresses related to minority status and/or discrimination may risk overlooking the role of early traumatic experiences that are antecedent to a patient’s current or recent struggles.28,29Among traumatic stressors, sexual assault has one of the highest rates of subsequent PTSD development.30 From a psychological standpoint, it seems plausible that in some instances, sexual trauma may facilitate vulnerability to gender dysphoria. Given that psychiatry is a tremendously complex field in which it is important to avoid traps of dichotomous thinking, it is prudent to carefully consider the totality of individual patient’s circumstances. Therefore, it seems inflexible to never explore whether trauma and/or PTSD related symptoms in a patient with such a history might be related to avoidance of reminders of their prior gender identity. This is particularly the case where the individual experiences their previous gender identity as distressing or unpleasant. Certainly, the unique backgrounds and variety of transgender individuals indicate that the clinical interview must adapt and take into account the diverse experiences of this heterogenous group. In turn, this may hopefully add to the research base and further improve guidelines for assessment, treatment, and documentation.”

www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/trauma-and-transition-trajectories-the-risk-of-caenisian-reversion

Thanks all. There are lots of great links above. Much appreciated.

Yes, this is what happened to me. I've been facing sexism as a boy and that led to these feelings. I'm still struggling with it.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1359104518791657?journalCode=ccpa

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/13418731_Adoptee_Overrepresentation_among_Clinic-Referred_Boys_with_Gender_Identity_Disorder

https://www.adoptivefamilies.com/parenting/higher-rates-of-adoption-among-transgender-youth/

www.wbur.org/news/2016/08/01/transgender-adoption

something I’ve noticed but not really seen collated/documented beyond the anecdotal is what seems to be a high number of FtM transitioners amongst those adopted overseas, especially those adopted from China as baby girls.

Hi @afraidanonaccount I hope you can find some peace. I'd want anyone to be able to live their life in the best way for them and in a way that allows them to heal and flourish without harming others. Whatever that looks like. I have to hope that also includes peace with your own body.

https://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/0099/ea0099p144

https://www.compassfostering.com/advice/fostering-lgbt-youth

(apologies if any of these are already on the thread, I’m just pulling links from my bookmarks)

And Tish has looked into materials aimed at professionals working with kids in the looked after system:

gendercriticalwoman.blog/2021/05/28/foster-care-the-lgbtq-guidance/

I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you can heal.

I notice Laura Wiley Haynes wrote a brief essay on this on Genspect’s website, and she also did a pod cast with Stephanie Winn discussing childhood trauma? No direct research listed, but her other writings might point to some? Might be worth following her to see if she points explicitly to the link between the two?