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I think there is yet much to learn on the topics and it is evident that gender identity (and in all likelihood BIID, also) is indeed at least SOMETIMES a delusion that is the result of a diseased brain.
Is there a way to test the brain chemistry other than through autopsy. If so--THAT should be a criteria for SRT.
I read something that suggested BIID was very like Phantom Limb, but only in reverse. That would be the same sort of brain chemistry issue that you are citing as why GID should be surgically treated.
It may be that it is a delusion, a symptom of another disorder. But there are already measures that take that into account (DSM-V should have definitely improved in this area). The extensive counseling and the doctors' consent, and all of what everybody who knew a transsexual has said in this thread. The process is a tiresome one, and an exhaustive one.
These measures should give us a good picture of what reality is and what identity is for the transsexual, even though it may not always be correct 100% of the time.
But the fact that there's been such a high degree of success with SRT points towards the idea that identity is not dictated by the body. When you put all of this together, it suggests that the high majority of the cases dealing with GID are cases concerning Identity, not delusions.
I think your use of language here is a little deceiving. It is not the job of psychiatry to determine an objective reality, and then "fix" those who do not not conform to it;
rather, those who perceive reality in such a way that it is hindering their functionality in society may seek treatment. On a more complex level, you could also say that society has such a level of conformity that it is the rest of us who fail this minority, as opposed to accusing the minority of being delusional. That is to say, just like many societies have integrated many cultural, gender, and sexual identities into one place peacefully, perhaps it could also be useful to integrate the disabled and those who perceived reality differently as well.
Disorders are generally diagnosed when a person cannot function in their community; perhaps the community is equally responsible for this lack of functionality?
How do you create a picture of what reality is? What is reality?
This is what I was pointing to earlier. Identity is not necessarily determined by the body, however if the body does not conform with the needs of the mind then there may be a serious psychological disharmony.
Then why post at all?
Australian researchers have identified a significant link between a gene involved in testosterone action and male-to-female transsexualism.
DNA analysis from 112 male-to-female transsexual volunteers showed they were more likely to have a longer version of the androgen receptor gene.
The genetic difference may cause weaker testosterone signals, the team reported in Biological Psychiatry.
However, other genes are also likely to play a part, they stressed.
Increasingly, biological factors are being implicated in gender identity.
This isn't what I said at all. Counseling is a dialogue, meaning the involvement of 2 people (at least). The counselor isn't the one determining reality, it's the client. Also, there's a difference between a psychiatrist, and a clinician. Counseling is often done by the clinician. Read back on my posts to get a better understanding of what I said about counseling and exhaustive testing.
Counseling in my mind isn't a determination of reality. Counseling is what clinicians use to help their clients. It's a reflective process, and based upon those reflections, the clinician can determine whether or not they have a disorder depending upon if their reflections matches the symptoms of the disorder.
Counseling isn't a way of determining reality, it's more like reflecting upon reality. Therefore, the "objective reality" depends upon the client.
Well, technically, people get diagnosed even when they don't have any lack of functions. For instance, Restless Legs Syndrome. That's a bull**** disorder. As is the medication for the disorder.
I think I answered this already in the above section. It isn't that the psychologist is determining reality for the client, the psychologist is helping the client reflect, and therefore helping them create a better understanding of who they are. That reality is dependent upon the individual.
Who the **** made you god.
so we see a series of new "diseases" being created each year in order to sell newer and more expensive medications.
I don't necessarily disagree with this statement. It has been used in conjunction with BIID, saying that it's a new condition that had been created by some medical people, and that if it gets officialy codified in the DSM, we'd see a resurgence of people self-identifying with it, even if they don't have it, as if it was "chic" to have BIID.
I'm convinced that if it gets in the "shrink's bible" we will see more people with BIID, but only because of growing awareness that these feelings are an actual honest-to-goodness condition. People have these feelings and feel extremely isolated, thinking they are the only ones. I hear it several times per month, people emailing me saying "thank you for your site, I thought I was the only one feeling this way".
And BIID isn't new. Perhaps the name is new, and awareness of the condition is new, but it certainly isn't. There's mention of a case that appears to be BIID in a medical memoir from France dating from the late 1700's. Just food for thoughts.
Besides, in the case of BIID, I doubt doctors would be in league with pharmaceutical companies to sell more drugs, considering that courses of medication aren't actually helping transabled individuals...
I think that its better to accept one's lot in life biologically and to accept one's role in sexual interaction than to indulge this idea that you aren't the right sex. Sex or gender is determined by biology. It's not determined by one's fantasy that your sex is what you want to make it.
But... It's not indulgence. It's not fantasy. Yeah, it is biology, but not biology you can necessarily see with the naked eye...
You know, I have watched this thread for a while and have commented in it but I find it so hard to accept. I am a gay man. I have issues of feminine versus masculine roles to deal with daily and consistently. I just find it hard to believe that gender disorders have anything more to do with the ability to accept one's sexual role than biology. I think that its better to accept one's lot in life biologically and to accept one's role in sexual interaction than to indulge this idea that you aren't the right sex. Sex or gender is determined by biology. It's not determined by one's fantasy that your sex is what you want to make it. That's just weird to me.
Yeah, I am a homo and I love dick. I mean, I reaaaaaallly reaaaaallly love it. But I also love my dick and what I can do with it. Perhaps some kind of counseling that makes you understand your dick and how it plays into your existence would be better than cutting it off and making a clit out of it.
I dunno. I am not judging. I am just commenting based on my own experience.
I find that all so...difficult. I just dont get it. I'm sorry, but I don't. I try. I really do, but I just don't.
I'm you're regular five-and-a-half foot Asian American. I speak Cantonese. I'm gifted in math. I graduated with honors in high school. You know...the typical Asian.
Yet, I feel like I shoulda been born a Mexican American. And I'm being dead serious, no joke. I love Latina women. Not only the women but I love their lifestyle, their food, the type of family structure. I think I would be a lot happier if I was Mexican. I mean I don't hate my life or anything, but I have a great attraction to that sort of lifestyle.
...Posole sounds pretty good right about now - lol
I'm an Obese man trapped in a slim man's body. I eat nothing but fudge and beef jerky 24 hours a day and I still cannot expand my girth to anythintg respectable.
I cry at night while watching the Biggest Loser because these people have no idea what they are giving up and how much I would love to be them.
I love Pie and Cake and Processed foods. I eat chicken sandwiches from vending machines by the half dozen and nothing.
I'm thinking about having a fat transplant. Do they do that yet?
When I started playing WoW I gained nearly 20 pounds. Maybe you can do that?
I tried that after the South Park episode, but nothing. I think the fat transplant is my only solution.
My professional opinion would be for you to take at least 30 hours of counseling from the Captain. Run some diagnostics, and then decide whether you want reverse-lipo. The Supersize diet plan seems to work for most people, but you may be an exception.
I've struggled to get up to nearly 200lbs* while consuming double fudge Ice cream by the 1/2 gallon for 8 months.
Unfortunately, It's mostly muscle mass. I want to be flabby, Damnit!
It sounds like you have an overactive thyroid.
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