Crossdressing to possibly become a mental disease!

[Empress Lainie]

I read in a post somewhere else that two doctors are trying to get crossdressing`declared as transvestism, a mental disease for the new DSM V.

I thought we had gone far beyond that. These psychos actually want everyone to need their so-called "therapy".

Perhaps they are also going to revert to gays and lesbians also being mentally ill, too?

This is really frightening.

Bad enough that I have to consider that I have GID, a completely NON-disease.

[Joni Marie Cruz]

Hi Lainie-

Thank you, I recall seeing the same thing recently on another site I belong to. As I recall it was Dr who believes that it is a disorder especially in adolescents and children and that it can be "cured", whatever that may mean. I'll do some more research on it myself, but I'm betting Batty is up to date on it as she is with so many things that touch on TG issues. Yoo-hoo, Batty, dear, are there?

I do think it's very frightening and goes hand in hand with the belief that being gay or lesbian is some sort of disease that not only can be treated but should be treated. For years, the working definition of a disorder was something that caused a problem in your life. That caused distress for you in your personal life and how it related to your family and work environment. If GID is proclaimed to be a disorder, especially for someone who has not achieved their majority, then they can subjected to treatment even against their own will.

Hugs...Joni Mari

[RachelZ]

Propaganda... They won't rest until everyone is on perscription drugs or in therapy.

[Josie M]

I remember the idea of classifying "gender dysphoria" as a mental illness coming up a few years ago. One of the implications that came up is that it could then be argued that SRS and cost associated with transitioning should be covered under health insurance assuming the person was diagnosed as trans-gendered.

My guess is that politicians would be slow to vote for it...you'd have a better chance of getting health insurance to cover Viagra.

[Nessa88]

Link to this Article?

This doctor sounds like a closet queen himself.

[NathalieX66]

DSM IV lists Transvestic fetishism ( a paraphilia) as a mental disorder *ONLY* if it includes risky or harmful behavior (I forgot how exactly it's worded). Transvestic fetishism, by itself, is not considered mental illness. Google & find the rest (you won't be dissapointed).....I'm too tired to dig it up.
However, I would assume that in some cases, there is an additional layer of obssessive/compulsive disorder on top of the urge to crossdress.....not everybody, just a few. Think about the behaviour of people with gambling addictions.

Rachel the Rocker wrote:

Propaganda... They won't rest until everyone is on perscription drugs or in therapy.

....and that is exactly how I see it.

[Lisa Catherine]

Sounds like another "Piled-higher-and-Deeper" (PhD) with too much time on his hands and a control fixation!

[dawnmarrie1961]

Personally I agree with the doctors. If someone is dressing with "Crosses" they have a severe mental and extreme religious problem.

[Cheshire Gummi]

Ever heard of Anjem Choudary? He's a fruitnoodle over there in the UK who demands that homosexuals be stoned to death in the streets and that people who partake of alcohol be flogged.

Now, he is a Muslim preacher and not a doctor, but it's still the same principle. Just some bigot standing on his soapbox and telling people that have nothing wrong with them that they're corrupted because *insert rationalization here*. Sure, they gather crowds and attention, but usually just because they're so polarizing and wrong that people want to hear what they have to say so they can feel reassured that their beliefs are the right ones.

To put it another way, it will never fly. It's a medieval and barbaric notion that we're "diseased."

[Serena]

Hard to say. Mental illnesses kind of go along with society. Every time they update the big book of mental diseases, it has a factor in it. For example: homosexualism used to be a mental disease, but society has gradually been more accepting. While I wouldn't put it past people to consider crossdressing a mental disease, since it is becoming more accepted every day, it will most likely not fly.

[Persephone]

R. D. Laing, the well-known Scottish psychiatrist argued that insanity (particularly schizophrenia) was a sane response to an insane society.

[allisonrn06]

It was my understanding that at one time crossdressing was considered a disorder, but in recent years this was no longer the case, and that if one were to go for counseling, they would not be treat you for CD'ing but for any problems arising from, it eg: depression,marital problems, etc. I know that when I took a psychology course a few years back they said that homosexuality had been removed from the DSM as a disorder, don't know why they'd be backtracking on crossdressing, especially since psychology in general seeems to be an open minded profession. (or at least pretends to be)

[Mya Summers]

Just another way for the governments to try and control our every move, and tell us who we are they can kiss my A$$

[PaulaJaneThomas]

In the UK we view things differently. Here the D in GID stands for Dysphoria not Disorder. It's a big difference. As for the wider trans community, I've yet to find any meaningful research which adds anything to Hershfeld's efforts. Any dual-role gender variant person who ends up needing psychiatric care is likely to have mental issues separate from their gender identity and so are not representative of the wider trans community. But for anyone who wants to stigmatise trans people rather than understand them those patients make very good ammunition.

[I AM Medoro]

Just wish to say that if society will just let me be who I am with out pointing fingers, laughing, or coming up with these sarcastic phrases I would be the happiest man/woman that ever lived.
I am not looking to be transgendered. I just love to sit back at times and put a comfortable dress on, a silky slip under garmet and my flats.l
I would love to go shopping for dresses and be able to try them on before purchasing them. No can do.
Some day this clothing thing will come to pass with our redicoulis rules and we can become who we really are!

MEDORO

[cindyscute]

Everything is a disease today that requires medication or therapy. It's just another way the medical industry can get more cashflow. They don't care about you only your dollars. See how far you can get without insurance. I had a friend that died that they refused to treat because he didn't have health insurance. When he finally got it he died two months later. Pretty soon opening your eyes in the morning will be a disease.

[Laura_Stephens]

DSM III also lists "Transvestic fetishism" as a mental illness.

[Nicole Erin]

Propaganda... They won't rest until everyone is on perscription drugs or in therapy.

Yeah no shit, kind of for the same reason anyone of any profession tells you something is wrong with your body, mind, car, finances, neighborhood, electrical, kitchen sink, etc...

Look on the birght side folks - if GID is listed as a disorder or whatever, maybe it would be easier for TS to get on HRT and all that. Maybe insucrance would pick up parts of the bill.

[Rachel Morley]

Any dual-role gender variant person who ends up needing psychiatric care is likely to have mental issues separate from their gender identity and so are not representative of the wider trans community. But for anyone who wants to stigmatise trans people rather than understand them those patients make very good ammunition.

Exactly! .... I totally agree with Paula's comment.

[LaceyMay]

I would love to go shopping for dresses and be able to try them on before purchasing them. No can do.

MEDORO :

Why can't you try them on in the store? I do all the time now.
The only thing that was stopping me before, was my fear of other peoples reactions. Ends up that most SA's are more then willing to help me when I shop. I actually have had all the staff of a store drop everything just to help little ole me..lol

Remember they are strangers, who cares what they think.
Also it is easier to buy it once knowing it fits. Instead of returning somethings over and over until you get the right size or fit.

Sorry for the mini rant.

Hugs
Lacey May

[Jodi]

DSM III also lists "Transvestic fetishism" as a mental illness.

Yes Laura. The DSM III did have it listed as a mental disorder. THe DSM III is now gone. The DSM IV-TR is the bible today.

It is interesting to note that what had held up the final publishing of the DSM IV was that certain factions wanted PMS listed as a mental disorder. It might have sounded good at the time, but when it was analyzed and studied, the overall ramifications on the medical profession, employers, and possible disability claims finally nixed it.

[KiraJ]

A person who cross dresses becomes mentally disturbed not because he/she cross dresses, but rather because of the reactions of people around him/her to cross dressing. The people who over-react negatively to cross dressers are the ones who have a mental disease. A cross dresser wearing clothes that someone does not consider appropriate has zero effect on the existence of that someone, hence any negative reaction by that someone indicates inability for reasonable judgment and mental instability.

[Vickii*]

Relax. I don't think anyone should be frightened over this. It's all he-say-she-say right now.

Everyone thinks doctors are out to get them.

[Samantha B L]

I've been to psychiatrists and I've been prescribed medications for reasons having nothing to do TG/TS/CD or LGBT concerns. Most doctors and therapists nowadays don't consider those things to be mental illness but there are quite a few who won't discuss that stuff at length because talk about "dressing in drag" grosses them out. Lainie,it sounds like these two doctors are trying to make as much money as they can on publishing and on the lecture circuit before someone denouces their ridiculous ideas and they have to get off the gravy train. Any psychiatrist or phd psychologist will tell you that every year unknown mental health professionals anounce all sorts of quack cures and silly theories.

[Empress Lainie]

I remember the idea of classifying "gender dysphoria" as a mental illness coming up a few years ago. One of the implications that came up is that it could then be argued that SRS and cost associated with transitioning should be covered under health insurance assuming the person was diagnosed as trans-gendered.

My guess is that politicians would be slow to vote for it...you'd have a better chance of getting health insurance to cover Viagra.

But health insurance and medicare DO cover viagra and equivalent drugs. BUT IT DOES NOT cover SRS, rarely HRT,
my estrace is covered though.