Happiness is my shrink telling me I don't need a shrink

[Marleena]

I posted a few months ago that I was seeing a psychiatrist to get me off of a pain killer (cymbalta) that my doctor prescribed for a work injury. That visit I went in armed with pictures of me dressed and outed myself. He was impressed that I was okay with being transgender.

Today was the follow up to see how I was doing. I told him how things were going and he told me I did not need to see him as my condition was not a psychiatric one but a genetics issue. Since I was comfortable with everything he said I did not need anymore appointments. So no intervention is required. This man is my gatekeeper for trans health care here in Ontario and had gotten me a referral last visit for an endocronologist .

So if in doubt that being transgendered is a psychiatric issue this guy was proof it is not.

It's nice to know I'm not mental either.:D

[TeresaL]

Of course you are perfectly normal, no shrink needed. Your needs to be addressed now, are how much, what meds, and how to go forward as you transition. Also, who will be involved in your Social circle of family, friends, and co-workers. Congratulations.

[NathalieX66]

If it's any consolation, I initially thought I needed a counselor or therapist to make me deal with being TG. What for? To eradicate my crossdressing desires, or find some magic cure to keep me from thinking this way? I'm happy this way. This is who I am. If I need to take it further, I will.

You are who you are. No one can take that away from you.
As Ringo from the Beatles always says ( and annoyingly so) ....Peace & love. :shades:

[AberdeenQueen]

Sounds like a *****-monal thing :)
I swear, men have horemoan swings to... some days I want to dress badly and some I just have no interest. We don't have menstrual cycles but some days that everything is going well, I feel down and visa versa. I think we all have the "disorders of borderline, paranoia, scizo, manic depressive, etc... just in very mild degrees... only when they get severe is it "Certifiable". An why be normal... they really scare me.


I posted a few months ago that I was seeing a phsychiatrist to get me off of a pain killer (cymbalta) that my doctor prescribed for a work injury. That visit I went in armed with pictures of me dressed and outed myself. He was impressed that I was okay with being transgender.

Today was the follow up to see how I was doing. I told him how things were going and he told me I did not need to see him as my condition was not a psychiatric one but a genetics issue. Since I was comfortable with everything he said I did not need anymore appointments. So no intervention is required. This man is my gatekeeper for trans health care here in Ontario and had gotten me a referral last visit for an endocronologist .

So if in doubt that being transgendered is a psychiatric issue this guy was proof it is not.

It's nice to know I'm not mental either.:D

[Kate Simmons]

Well yeah. the last shrink I went to see I went to see, not because I was a CD or TG person but to come up with a game plan on how to deal with others (friends and family) who could not accept who I was. That's how I came to the approach of just acting like a regular person.:)

[Marleena]

Thanks for the replies! My point was that there is nothing wrong with any of us transgendered people. You can accept it and go with it or fight it and be miserable. It is what it is.


Well yeah. the last shrink I went to see I went to see, not because I was a CD or TG person but to come up with a game plan on how to deal with others (friends and family) who could not accept who I was. That's how I came to the approach of just acting like a regular person.:)

@ Kate I did discuss that issue with him. He said if they don't like it, it's their problem. He does realize that I need to keep this part of my life private. No need to cause embarassment for my wife or kids.

[ronda]

that is agreat feeling to be told that you don't need a shrink my wife had me go to see mine after she found my stuff i gave him $90 and 45mins of my time for him to say you are comfortable with who you are so you don't need me what realy suprised me was that i had seen him for a year and a half 10 years before all of his testing and he never picked up on my cding.

[Leah Lynn]

Wish I'd seen him years ago, so I could've gotten on with this life a lot earlier.

[Marleena]

that is agreat feeling to be told that you don't need a shrink my wife had me go to see mine after she found my stuff i gave him $90 and 45mins of my time for him to say you are comfortable with who you are so you don't need me what realy suprised me was that i had seen him for a year and a half 10 years before all of his testing and he never picked up on my cding.

Yikes..the we can cure you of this routine! Mine never picked up on me being TG either btw. Glad you accept the way you are it makes things a bit easier.:)

[Lisa Gerrie]

Years ago I was seeing a therapist for general depression and anxiety. I was deeply in the closet so I didn't bring up anything gender-related. It grew into a nice, comfortable therapist-patient relationship, and I was consciously thoughtful and honest with her.

Over the course of several months she had joked a few times that most of her patients were either firemen or crossdressers, and I finally got up the courage to say "Well... I'm not a fireman." She was very matter-of-fact about it, and I remember her exact words.

"That's not usually considered to be a problem unless it causes other issues in your life."

What a great attitude! We moved on and she never brought it up again; crossdressing was simply not a factor in my depression, so there was no reason to "address it" with a psychologist.

-- Anne

[suzy1]

“It's nice to know I'm not mental either”

And here is me thinking you were :strugglin


SUZY:heehee:

[TeresaL]

Excerpt from: The American Psychological Association
Is being transgender a mental disorder?
A psychological state is considered a mental disorder only if it causes significant distress or disability. Many transgender people do not experience their gender as distressing or disabling, which implies that identifying as transgender does not constitute a mental disorder. For these individuals, the significant problem is finding affordable resources, such as counseling, hormone therapy, medical procedures, and the social support necessary to freely express their gender identity and minimize discrimination. Many other obstacles may lead to distress, including a lack of acceptance within society, direct or indirect experiences with discrimination, or assault. These experiences may lead many transgender people to suffer with anxiety, depression, or related disorders at higher rates than nontransgender persons.

http://www.apa.org/topics/sexuality/transgender.aspx
From: http://www.apa.org/index.aspx

[kristinacd55]

Interesting post because I'm going to a therapist as well, or started to, and don't believe that I need to "work" on being tg. I'm totally comfortable where I'm at there....now my marriage? or childhood sex abuse? or alcoholism? now that's a different story!

[deebra]

Marleena I suggest you celebrate the good news of being certified "normal" by going out and buying yourself a new bra and panty set.

[kimdl93]

Sounds like you had a very enlightened psychiatrist. It took courage to face the risk that he might have thought otherwise. His opinion reinforces what you already knew and tears down one more artificial barrier.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

good for you marleena

from afar, reading your posts, i would assume therapy was unneccessary for you...tg or not , if you know yourself and are good with it, therapy is unnecessary

[Marleena]

Thanks for the replies and supportive comments!

My main goal in being here is to try and help other transgender people feel good about themselves. It's doesn't matter if you're CD or TS or anywhere in between. You are normal people. If I strip away the transgender label and discussions away from you I see wonderful people that just want to be accepted.:)

This psychiatrist helped me with the referral and I'm half way into my second month on HRT which was required for my GID. I won't move onto SRS as my discomfort is not bad enough to indicate it. However if my thing fell off I would not miss it.:D My wife is fine with all of this because she understands it's a genetics issue. SRS would be a deal breaker though and I understand.

We must keep in mind that all of us have different levels of discomfort and it's a matter of finding what will help us cope. I will always suggest a gender therapist for people that need help defining where they're at on the gender spectrum or have problems dealing with it.

[Julogden]

Great news, Marleena, congratulations!

Carol

[TeresaL]

Keeping the boys keeps the SO.

I'm in a similar scenario. SO's may need the therapist more than we do so the can get educated. It's not a sin to be born intersex or with 12 fingers. But, they reason, your brain better not develop cross-gender. This being spouted in combination of out of context bible verses. Not all, but some of us have been subjected to that malicious attempt to misguide us looking for a non-existing cure.

[Tina B.]

I like your doctor, I've always said it was genetics, it's nice to hear a professional agree.Besides, I knew I'm not crazy, I just wasn't sure about the rest of you!
Tina B.

[Foxglove]

Marleena, if your shrink had said you needed a shrink, then I'd say he needed a shrink himself. If you're not well-balanced, who is? It gives me some hope for myself. I hope everything goes well for you.

Annabelle