Is Gender Dysphoria a Mental Illness? Gender Therapist Explains.

Wonder if gender dysphoria is a mental illness? This is an ongoing debate. Watch gender therapist explain.
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Hello Friends! I'm Dr Z, and this is a channel where I help you break free from dysphoria!
I am a clinical psychologist specializing in the transgender field, working with adults only. For the past 18 years, my work has focused on Gender Dysphoria and the formation of gender identity. I provide online therapy for residents of California, New York, Texas, and Florida. My pronouns are she/her, and you can visit my website for more info at drzphd.com/aboutdrz
👉NOTE: I work solely with adults, and all video content is marked for adults only. As such, the information shared is based on my experience working with adults only.
DISCLAIMER: Note that as a clinical psychologist, I created this channel to share information. Therefore, I won't be providing or offering therapeutic advice. I am also not a medical doctor. When I speak on medical issues such as hormones or surgical procedures, the goal is to share information and not to provide medical advice, and you should always consult with your medical doctor. Additionally, this channel is for those seeking information and understanding and to gain awareness.
#gender #genderdysphoria #transgender #nonbinary #genderidentity #gendertransition #gendertherapist #transhealth #transgenderwomen #transmann #enby #hormones #dysphoria #selfhelp #transformation

[@jackmcgregor1983]

My father is a medical doctor. He had an annoying persistent patient who kept visiting and telling him he needed to have his left leg amputated. Eventually my father lost his temper and referred him to a psychiatrist with his diagnosis of body dysphoria and the psychiatrists agreed. No one chopped his leg off. To this day the man has two legs and receives counselling and medication.

[@TimothyOBrien1958]

Exactly.

[@purplefish5116]

That sounds like BIID

[@edenevermore]

Amen!

[@garrett7101]

Thank you for sharing this completely unrelated story.

[@jackmcgregor1983]

@@garrett7101 it’s not completely unrelated. It’s about body dysmorphia and where we draw the line.

[@daisyb5646]

As somebody who struggles with Gender Dysphoria, considering what it is (medical illness of some type, anomaly of brain pattern, psychiatric condition, something else?), is something I have been constantly searching for answers about to help explain why I am feeling this way for months. Mental illness, such as Autogynephilia, is something that just doesn't fit or explain things correctly at all for me. I seem to lean towards Gender Dysphoria feeling like a medical condition given the extreme distress is causes me, and found your video helpful towards my aim of better understanding this. Thank you for all your help, as your videos are a fantastic resource.

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you for sharing and glad to hear they are helpful.

[@filthycasual8074]

and don't give in get well soon

[@gjurod]

Dysphoria (from Greek: δύσφορος (dysphoros), δυσ-, difficult, and φέρειν, to bear) is a profound state of unease or dissatisfaction. In a psychiatric context, dysphoria may accompany depression, anxiety, or agitation. Well yes it is...

[@DRZPHD]

Hi and thanks for sharing. The symptoms you descreid that stem from incongruency are, but the gender identity in of itself is not a mental illness.

[@gjurod]

@@DRZPHD Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly. To put it to an example... The fly can not work with other spiders twards a common goal that benefits both the fly and the spider. It's like with all the abstract sciences... Even raising a baby now... "In the last 10 years we figured out that we have been doing wrong for the last +40000 years" come on... I think the current way of thaught on all subjects such as these is becoming ludacriss and is a blasphamy of science in general. (And sorry for any bad english)

[@filthycasual8074]

@@gjurod thank you

[@ryandonagan2628]

@@DRZPHD So feeling anxious or depressed is a mental illness but feeling like your of the opposite sex is not?

[@07kate32]

I agree with you I think. I spoke with a trans woman and a trans man once (Both in their late 30s and were friends). I asked them about this and they said yes it is a mental illness. They said the dysphoria never goes away even with all the surgery they did and hormones they take. They compared it to body dysphoria. Depression and anxiety were secondary problems with gender dysphoria at the top. It was actually quite eye opening.

[@Keiren1]

I wonder if there will ever be a way to treat it without body altering surgery such as changing brain chemistry maybe? Or is there even an accepted cause of gender disphoria? I feel it would be safer and easier to "rewire" for lack of a better term your brain back to match your physical sex so you don't have to deal with all the issues and dangers of gender reassignment surgery and horomones etc... If someone with GD could be happy and healthy in their own body without invasive surgery or body and mind altering horomone therapies shouldn't this be the end goal? I feel this would save a lot of mental and physical anguish for these poor people. Full disclosure straight cisgender male here.

[@DRZPHD]

Thanks for mindfully expressing your questions. Yes, I am sure people would wish there was a way to alter brain chemistry while others would prefer to remain who they are. Dysphoria is a tough issue to grasp. What we do know for sure is that psychology alone doesn't get rid of dysphoria.

[@jacky9575]

@@machaelarussell5643 Please explain more.

[@silver4831]

@@machaelarussell5643 You - clearly - don't have GD with a comment like that. The idea of me a trans woman wearing "manly" clothes is so upsetting I can't put words to it, I'd in no way feel better!

[@alex-sv8ru]

There are many different methods to cure gender dysphoria aside from surgery (which doesn't work. Post op Transgender suicide rates are still 20 times higher than cisgender ones) but because doctors are scared of being seen as anti LGBTQ and the big money rich people can get out of surgeries, they would never explore it.

[@jacky9575]

@@alex-sv8ru Hi, I'm curios of what other methods exists to cure gender dysphoria

[@falcon81701]

Id like to know how you truly diagnose someone as being Gender dysmorphic vs someone who is genuinely confused, being groomed / influenced into a condition where they gain satisfaction or a feeling of belonging by seeking such change?

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you for asking important question. Because I work only with adults and majority of my clients are between the ages of 28-70, it is highly unlikely grooming will take place. Often, people I work with have been struggling with Gender Dysphoria for a number of years, trying to alleviate it by various methods such as over compensating, avoidance, displacement, etc. After a few sessions, it becomes clear if it is a case of GD or confusion. However, I can see how this is much more difficult task when one is working with kids or teens.

[@falcon81701]

@@DRZPHD Thanks for your reply. It's a very interesting topic indeed and I don't believe we fully understand it yet, like most things regarding mental health. My wife is a Clyn Psych and she is seeing an increase in young adults with this condition.

[@Debbie62]

Hi, I don’t mind it being in the DSM-5 where we now call it a dysphoria, unlike DSM 4 where it was identified as a disorder. My personal gripe is being forced to identify my dysphoria as a medical “condition” because our society refuses to think of it as a physiological/biological misalignment between our gender identity and birth sex. And the world “misalignment” doesn’t sound nearly as troublesome as the word “condition.” I’m also in the process of writing a book on my own misaligned journey in an attempt to help others, so they don’t theoretically find themselves falling down the proverbial rabbit hole and looking for help. And, I hate using the word “condition” within the chapters because this particular word has preconceived undertones within society that we are sick, and we aren’t. But, we do know who and what we are, as well as what we have the ability to become if we don’t overdo it. Society just needs to grasp that we are different. The same way that an individual might be born with two hair colors, which doesn’t make it right or wrong. It just makes him or her a dirty water blonde. Nonetheless, society is a viper that will strike you dead and eat you whole without a single thought. So, I guess I just have to ignore it and move on. Thanks, Debbie

[@RaptorFromWeegee]

@@Debbie62 I remember the days when the closest thing DSM had to dysphoria was, "Paraphilia- Transvestic Variant"

[@arniedamaniac6206]

@@Debbie62There’s a difference between a misalignment (like being born with two different hair colours) and physiological difference in brain structure. By calling it not a condition you’re implying it’s as simple as a misalignment. But what if you’re wrong and it is a medical condition where you would be preventing others from seeking help. I don’t mean help in “becoming normal” but help in the dysphoria aspect. If this was a simple misalignment there would be no other impairments they would have. but they do like anxiety and depression which leads to higher suicide rates. Clearly these people need some amount of help and denying it as an issue just soothers peoples feelings temporarily.

[@stevetemple8826]

I'm really mixed up.😞 I'm so sick & tired of feeling like this. I have major depression with horrible anxiety and I just want a normal life whatever way that is. At this point in life I just want to be one way or the other. I'm exhausted.

[@DRZPHD]

I am so sorry to hear that. Sounds very painful and frustrating.

[@stevetemple8826]

@@DRZPHD Very much so. I've been dealing with it since I was eight years old. I was sexually abused for a period of time by the so called friend of the family. So much misery in my life because of this.

[@calistatermini5403]

The American Medical Association (AMA) has defined Gender Identity Disorder as a medically serious condition (www.imatyfa.org/assets/ama122.pdf). And while the DSM is in the process of revising what Gener Dysphoria is and how it's classified and diagnosed, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has gone on the record as stating that it as a state of physical and mental distress. What's critical for practitioners to realize is that dealing with gender identity is a multi-step process that has no clear roadmap for remission. Not only do people the world over struggle with distress over their gender identity, but the cultures in which they were socialized in play a significant role in how a clinician goes about addressing a client's problems. For example, a transgender client native to the Middle East would likely require a different approach to treatment from that of a transgender client raised in a liberal household on the West Coast. People on the gender spectrum struggle with depression, anxiety, substance abuse as well as a whole host of other issues that most practitioners would evaluate as a behavioral problem, as opposed to their distress as symptomatic of a more complex set of challenges. Add to that, that when the client is evaluated successfully and receives medical treatment, they face a whole host of new problems. After accepting their gender identity, clients can then experience a tremendous amount of social oppression. Loss of family, friends, their job, their housing as well as persecution from governments, religious institutions, and other forms of authority are commonplace. They are at greater risk of being assaulted, murdered and have the highest rate of attempted suicide in the country (www.ustranssurvey.org) Without specific education of and supervised training in gender identity and it's related distress, clinicians will continue to formulate treatment plans that at worst misdiagnose and at best oversimplify the struggles of their clients. For these reasons and many others, the vast majority of mental health professionals are ill-equipped to treat the growing number of people addressing their gender identity.

[@DRZPHD]

SO well said! I think I just heard the voice of future psychologist :) Very important statement!

[@kieron82]

@@DRZPHD From personal experience i would say the root cause is a hormonal (chemical) imbalance in the brain that causes the dysphoria since the chemicals are set at point x and the body then comes out at point y thusly at totally opposite ends of the graph/spectrum, then when the hormonal chemicals are balanced with the correct hormones (chemicals) you need the dysphoria eases...is this the general idea? I myself was born at 26/40 weeks back in 1982, hormones were balanced in the middle, then from birth to age 3 i was given aldactone/spironolactone to stop fluid retention, it's also a testosterone blocker and i ended up with medically induced menopause from age 8/9 - started sweating the bed at night then snoring (apnea) and depression kicked in at puberty when testosterone fully kicked in - all menopausal symptoms, in dec 2019 i got started on HRT and have since got my energy back, my balance, my want for alcohol, pot and tobacco have gone (was using them to calm the brain - recently found a study that correlates this and menopausal hormonal imbalance - addiction issues), now enjoying life and wanting to get up in the morning! identify as non binary trans femme with a bit of masc thrown in too (the gender rulebook got discarded a while ago)

[@jessicawinslet684]

Where have I seen this face before? hmm ..... thinking .... aha! Edna Mode from the incredibles!

[@DRZPHD]

LOL yes I am Edna copycat :)

[@jessicawinslet684]

@@DRZPHD Anyways, nice channel, I'm also completing a PHD ... won't be anytime soon lol.

[@marciefree]

@@DRZPHD 😘😘😘. Edna’s cool 😎

[@darcymacchic]

I think its both. I believe great anxiety is caused by a confusion in our biological structure. Thank you for giving your time to help others.

[@DRZPHD]

It will be interesting what if any medical science confirms in the future.

[@TONIOFSFV]

You go through my mind like a magazine .

[@jameshollen9723]

As a biological male, I have Gender Dysphoria. I do have "feelings" of wanting to be female sometimes. When I was younger, it was easier to suppress the dysphoria but at my age now (75), it is on my mind almost 24/7.

[@DRZPHD]

Sorry to hear about that.

[@Shalanaya]

Have you tried practicing meditation and at least a month long water fasting? I found as someone with GD as well, that it helped me to empty my mind and connect more with my spirit beyond this body.

[@umairghazi7496]

Wanting to be a female is different from feeling like a female

[@Angelum_Band]

You said it "As a biological male". Trust science and biology not ideology.

[@nirgendsdorf8709]

It doesn't surprise me that there is so much confusion surrounding gender identity, given the welter of different issues at stake that tend to get conflated in people's minds. Breaking these issues down into their elemental parts can go far in promoting understanding. First, there is the "nurture vs nature" issue (as if these two sources are in conflict with each other!). There is at least 80 years worth of research evidence concerning the biological foundations of gender identity, and how brain development is affected in utero during gestation by the presence or absence of specific hormones. It does happen, on occasion, that people are born with the gonads of one sex, but with a brain and nervous system developed along the lines of the other sex. There is also the work of Hans Eysenck, where he explored those aspects of personality that are down to inborn temperament. High neurological sensitivity and emotionality are definitely based in biology but, as Dr. Brian Gilmartin points out, the social response to a male "blessed" with these characteristics (which are usually more expected of females), or to a female who is devoid of them, is another thing entirely. I don't think I have to mention how brutal people can be towards others who do not fit their gender stereotypes. This sort of social "mirroring" constitutes at least part of the "nurture" component of gender dysphoria. The DSM and the concept of "mental illness" as artifacts in our culture are the legacy of Dr. Sigmund Freud who, as a medical doctor, undertook to understand mental and emotional states in terms of a medical model, "diagnosing" them as he would have diagnosed other medical conditions. It was not until Irving Goffman published his seminal book, _Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity_ in 1963 that people began to understand how pathologizing others by redefining them as being "sick" with mental "conditions" was dehumanizing people and causing them real world harm. One could almost accuse the DSM authors of a certain shadenfreude... It should be no surprise to anyone, then, that people would prefer not to find themselves described within the pages of the DSM. The information presented there may be useful, but the use of the DSM as an instrument for labeling and pathologizing people is harmful and destructive. Concepts such as "abnormal" psychology and mental "illness" only serves to separate people, and fans the flames of bigotry by fostering social judgement. A different philosophic basis for understanding human nature is needed to put the health and caring back into health care.

[@DRZPHD]

Wow what an incredibly thought provoking and insightful response. Thank you for commenting.

[@jackmcgregor1983]

I’ve seen people who are acutely mentally unwell in psychiatric wards. I don’t think the DSM should be used to make a pathological diagnosis on anyone. But I think we have to agree that there are certain conditions that present in almost the exact same way, such as the various forms of schizophrenia and the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder which can present in various forms but all marked by similar symptoms. I’ve seen depressed people, agoraphobic people and people with severe OCD as well as people with acquired brain injury.

[@theboys5659]

As a straight male. I’m wondering does Gender Dysphoria go away after the transition? Does anything? Just trying to learn more

[@DRZPHD]

Hi. It depends. For many people it does. For some, it shifts into social dysphoria. For others it may continue. It depends on numerous individualized factors. Regardless of it still being there in any shape or form, majority of adults reports doing better and living a happier lives vs before.

[@theboys5659]

DR Z PHD Thank you for informing me! I appreciate it

[@garrett7101]

It typically improves greatly.

[@dynahvelvixin.8615]

I've seen so many stories about people who transitioned and they hugely regretted it. My heart goes out to them because the damage done to them is unreal.

[@arniedamaniac6206]

@@garrett7101no doesn’t change at all don’t be fooled so easilt

[@amyashlyn9293]

In my humble opinion as a non-psychologist, but a trans person that realized my true self later in life, gender dysphoria is not a mental illness. It is a condition of psychological stress brought on by the inability of a trans person to reconcile the expectations put on them of their assigned gender with their inner sense of self belonging to the opposite gender. That incongruence does not necessarily even involve sex since gender identity does not originate in genitalia, but in psychological sense of self in relation to gender in society. Gender dysphoria may lead to psychological illness depending on the severity of stress brought on by social environment. In my childhood experience sexual awareness was mostly taboo, so genital dysphoria did not arise for me, but gender roles were strictly enforced and I found myself perpetually lost in the wrong group. I suffered greatly from gender dysphoria without being consciously aware of it, and it was all repressed. So I like to say: "I was not born into the wrong body. I was born in a wrong society that did not have space for me."

[@DRZPHD]

Very very well said. Thank you for sharing! Fully agree.

[@polishfolkwitch]

Happy to see that you started a channel, can't wait to see more content from you! 💗

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you so much for your support! Means a world!

[@alexanderclennon]

As a transgender man, I’d like to say thank you for your videos. They’ve been incredibly helpful on this challenging journey. My best wishes for you!

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you so much!

[@fudomyoo9762]

🤣

[@miss_drama]

I've struggled with this my entire life. I don't know how to take it. I do know HRT saved my life. It's a medical condition for sure but mental illness? Idunno.

[@DRZPHD]

Aubrey thanks for commenting and yes, medical issue for sure and I am so glad HRT was helpful, as it should because nothing beats having the right hormone in your body.

[@питбуль-ч4ы]

it seems quite bizarre to ask but is gender dysphoria a treatable condition? or correctable? i mean if a person feels not ok with his gender but he'd like to become a cis gender for some reason?

[@kawosdhdos]

Well it is because it's a condition that affects your mood, thinking, and feeling. I don't see how it's a physical condition as the distress is coming from the mind and the body itself has no injuries or issues. I understand her viewpoint and that she thinks it's a medical condition because she thinks the brain is a brain of the opposite sex. But I don't think so because the female and male brains are not that different. and the differences don't seem to be related to gender. Not to mention, the brain itself changes a lot depending on external activities so it doesn't really make sense to me. Like for example, let's say women's brains on average have a larger hippocampus. Now let's say a male is born with a hippocampus that matches the female brain. How would that cause him to feel like he's the other gender? The brain itself doesn't have a part that tells the person they're a female or brain. The small differences female and male brains tend to have are more technical, like memory, more connected neurons, bigger brain size, etc. It doesn't make sense how these differences make someone feel like the other gender. Those differences only affect the actual part that they're different in. If women have bigger hippocampus, then it affects memory. If men have a large brain, it affects the size of the brain. And so on. And what about people with brain damage? What is their sex then? (I would say their birth sex is their sex. I think the inherent flaw with her opinion, in my opinion lol, is that differences in the female and male brain are the reason people feel like they're the sex they are. Which doesn't make sense to me. Because I'm a female, and I don't necessarily feel like a female. I just am. There is no emotion or feeling there, I just am because that's how I was born. And like I said, the differences only impact the actual thing they're different in. If it's in the hippocampus, it affects memory, etc etc. I think that the average person also doesn't actually feel like a gender, they just are that gender. They just know that they're the gender they were born as. There is no opposition inside their minds to their sex. They base their sex and gender off of their reproductive organs and body, not a feeling in their brain. (gender actually means sex, just when that word is used to refer to cultural differences than biological ones)

[@miss_drama]

@@kawosdhdos old post. I've had surgery since and feel absolutely amazing, as it relieved my innate gender dysphoria. I was actually in the 2011 brain scan studies for this, we still have a tremendous amount to learn on the brain. The study shows a lot of differences, although more data is needed. I personally believe that brains are structured to fit the sex of a body (due to hormone exposure as a fetus) and when that doesn't happen we get gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria has been found to develop around 4-6 months in the womb, due to hormonal imbalances, androgen hyper sensitivity etc. during crucial brain development. Not a mental illness though as the brain functions perfectly fine, especially after transitioning to relieve that discomfort (gender dysphoria)

[@IWantToMature85]

Auby Bear Why say that it’s not a mental illness? Nothing is wrong with those who suffer from these illnesses, but anorexia is considered one and that is similar because you believe that you arr different than you are. If it’s a hormonal imbalance, then adding more T should help a transwoman but they claim that it doesn’t.

[@briaflanagan5446]

It should be treated as a general medical condition, not a mental illness. However, I think where our society is now, removing it would do more damage and would justify a lot of transphobic behaviour. A lot of people need hormones and surgery to alleviate anxiety and depression caused by gender dysphoria but it should not be under the category of mental illness rather a general medical condition that needs urgent attention.

[@DRZPHD]

I think about the same thing myself. Removing it and stripping trans folks of much needed care. Its a dilemma for sure.

[@lovisakevatdottir8909]

I theorize that if our society would stop putting people into roles and a box so much, dysphoria wouldn’t be as bad. If people could just explore their gender identity without scrutiny. If I’m not explaining I’m sorry, I’m still sleepy 😂. I view it not as a mental condition but as a product of the human condition.

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you for sharing.

[@arniedamaniac6206]

well your opinion doesn’t effect science. letting people explore their gender identities isn’t going to stop the suicide rates

[@vickperez1986]

Hello Dra Z I am 52 years old and I started as a transvestite for 15 years or more; feeling the need to be feminine, wearing women's underwear. A friend recommended that I watch your videos and I am convinced that I have severe dysphoria; because now I feel a discomfort with my body; I have listened to subliminal audios for growth of the chest, hips, being and feeling more feminine with my body, I dislike what I see in the mirror when I am naked, hair, features, etc. What do you recommend me

[@DRZPHD]

Hi and thanks for sharing. I always recommend seeking help and support of a professional in your area.

[@richrich1936]

I HAVE SPENT A LIFETIME FEELING WISHING I WAS A GIRL I CANT REMBER NOT FEELING THIS WAY I THI

[@johnnyxmusic]

Clearly, we are trying to move towards a condition where we are normalizing this condition. And the notion of gender fluidity.

[@AndesMints94]

It's like this... at least I think so, I'm not a professional lol... gender dysphoria is because your brain was put into a body that isn't biologically the one that we need, that's why gender dysphoria occurs. Of course we can accept our bodies, and help in that aspect, but I believe that hormones do help. Just like how people with depression and anxiety take medications to help treat depression and anxiety. It never truly goes away, but it's always best to find out what works for you. By the way, do you accept Michigan insurances? Where are you located?

[@DRZPHD]

Yes I see your point. I am in CA and can only see CA or FL residents due to license and sorry I dont take insurance.

[@tyxorion3608]

It’s the mind rejecting the body, so surely there’s a problem with the mind?

[@appleciderhead6527]

The brain is actually closer structured to whatever you identify with. So you were absolutely correct on that part

[@fidboi2715]

There is no such thing as "being born in the wrong body". That's the mostly delusional thing I've ever heard. I'm a man, I have no idea what it feels like to be a man. So what the fuck are you even on about? I don't know what body I was born in, it's just my fucking body!

[@fidboi2715]

@@appleciderhead6527 it's the same in gay people, in fact, most studies that say trans people's brains are closer are wrong and it's actually just gay people. If those trans people are into their actual biological sex, aka they're gay, than the brain will also be like that. Gay men aren't women, so what's up with them?

[@Ti_moode]

1:55 “Until it’s officially removed in 1987” Can we know removed by who ?

[@DRZPHD]

The DSM manual is re visited by a group of professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, medical doctors etc who discuss changes. For this reason alone, one should also not think of the manual as a dogmatic book.

[@CindiGrace]

Personally I feel that Gender Dysphoria is a biological issue rather than a mental issue. Yes, biological deformities and abnormalities do cause mental issues, but the core issue is that there is a problem biologically. If someone was born with a cleft pallet or a club foot we would never say they have a mental disorder. Just because I was born with a male deformity that makes me look different than I really am, it doesn't mean the core issue is mental. When we correctly classify it as a biological issue, then it becomes an automatic to address the biological issue from an approved medical standpoint.

[@miss_drama]

I agree with you on it being biological for sure!

[@hikikomort]

Thank you for your video and all your work for trans people! I have a question, do you believe that gender dysphoria and gender incongruence are the same thing ?

[@DRZPHD]

Hi and thanks for asking. They are and they are not the same. I am sorry to sound cryptic. Not all incongruence stems from gender dysphoria however it may seem as such.

[@tarotmap]

Thank you for sharing the info! Appreciate it dr Z xxx

[@DRZPHD]

K thank you so much for the support! It means a world to me! xo N

[@Dreadcaptainrobert]

Wouldn't the mental illness part be "the mind" doesn't want to believe reality? The reality being that the person is physically a boy or a girl based off thier anatomy. This is also looking at just a western view on the topic, which is very narrow. The problem a lot of people have with it is the use of pronouns which is an English concept. Example in Mandarin people use only the the word ta (he she it) means the same. Or the many gendered languages Hindi, Spanish, french etc.. the problem seems to be "different" for a lack of a better word for English speaking people especially in the US

[@DRZPHD]

Thanks for sharing.

[@MuffinMachine]

I think this is a great question because it points to the thinking which caused me to deny these feelings. “this is just reality. it is what is and it can’t be changed. I’ll never be X because i am definitely Y.” I believe accepting reality is the first place to start when attempting to address life changes. but with acceptance comes the power to change. accepting what IS does not mean we have to be “victim” to it. we have the power to change things. We aren’t talking about features that can’t be change. the current reality is that many of the features which cause people to feel this way can be addressed. so the reality is that someone is unhappy/unsettled/disturbed by something that they can actually do a lot to change. while it may seem that pronouns are a huge focus of concern i think the mainstream media is what brings this to the forefront. i honestly don’t mind people calling me sir because right now that is pretty much what i am. some people are more bothered by it than others, but the real dysphoria (for me) comes from the idea that the expression of myself is impossible. when in fact it is not impossible, it simply requires a lot of hard work and effort. as a side note, 90% of the hard work will make me a healthier person overall. Losing excess weight, skin care, caring about my appearance and taking pride in it. all of these things were impossible to me while i hated the possibilities of my body. why get in shape or eat healthy when it still means that the body I end up with doesn’t feel like my own? I have always been complimented on my beard. i had a beard for 15 years. it was me going full blast on giving up and being male. i appreciated the compliments. i liked that people saw me as well groomed. but when i look in the mirror i hate that beard. now it’s gone and i have a shadow immediately after shaving. i can take further steps to eliminate it. I’m not out of touch with reality, I am only now realizing that there are things i can do to help this feeling that aren’t impossible at all. So as for reality, i feel more accepting of it than ever. I do wonder what it is like in nations where the language does not differentiate between male and female. though i suspect there are just as many other gender expressions which cause dysphoria. something to look into! thanks.

[@Dreadcaptainrobert]

Elegant and constructive response, you would be an interesting person to have a conversation with. Reactions to rational questions like this tend to be interpreted as attacks and responded to with extreme emotion. Thank you for your insight

[@MuffinMachine]

@@Dreadcaptainrobert Thanks for being respectful. I would be surprised if there are many who transition who haven’t had your specific question and i think it’s a totally valid one to ask.

[@astralphoenix7905]

@Roger Melly its not always that clear though. you can be xy but develop as a fully functional female (in the biological sense) body rather male (again biological). this can happen because something in the y chromosome doesnt trigger masculinization. i cant remember the specifics but its pretty interesting. there's also lots of other chromosome combos so saying that chromosomally someone is always either male or female and it "always" matches whats between the legs is very overly simplified to point of not even being true.

[@FantomKat]

ITV - clinical psychologist uses DSM for many things and ignores it for other things that don't match her personal feelings.

[@DRZPHD]

Thanks for commenting. Note that I distinguish between a cluster of symptoms that comprise to what we understand Gender Dysphoria, however, Gender Dysphoria in of itself is not a mental illness.

[@FantomKat]

@@DRZPHD to each their own but BDD and GD are MI in the DSM I use. I have Dx multiple cases of both over the years, and anecdotally I've found a very high PD comorbidity. I don't make the assumption that that goes for the entire GD community since working in MH clearly I only see ppl who are struggling.

[@arlettehernandez1997]

How can you make a distinction between gender dysphoria and body dismorphia or anorexia? In terms of the alteration of your image in your brain?

[@DRZPHD]

Great question. Will answer in Q&A.

[@Ci3ru]

Don't know if you'll see this, but I'd be curious on your insight of something I can't seem to find specific answers for. I am a Non-binary male who feels gender dysphoria for both genders, I feel uncomfortable with either and for either. For example I get depressed for lack of breasts but for also if I had them. I don't know how much of this makes sense but I'm just so confused and unable to do the most basic things sometimes while consumed by these thoughts.

[@estrangedsavant5112]

5 second Google search to answer this question : "Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning" Unless we define gender by our bodies (which we don't that would be sex) it sounds like gender is strictly relegated to the realm of the mind. What's wrong with this line of thinking?

[@Mira-mx3jy]

your so smart, thank u for this!

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you 🤗

[@filthycasual8074]

just throw science out the window ok

[@fireside9549]

It's you're*

[@carlimuzquiz979]

You have such a beautiful and striking look. I love it. It's cool.

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you so much!!

[@wabbadu1]

Could you please do a video on the SRY gene? I just stumbled onto this info yesterday and its hard to get a clear definition of what this gene does to the chromosomes, hormones, and sex characteristics. To me it sounds like a possible cause of gender dysphoria.

[@DRZPHD]

Thanks. Will add to topics.

[@RaptorFromWeegee]

Did you find the smoking gun?

[@celiasandaniels]

Thank you so much. This video really helps. I definitely agree with you that it is a medical condition. The question I have is I don't want to have surgery due to medical and family reasons. I have GD when I don't have an opportunity to express in my desired gender. Its high and low depending on the days. I was able to manage my dsyphoria better when I was young. But now that I 50+, it seems to affect my daily life a lot.

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you for your comment. You raise a very important question of how to cope with GD later in your life, especially if surgery is not an option. One of the things I noticed people do is to engage in as many things as they can that reduces GD. Definitely will do a video in the future addressing this topic specifically, as well as things I observed helpful in such situations.

[@tylermacdonald8924]

Tomato, tom(ah)to, whatever helps these people is the most important aspect of this. It is certainly a problem that people need help with and deprivation of that would certainly only hurt them.

[@alainbellmunt9322]

Hello Dr. I need to share some information with a gender professional in regards to a cult that uses gender roles called Tanatodinamia. Law of Mother and Law of Father are used to coerce young and adult people. What I need to say is that they try to force you to transition to a profile they make for you based on how well your parents align with the system's gender roles. I do not mean a gender transition, they give you a trascendence profile. This is true coertion, people saying that trans and LGBT people are coerced should look at this cult instead.

[@Amikdara]

I think, gender dysphoria as a discomfort with one's own body is a common symptom of gender incongruency (which is a real disorder here), depending mostly on the prominence of developed features of the rejected sex as well as one's own resistance to mental discomfort in general. Some transsexuals might be able to integrate their features, be it through nature's mercy on their bodies or resilience of mind (mostly both of these) similarly like not all people with flu will get high fever. Or just having an easier case of incongruency, not hitting all the sex characteristics. But most of the incongruent will suffer this and require medical intervention to ease this discomfort.

[@DRZPHD]

Thanks for sharing.

[@Mistyfaraday]

Sorry what I was leading to in previous post is that as long as Gender Dysphoria stays in the DSM as a mental illness people will be able to seek the counseling of psychiatrists and psychologist to help them to understand what they are going through and it being a recognized mental condition allows insurance companies to justify covering part or all of the expense of counseling and or doctors visits. If however it is removed from DSM we risk loosing the ability for insurance coverage and most will not be able to afford the help we despereately need. And there is also the factor that much of the training of psychologists and psychiatrist as well as other doctors and people in medical fields is based on DSM guides, Remove Gender Dysphoria and the newer generation of medical people will not be properly trained on the issue. Once again sorry for such a long response but I felt I should explain my position so there would not be as many negative replies to it. BTW thank you so much for doing the youtube video I hope many will see and post on fb or whatever social media they use so more will get this vital information.

[@DRZPHD]

Hi and thank you for comment. I totally agree with you on that. It is sadly such a dilemma. Keep it in DSM and risk continuing to pathologize or remove and risk loosing access to health care.

[@ladyjenna9814]

I'm going to watch all of these. A lot of great information here!

[@DRZPHD]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@mdach619]

Ok, I'm new here and I really am trying to comprehend this.. but idk. I'm not sure how to word everything I'm thinking but I do have a question: Why are only certain groups of trans people accepted in society but not others? Like society would accept me if I transitioned into a male but I'm pretty sure I would be rejected if I was trans-species? Why is one ok but not the other? (I'm not trying to be insulting or troll. If anyone can shed some light on this, it would be greatly appreciated, thanks)

[@DRZPHD]

Thanks for asking. Your question is a complex one. As complex and as deep as construction of gender. Societies in general have always accepted or rejected certain groups. If one too look, there is always some form of benefit to it.

[@morfufo]

Gender is one of our many human constructs that essentially only exists because our brains have evolved to the point that we are intensely self-aware. Compared to other animals, we only face these questions because the mind have developed so many complicated layers, so to speak. In terms of being trans-species, you are essentially rejecting your humanity; something every human has no matter their race, gender, sex, or mental capability. If you were truly a parrot born in a human body, you would be acting in ways a parrot does, which, for the most part, is arguably just instinct. The fact that your brain is even capable of questioning if you are human is something only a human with a self-aware mind can do. Parrots don't need to worry about what or who they are in the sense that we do because the way they perceive the world is alien to us. I'm sure there are arguments FOR trans-species but in my opinion, I don't think it's a good idea to entertain anything that rejects your humanity because it is the one thing that connects us all no matter what.

[@Lostcause1974]

I feel the mental illness aspect is used to discredit the legitimacy of being Transgender. Is being Transgender a mental illness? No. Is having the desire to transition a mental illness? No. Much like sadness compared to depression, it depends on the severity, as in does it impact ones life? If so, how so? And what is the duration of the dysphoria. I do not believe that dysphoria has to be present to be Trans. Can I survive as a male for the rest of my life? Yes. Would my life be more fulfilling living as close to being a Woman as possible? Absolutely. Dysphoria impacts my life, but not to a degree I can't function. Much like if I was sad vs depressed (i have been both for different, non-gender specific reasons). What's telling about Transphobes is that they use the claim that being Transgender is the mental illness and that its not the cure to gender dysphoria. The "mental illness" claim is to weaponized to discredit anyone who is Trans. It's an insincere, dishonest attempt to appear like empathy when it's really just disrespect.

[@Lostcause1974]

The reason I don't feel dysphoria has to be present or severe to be Trans is that it is a metric used to discredit the validity of someone desiring to live their best life. Do we hold anyone seeking to improve or change their bodies in any other way to the same standard? No. I view my transition as self care. Much like going to the gym, learning a new skill or behavior, transition is an act of self-love. It was the potential to experience joy on a level and authenticity that I had been trying to find as a male for my whole life that helped me realize that I am Trans. The requirement to have dysphoria itself measured to be considered Trans is itself a method to discredit the validity of being Trans. That measurement requirement, imo, is why I believe the Trans community is larger than reported. It intentionally creates a doubt that slows and prevents people from seeking therapy. "I don't have or experience life-impacting dysphoria, so I must not be Trans. There is no need to look into this further." Type of self talk. I had been depressed (not gender soecific) for years before it got severe enough for me to seek help. Similarly, I had experienced a low level and, at times, non-existent dysphoria for most of my life to a point I doubted I was Trans. "I cant be Trans because my experience hasnt included that type of dysphoria or that severity of dysphoria." Until I started exploring my gender identity, how I was living felt like the norm.

[@r-platt]

How someone classifies GD doesn't change how it affects people, how it's diagnosed or how it's treated. Some people will insist it's a mental illness by the power of their own opinion. I say fine. And? Once it's treated the condition stops and the person being treated is (generally) as "normal" as anyone else. The other point many people miss is that the treatment for gender dysphoria does NOT treat other conditions like depression or anxiety. It's like taking T3 for the pain in a broken arm and claiming it doesn't work because your arm is still broken.

[@DRZPHD]

Great points. While I agree it does change how it affects ppl, it does matter when it comes to getting medical services. I believe if we remove GD from DSM and made it solely a medical condition, there would be less stigma and more medical coverage. You are absolutely right, once treated, people just move on living their lives. Thank you for commenting.

[@TommyTooter]

From my own experience as someone who has lived 65 years with chronic acute GD that is with me 24x7, i say it is a medical condition that very often has other behavioral health issues associated with it. I'm intersexed and was subjected to genital surgery as a toddler that resulted in a hormone imbalance between a brain wired for female and male sex organs. The disconnect between what my brain is looking for and the signals it receives from what's there is crippling in and of itself. For me, i can't properly metabolize adrenalin and prior to starting HRT suffered from panic attacks, tourette's like outbursts of rage and full blown manic episodes. Thankfully all of that is in my past, but i still get to shaking pretty easily if i'm being confronted aggressively. Clinical studies have pretty much determined that the majority of the serious behavioral health issues commonly observed in transgender people are the result of external stresses such as parental rejection and transphobic aggression in the community. the evidence is incontrovertible that when transgender children are raised in a supportive environment, their suicide rate plummets to a range comparable to their cisgender classmates in similar households.

[@DRZPHD]

so glad to hear you are doing better and I agree about clinical studies. Still there is so much research that we can do to help normalize GD vs keep pathologizing it.

[@TommyTooter]

@@DRZPHD that's such as a complex issue. on the one hand you have mentally well people seeking cosmetic body modifications which cannot be insured and on the other hand you have severely traumatized people who need those same body modifications as medically necessary , life saving procedures that should be covered.

[@TommyTooter]

reading this again, my thought goes back to one of your talks about the severity of a patient's GD by the level of discomfort they experience from it. Maybe you should lay out a 1-10 discomfort scale, like the pain scale, using somebody like me as a 9 and people with severe behavioral health issues because of it rated 10. for me, it's a constant nag, but i don't want to hurt anybody and i keep my body and environment in reasonable order for a crazy artist.

[@DRZPHD]

@@TommyTooter Thats a great idea except dysphoria ranges in frequency so sometimes its 9, others 2, others 5. Makes it hard to consistently measure.

[@TommyTooter]

@@DRZPHD two separate scales resolves that problem. frequency and intensity.

[@albinosquirlz]

If you experience severe mental distress because of an incongruous relationship with reality that interferes with the general enjoyment with your life, then you are without a doubt, suffering from a mental disorder. Denying the definition of a psychiatric disorder isn't helping anyone. Obviously, any condition that has such a high rate of suicide regardless of of how much transitioning they do isn't just a mental disorder, but an incredibly serious one. Their is no effective cure, treatment or drug to help many who have a severe form of it. It's further complicated by being comorbid with various other disorders as well.

[@DRZPHD]

Hi. This is not true. Would you say someone who is going through battle with cancer and experiences a severe mental distress also has a mental illness? The suicide statistics are also inaccurate in regard to people who do seek treatment. If there was no effective cure, how do we explain thousands of people who feel happier post transition?

[@shannonsimonellex6116]

I really enjoy the way you explain things. Yes, I agree. Not a mental Illness.

[@rosemariecrichton2939]

Thank you for useful PD and links to literature.

[@DRZPHD]

You are most welcome.

[@ZoeyR86]

I think it belongs in the dsm but I think the definitions to some concepts in the dsm need to be addressed to remove binary context from the concept of gender and s 3xuality

[@DRZPHD]

Good point too.

[@Mark-el8jp]

I have a question. In the video you talked about how the GD is a medical condition and individuals are born with a brain more aligned with the other gender, right? My question is, wouldn’t it be considered psychological if it relates to the brain like you mentioned in the video?

[@DRZPHD]

Hi and thanks for asking. No, the condition is medical but the distress and symptoms are psychological in nature.

[@spoookypeach]

@@DRZPHD But how can you definitively state that brains are "aligned" to a gender? The brain didn't develop independent of the rest of the body, as it shares the same genetics as every other organ. It's more likely that there can be variations of sizes for each part of the brain more than "brains being swapped". Hormone Therapy would likely cause those changes to the brain regardless of sex or gender since it is a Human hormone; you don't have to self-identify as trans or non-trans because brain chemistry is what it is. Look at Clinical Lycanthropy, the neurological parts of the brain responsible for feelings of body shape and regulating hyper aggression can get activated due to an illness or alteration to that part of the brain... but we understand they don't have a "wolf brain" or shape-shift into non-humans. It's a delusion, but it feels real to those suffering from it. Genetics are what they are, but perceptions of gender are whatever we want them to be. These "brain studies" seem to start with the premise "people are born this way" therefore let's find evidence to support that, instead of any conclusion being drawn from scientific study first.

[@karieamelsims4331]

@@DRZPHD and that is not the case. read more about genotypes in biology

[@lookarabbit2888]

It is, and there is no difference in suicide rates or other mental health issues from pre and post transition.

[@DRZPHD]

Hi and thanks for sharing your point of view. Statistically there is quite a difference.

[@marciefree]

I believe that for some tg’s very early on in life they can identify gender as wishing to be like that of who they most closely identify with. Then if that thought pattern continues unabated for a certain extended period of the child’s development, either by a father figure or by another strong male gender who shows patience, love, and kindness to the child the thought pattern becomes solidified (for lack of a better term) in the child’s brain and becomes almost impossible to change after that? In my particular case it was my mother and my older sister. That is only speaking most intimately about my own deepest feelings or belief and from my own personal experiences. Am I wrong Dr. Z? 😯

[@DRZPHD]

Thanks for sharing. To understand, are you implying that gender identity develops in identification with a primary caregiver? If so, no, I don't believe that as I for example closely identified with my father but do not have any gender incongruence with being a female.

[@marciefree]

@@DRZPHD Dear Dr.Z. Thank you for that clarification. It helps me. 🥰🥰

[@marciefree]

@@DRZPHD when I first started transitioning in late 1993 I got my hands on all of the Harry Benjamin papers and read most everything I could get my hands on. I may have misinterpreted some of it but I thought back then they were proposing theories similar to what I was trying to say about how gender identity and sexual preferences were complete different things. And how once a child identifies as one particular gender especially when it is incongruent with their physical gender assigned at birth, it is easier to treat them and provide physical alternatives for them to be that gender that most closely their mind identifies with, than to try and change their minds with psychiatric methods?? I’m questioning?? 😯😯😯

[@Albeit_Jordan]

In the same way depression could be considered the ongoing intrusive or compulsive thoughts/feelings of melancholy such that it impairs one's daily wellbeing and not necessarily just the melancholy in-and-of itself, so too could this be said for gender/body dysphoria versus mere preferential gender/body image... I guess it depends on the intensity of the experience and how it affects your overall wellbeing, everything's on a spectrum, as we all know. Personally I'm kind of skeptical of the research about certain brains matching certain genders, sounds to me like the neuroscience equivalent of phrenology... I don't think the issue is that literal, the brain alone is only responsible for so much, it becomes a nature versus nurture matter at this level of discussion, really.

[@DRZPHD]

I think yes, it is possible. I think gender identity is a by product of reconciling mind/body and the social context one lives in. As such, numerous factors play a role.

[@Oliviacaptain]

Gender dysphoria is most definitely NOT a mental illness!!! I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the dangers of removing it entirely from the DSM. Good video, Doctor Z!!! I look forward to more!!!

[@miss_drama]

It's hard for me to agree for advocating it being removed from the Dsm because it being in the Dsm saved my life.

[@gennymikel4296]

As a trans gender female it makes me mad when people refer to us as "mentally ill" because I lead a normal life as a musician, writer and regular working class citizen. Mental illness classes us with psychopaths, scchizophrenics and other dangerous people and I've never met one of us who posed aa threat to anyone.

[@DRZPHD]

I totally hear you, makes me mad too. Lots of misinformation.

[@SomethingSomethingg]

It makes me mad to write a blanket statement against schizophrenics and suggest that they're all violent people. I love how you want the perception against your issues to be changed yet you have no problem perpetuating negative stereotypes against others. It's your problem for thinking that mentally ill is limited to dangerous mindsets. But I guess you're not really in touch with reality so I can see why you would jump to that conclusion because, in reality, mental illness is a wide-ranging field. BPD, OCD, clinical depression, anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, ADHD, autism, multiple personality disorder, anorexia, dyslexia. These are all mental illnesses that afflict people and gender dysphoria is a mental illness as well. The only difference is people don't like to talk about this because it's more important to care about people's feelings than their overall health.

[@user-xe5eq9br1c]

This is like if thieves said that stealing is not a crime because murder is also a crime. It's your choice to be offended at other mental illnesses existence. Gender dysphoria is a mental illness that causes someone to feel distress with their biological sex.

[@diesel1able]

Hey Dr Z , miss you 😘 ❤️❤️ It’s when your brain wired opposite to what you been a sign at birth . Male body at birth , with a female wired brain . Or female body at birth , with a male wired brain . it’s a medical condition that affect you mentally ..

[@DRZPHD]

Hi!!!! 🤗Exactly! The brain doesn’t matches the body!🙋‍♀️

[@mohamedazarudin3003]

@@DRZPHD mam that means I live my life as male only upto my 21years age but now my brain get changed as female how to get cure

[@isabellewillard2943]

If there was a handbook like the DSM for neurological conditions, I would add gender dysphoria over there instead of having it be in the DSM

[@DRZPHD]

Great point! Or perhaps keeping it in DSM as a medical condition which creates psychological distress? But definitely not a mental illness! Thank you for commenting!

[@vincejabroni8338]

So, the issue with calling it a mental illness is because there is a stigma associated with the word "illness'? Changing the word then would just be a placebo effect. The only thing that changes is the perception of the condition by psychological language use. It is about as "hard-wired" into the brain as much as anorexia or bulimia are; ie. Not at all. They are anxiety disorders developed by social perception and associations. If you have anxiety and depression in addition, those are the same symptoms as low self-esteem and dissonance. The resources you linked are about changing superficial appearance to meet conventional ideas of gender, but gender is socially and culturally variant. Just because you get hormone therapy and surgery to look/sound a certain way to meet one country's gender norms, doesn't mean you'll "pass" in another country whose ideas on gender are different. So, I can't say that it is hard-wired in the way that genetics are. If hearing an English pronoun upsets you, you have developed negative associations with that gender somewhere in your life. And changing the pronoun is just a placebo since you are not a word. The pronoun is a word. The pronoun may be used as a placeholder to describe you, but you are a person. You're letting the things you possess, possess you.

[@stevewilds567]

absolutely it is and treatment and counseling is needed

[@darcybarnes6970]

I agree with you 100%

[@GoddessLadyRei]

Thank you so much. I'm depressed enough the way it is. I really don't think I could handle being labeled crazy on top of this.

[@DRZPHD]

You are NOT crazy 🤗

[@seaeff6428]

@@DRZPHD If you're a clinical psychologist wouldn't you say its professionally irresponsible to say someone is or is not something without a professional diagnosis?

[@seaeff6428]

@Jow Joe Theres no reason to be an asshole.

[@seaeff6428]

@Jow Joe Like I already commented on this video without a professional diagnosis it’s irresponsible to slab labels on people. Unfortunately it’s not just a sack up (no pun intended) situation.

[@missgloriouswhitemissglori6718]

Hi doctor z I know this as nothing to do with this. But I’ve been on the gender list here in Glasgow for over two years Im self medicating on hormones and I’ve asked my doctor to prescribe me hormones and she said they don’t do that I’m told my gender clinic I need to be on hormones I’m selfmedicateing and still they won’t give me the right hormones I really need to get on hormones has my mental health is going down hill thanks. Nicole xx

[@DRZPHD]

Nicole I am so sorry to hear. I wonder if Gender GP may help via online access. www.gendergp.com

[@e.jenima7263]

Hi , thank you for this. I now relise at 26 that i may very well have gender dyphoria and have my whole life. i identify and at this point take on a feminin identy in dress and manner ect. I acknowledge i am male and that will never really change and i am comfortable with myself and happy for the most part . but about a year ago i started to become more interested in tha Catholic faith again and started on the convershion process. and anybody who is catholic knows there views on this subject. I do not want to abandon my faith but i allso do not want to be forced to conform to a male identity that i never really had much connection to in the first place. sadly it is a horrable dielema.

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you for sharing and I am sorry to hear.

[@clariluxe3628]

you are a man who is feminine and likes to dress in 'traditionally female' clothes, that is ok, your feelings do not invalidate your genes. There are men who wear heels to work. Perhaps if society were more accepting of non traditional dressing, maybe you would feel more comfortable?

[@silver4831]

Then don't follow a backward asses religion. You don't have to be a Catholic...sounds like you are grasping at straws for acceptance.

[@aeondecker9210]

The id.... People who are diagnosing me,seem to think it's an sickness. I live in Holland,but I am poor and then it's a sickness

[@DRZPHD]

I am so sorry to hear.

[@aeondecker9210]

@@DRZPHD you know what things I used to Be a psychiatric nurse. so I knew about the dsm handbook,that shook them .. a lot.

[@randomactofkindness9146]

PROUD TO BE DIFFERENT! Why Am I Me, Or Should I Be You Am I The One, Or Are We Two Am I HIM Or AM I HER On This Point, I Defer Who Is Right, Who Is Wrong If I'm Weak, If Not, I'm Strong Crave To Live, Yearn To Die The Question Is Always, Why Live To Hate, Hate To Live Bear Malace, Or Forgive Who Would Care If I Wasn't Here Anyone Bother To Shed A Tear One Mouth Less To Feed One Soul Less To Need My Right To Be Gay, YES, I SAY!! In The Wrong Form, THAT'S HOW I WAS BORN! With Love To Everyone Who Is Proud To Be Different! By Random Act Of Kindness .

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you for sharing.

[@scroptels]

I would like to know the view of medical professionals in regards to Non-binary people, because i find that a lot of what has been said about sex and gender biologically really disregards the experience of these people as simply "delusional", whether they do it intentionally or not. Yet this group of people has shown us that a lot of what we think is "natural" and therefore "normal" in our society really isn't. For the case of Gender Dysphoria, I've heard that a lot of trans people go through their transition yet in the end up not feeling comfortable with being either gender (male or female) and in the end they prefer to be non-binary. Is there some biological explanation for this? or are these people simply delusional as many claim? If it turns out there isn't a biological explanation should we deny these people the right to transition? I don't expect an answer to these problems because they are very complex, it's stuff i've been asking myself for years now and i'll probably continue to ask for many more.

[@DRZPHD]

Hi. Great questions. As far as I am aware, most medical providers in trans field see non binary identity similarly to binary trans identity so to speak, in a sense that all groups still struggle with gender dysphoria stemming from some form of biological factors. To pin point which one specifically is impossible at this point.

[@scroptels]

@@DRZPHD Well that's great, but i don't know if we should really treat these two things in the same way. I guess a lot of research will have to be done before we can arrive at some sort of conclusion about this. What upsets me is when people disregard our entire lives simply because "Biology = Truth" and call us crazy. But whatever, thank you for your response anyway, I apreciate it.

[@timthornley131]

Hi Dr. Z PHD, I'm not educated in this subject other than I have just been living it. I am trans male to female but still male 🙃 by definition. My personal opinion is that for myself that dysphoria is a side effect in that I was born a female, and had a deformity like being born with the wrong body parts which leads to the mistake of most everyone including myself to believe I am a gender that I am not. So dysphoria is just a way to describe it. It's not the right description in my opinion because it misidentified it. I believe it should be identified as a medical condition but not related to mental illness. It becomes dysphoria because it's horrifying 😳, but it don't have to become dysphoria it can be treated with medical intervention like SRS. Thanks for listening! 😎

[@DRZPHD]

Thanks for sharing.

[@reddoor5299]

How is it that some people start to feel gender dysphoria not until puberty? That growing up prior to pubescence there are no signs of incongruence. If someone is born with feelings of the opposite gender wouldn’t that arise and show itself right from the start... at least a young toddler. How is it possible for some people to go through their early years fitting in just fine with their gender and then suddenly become gender dysphoric at the age if 10 or iin other cases much later? This just does not make sense to me. On another note; is autogynephilia a mental illness or a medical condition? Thank you.

[@DRZPHD]

Great questions. The reason some people dont feel it prior to puberty falls into various categories: 1) you may feel dysphoria but have no words to describe your experience so you dismiss it 2) you try to communicate your distress to people around you but get messages or verbal expression that it is not OK to act this way, as a result you repress it 3) If our psyche cannot make piece with inner tension, one of the ways to deal with it is to bury it deep within. For this reason some people can only make sense of their childhood way into transition and can see how they actually did experience dysphoria all along. RE autogynephilia, the way Blanchard saw it is through the lease of psychological phenomenon. I believe autogynephilia is rare and is a combination of psychological and medical condition. Hope this clarifies some of your questions and I appreciate you asking.

[@reddoor5299]

DR Z PHD thank you for taking your time to answer. In addition the other thing is .... if there were no signs or wants to act out in the opposite gender ( such as only playing with birth gender toys, growing up completely in the traditional birth sex and showing no opposite gender qualities....) if the only act is cross dressing starting at the age of 12 or older and no other signs whatsoever... does that mean that this person is more autogynephilic? Can then autogynephilia promote gender dysphoria over a person’s life? In other words can autogynephilia cause gender dysphoria or is it actually reverse? I hope my question is not confusing.

[@Katemccutcheon1246]

I agree with you gender dysphoria is a medical condition. For me though being on HRT and finally coming out has helped me a ton i am actually comfortable talking in a group and stating my opinion.

[@DRZPHD]

So glad to hear!!! Good for you!

[@RaptorFromWeegee]

Its a shame we still have no real idea what causes dysphora. Until we get a better idea we're kind of taking shots in the dark. Dysphoric people seem to mostly do better when they transition, especially if they transition before puberty fully takes hold. Better quality of life and all. Of course theres all the youtube vids of detransitioners. I find that unsettling.

[@DRZPHD]

Hi, we do know that it is incongruency with ones gender assigned at birth that leads to dysphoria. What we are still trying to find out is what exactly leads to one experiecing inconrguency in the first place and as of now, there are various reasons that explain it.

[@joungyalen25]

Edna Mode

[@richardbedford8120]

I have had MTF GD from 5 yrs old. It has been quite severe and constant. It did not stop me from a male role and 48 years of marriage to 2 fine ladies. It seems to be an ego problem in which I have collapsed my male ego and become a female self. For me this change is welcome because it frees my anima from her subconscious dungeon. I think that was the source of my GD in the first place. At 78 now I do not feel the need for medical SRS or HT. BTW when you are a female living in a man's body you can have great sex with him.

[@ks506soton]

Yes but at least the person is choosing a sex so that is all said and done it's good to find a connection of identity within the human community, but what about people who don't identify as male or female. Or identify as a unicorn, a toaster, of an inanimate object? I feel very uncomfortable allowing myself to completely be okay with this. Not knowing if there is something within the person past which has made them feel out of place from being human. I don't really want to contribute or throw fuel on the fire by rolling over to that idea so quickly that it is okay. Encase that is a genuine mental health issue going on. I can't judge it for all cases, but this is for me where I draw the line of sanity. It screams to me people with such ideas are running away from what is. It reminds me of people who are inlove and have sexual desire over inanimate objects, object being genderless themselves. There's a severed connection here, the rejection to feel neither sex. Where do we draw the line?

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you for sharing. There is a big differences between feeling a different gender given it is a social construct and feeling one is a unicorn, which is simply another animal. I hear about frustration on non binary identities as one is not simply going from one binary to another, and yet people do feel this way.

[@DrAmayaDeakins]

Dr. Z the DSM is in its 6th revision. You forgot DSM 4 TR.

[@DrAmayaDeakins]

I do not know when its scheduled to be published. However I'll try and find out at least in what year they think it will.

[@SydneyScream]

Cisgender ppl can experience dysphoria as well. What comes to mind is Amanda Bynes playing a male for months for a film and being seen as male and went into a long dark depression after filming. So would this be seen as a mental illness? Dysphoria is simply depression based on how you're perceived. Dysphoria is nothing more then reoccurring depression.

[@DRZPHD]

Gender Dysphoria is a cluster of symptoms of distress related to incongruence one feels between their biological sex and their gender. It is not a mental illness in of itself. Amanda, while feeling depressed, I would bet wasn't experiencing incongruence between her sex and gender.

[@SydneyScream]

@@DRZPHD Amanda Bynes claimed herself that constantly being perceived as male is what put her into depression for close to a year. I believe the truth is somewhere in between what you are saying and what I'm saying.

[@Mistyfaraday]

Well I personally think its a little bit complicated. Within Transgender community I see some people that just feel better associating with the characteristics of the other sex, others that feel they were born the wrong sex believing they have the brain of other sex, while many say they are just confused in that they feel more like they enjoy the characteristics of the opposite sex and not sure they should change. Then you have the people that physically develop more as the opposite sex, such as boys who develop breasts instead of more muscle when they go thru puberty. Since some studies show that as people develop in younger years they go through different stages of feelings and attractions til they mature I believe that children do not belong in the discussion on the subject. Until Science advances enough to prove if there is in fact the possibility of being born with different gender brain, we need to go with what is known. Giving the above as my reasoning, I believe for some Gender Dysphoria is a mental illness however regardless it needs to stay in DSM. It is a condition which people need to be able to get psychological counseling on to help them know the reality of it. Some who are just confused may find that they are just dealing with stereotypes that are not real while others will find that they do have a problem to deal with. I believe that for many Gender Dysphoria is what leads them into depression and or anxiety and may be the root cause. Part of my reasoning is that I suffer from MDD and Social Anxiety and Gender Dysphoria. I am one of the boys who developed more feminine than masculine physically and that has been a struggle all my life. For many years I had just accepted that I was a feminine man and was OK with it. But recently when I was struck with another bout of severe depression that struggle came up again. So I finally decided to transition to a woman. Though the depression has not changed I am finding that since identifying as a woman the symptoms of my anxiety seem to be lessening, I find it much more easy to talk to others without the pain I always had before. Sorry so long.

[@toss_the_blade_subliminals4923]

I had gender dysphoria sense I was 4

[@DRZPHD]

Often many do early on.

[@richardbedford6657]

Have you considered the dissonance caused by the submerged anima in the MTF? She is denied access to the conscious world by the human male ego. She has a rich life which is stifled in the subconscious. It does seem dysphoria is her only method of escape her dungeon. This is a life or death matter so GD is the cudgel she must use to force the controlling male ego to accept her.

[@DRZPHD]

Hi. Yes that is certainly a one perspective from a Jungian standpoint. This may be true for people who struggle with embracing their feminine while remaining masculine. Personally, for people with medical condition such as GD, I don’t find it applicable.

[@kaydnburns5935]

If this is a condition and not an disorder than Anorexia is also a condition. They’re both similar. They both are disorders of what the brain sees/wants and the reality of what it is. The desire to mutilate yourself in the pursuit of a never ending desire is disastrous. Almost ALL trans who go through SRS or HRT revert back to pre-treatment levels of depression and life satisfaction numbers 5 years after treatment.

[@DRZPHD]

Hi. Not quite. 1. If people with anorexia are supported in their perceptions, they literally die. 2. Trans people affirmed in their perceptions (trans adults in my case), move on to Iive better lives. 3. "almost ALL" is deeply inaccurate based on research data in adult populations.

[@kaydnburns5935]

@@DRZPHD based on what data? The only two long term studies ever done on transgendered individuals found that gender reassignment and affirmation is not an effective method of treatment. Also while not physically harmful, affirming their warped perceptions is most definitely psychologically damaging. It’s also important to remember just because someone isn’t in pain or sad in their delusions doesn’t make them any less delusional.

[@kaydnburns5935]

@@DRZPHD unfortunately what we tend to see in trans individuals is a temporary feeling of comfort during the initial stages of transition. However once the transition stops being so noticeable, the suicidal tendencies and quality of life scores dramatically revert back to pre-treatment levels. This is much the same in how someone with anorexia may find enjoyment and happiness in the initial stages of puking, not eating and weight loss. It’s what they’re striving for right? But once the person realizes they can only take this illusion so far it cripples them.

[@kaydnburns5935]

@@DRZPHD I’d also like to preface by saying gender expression is completely valid and not psychologically bound. Purely socially constructed. However, gender identity disorders are purely psychological and quite literally nothing outside of their own head affirms what they believe and is why it’s so crippling.

[@kaydnburns5935]

@chess lover All of those things you listed are classified as delusional perceptions of self identity. Theyre all super comparable

[@weltertom954]

Yes

[@DIYTFY]

I have male organs. Am I a man?

[@DRZPHD]

That depends. Essentially what you are saying is that your sex is male. However your gender may or may not be.

[@DIYTFY]

@@DRZPHD So I’m a biological man and a woman in my brain. I’m confused.

[@DIYTFY]

I don’t want to be trans. I want to be normal.

[@clariluxe3628]

@@DIYTFY you are a man if you are XY. You may or may not fit into societies ideas of what a man should look or behave like, and that is ok.If you like wearing skirts fine, if you want to wear heels fine. Being a man or woman is NOT a mindset. You are and will always be a man if you are XY genetically.

[@blu3_enjoy]

your job and livelihood necessitates your opinion

[@DRZPHD]

In some ways yes it does. And I would very much hope adults ability to think for themselves will necessitate their lives.

[@SlayerOfTheDamned]

It’s funny how DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) is labeled as a mental illness but this isn’t. People with DID have many alters that are from one of the two genders and sometimes species. People with DID need help and most of them in fact do get help. How is this any different? You’re dissociating yourself from the truth.

[@DRZPHD]

Please not DID and GD are vastly different. One is in response to severe trauma. Another simply a medical condition.

[@richrich1936]

i think i was born this way

[@Angelum_Band]

Your biological sex should give you a clue if you let yourself be naturally.

[@jaylin6663]

it's my understanding ( and I am not a professional) that it is a diagnosiable condition because it is a delusion that if left undtreated will cause severe negative consequences for the patience mental health and wellbeing. and is treated because transitioning is harmless in comparison to the damage caused by leaving it.

[@edenevermore]

It is a disorder and they are at an increased rate of suicide by 20% regardless if they are transitioned or not. I love trans people, however they tend to be people in a ton of pain regardless if transitioned or not and that breaks my heart

[@HappyStars234]

It is a form of dissociation (caused by attachment trauma). Treat the underlying attachment trauma with EMDR plus get a psychiatrist to explain what so called “safe attachment” looks like. Once this is done the gender dysphoria will disappear.

[@nicenamehere5052]

Thank u for informing us, you look absolutely pretty by the way :)

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you so much!

[@neuroversse]

To say gender dysphoria isn't a mental illness is disingenuous and arguably dangerous. If reasoning were consistent, bulemia and anorexism would also not be mental illnesses but medical conditions... I would love for you to explain why you don't consider gender dysphoria as a mental illness.

[@DRZPHD]

Hi. Gender dysphoria is a cluster of psychological symptoms stemming from physical dissonance one feels between their body and their gender. The dissonance is medical in nature not psychological. The symptoms: depression, anxiety, etc are. Once people are able to feel more congruent with their gender identity, the symptoms go away. In contrast to your example, once people continue to be supported in their quest to be skinny by not eating, they literally die. Hope this clarifies.

[@AWDTH1111]

Damn you are strikingly beautiful 😯

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you.

[@mypenservices3740]

Wow, you are very beautiful.

[@DRZPHD]

Thank you! 😊

[@glorytofathersonandholyspirit]

Ok Edna mode

[@DRZPHD]

Always!

[@hollyvondross9635]

Obviously you like to dress up yourself doc. Ot there too far!

[@TheBusbyBabes]

cant schizophrenia also be a cause for gender dysphoria?

[@DRZPHD]

Hi and thanks for asking. Not in my experience nor in any research I have seen. Schizophrenia does not lead nor cause gender dysphoria.

[@tennesseekid65]

I think it's a medical condition.

[@DRZPHD]

Yes me too. Hope the rest of the world catches up to it.

[@mravocadotoast8129]

Men can't get pregnant

[@DRZPHD]

No of course not. At least not without medical interventions as there are medical research contemplating implantation of uterus in trans women body for pregnancy. We are not talking about biological sex in this video but gender constructs.

[@anonymous-cx7ng]

It is I know from my own experience

[@lookarabbit2888]

Maybe people could learn to be comfortable with themselves?

[@DRZPHD]

Hi and thanks for sharing your point of view. There are many older trans folks who have lived with GD all their life and decided to transition in their 60s, 70, and even 80s. IF that amount of time is not enough to become more comfortable with who you are, I am not sure what is.

[@gaylecheung3087]

Thank you

[@kobayashimaruaikiken]

I don't trust therapists not having PREVENTION in their vocabulary.