My area's pathway is the standard one. Go to my GP, be referred to a local psychiatrist who deals with gender identity issues and if she diagnoses me as suffering from Gender Dysphoria will apply to my PCT equivalent body for NHS funding for me to transition. Nowhere does it mention a "transsexual" or the condition of "transsexualism".
My area's diagnostic criteria for NHS treatment for Gender Dysphoria are.
"International Classification of Diseases (IC-10) Category F64.0
Gender Dysphoria is defined as:
A desire to live and be accepted as a member of the opposite sex, usually accompanied by a sense of discomfort with, or inappropriateness of, one’s anatomic sex, and a wish to have surgery and hormonal treatment to make one’s body as congruent as possible with one’s preferred sex.
And
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (IV) Category 302.85
(All the following criteria must be met for the diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria to be made)
Strong or persistent cross-gender identification (not merely a desire for any perceived cultural advantages of being the other sex).
Persistent discomfort with, or a sense of inappropriateness in the gender role of, his or her sex.
Lack of a physical intersex condition.
Clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning."
I may "wish to have surgery and hormonal treatment to make one's body as congruent as possible with one's preferred sex" and fit the criteria but that doesn't mean that it is possible for me to have both. So where are we if we can't adhere to the care pathway for treatment? Not allowed on the path it seems.
The flaw in the system for curing Gender Dysphoria, as I see it, is the assumption that altering my body "to be as congruent as possible with one's preferred sex" will make me happier because it will cure my dysphoria. If the indisputable proof of me having the condition "transsexualism" is that I will endure whatever necessary to show that I have to and can live as my gender and cause my family and his family distress as a result then I'm not only not allowed on the path but I'm up the creek as well. Enough long term distress to possibly give one of the family a fatal heart attack. That's a gamble I cannot take. The NHS criteria of doing RLE during treatment for gender dysphoria means I must be living as a man. How does that work if I have to take hormones and say to family "I've got a low voice, lots of hair and I'm going bald? ah, yeah, don't worry, I'm being treated for a hormonal condition"?
My psychiatrist uses "Transsexual in his verbal descriptions but as you say the official diagnosis on paper is of gender dysphoria.
ReplyDeleteYour path is up to you not to anyone else. My path differs from the standard, I do wish for the hormones and the surgery but am looking for help to avoid them because of the damage they'd cause to those around me. Yet I'm still in the system, on my way to the GIC for whatever help they can give me.
So go forward, don't give up, you're still allowed on the path. It just may turn out to be a slightly different path, that's all.
I'll be very interested to know what help the GIC can offer to you Jenny. We have our fingers crossed for you. If "All roads lead to Rome" I vote we live life to the maximum today.
ReplyDeleteQuote from Stuart Lorimer, a GIC shrink- "We see people who experience gender related distress; some are pre- transition, some do not undergo transition at all. All are valid referrals to our service." As Jenny says, there are many paths. Good luck with yours.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dru. I recognise that quote, from the "CX Myths Dispelled" document isn't it. Just as well they wouldn't expect me to turn up in a suit and tie because I don't own one. Congrats to you on the interesting site that you have constructed. I'll pop in for a proper read tomorrow.
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