Some of the types of "dysphoria" are not even dysphoria, IMO.
Agreed that the economic sector that's arisen around this lie is not going to go quietly. I also hope that this can't last much longer. We cannot be passive but must help see it out the door.
Some of the types of "dysphoria" are not even dysphoria, IMO.
Agreed that the economic sector that's arisen around this lie is not going to go quietly. I also hope that this can't last much longer. We cannot be passive but must help see it out the door.
Dysphoria is also a pretty nebulous word. Right now it is used to describe the "current symptom cluster." I would much rather my daughter believe she has gender dysphoria than that she was somehow born in the wrong body. I guess what I'm saying is just as I don't believe in "true trans", I'm skeptical of lots of disorders we've named in the DSM. I think people are in psychic pain and seeking answers. Even those HSTS boys are likely just homosexual but growing up in a culture where feminine, same-sex attracted boys are unacceptable. Unacceptable = psychic pain. Crazy Like Us is a good read. And Anatomy of an Epidemic. I came into this already skeptical of our profit-driven sick care system. It's why my girl knew I'd never get on board with this.
At this point - years in - I believe my daughter thinks that she "is a guy" and that people see her that way but is pretty much ok with her body/likes the way she looks?? I guess that's progress? Someone from 1975 when girls could have short hair might meet her and never guess she had weird ideas in her head. I'm still scared.
A friend of my daughter's went on "T" at 18 but the birthday came and went for us without any issue... These confused kids are being fed what the "steps" are. "At 18 you can take "T"! "It's liberation!" I will hold my breath until my daughter's head is right and until our society is sane again - and this radical ideology is put down - and we have a memorial museum about it. Wishing you both the best for your daughters.
"growing up in a culture where feminine, same-sex attracted boys are acceptable. Unacceptable = psychic pain." Oh, I so agree! And, I think my girl has avoided psychic pain - not facing some aspects of life - and "escaped". Even when she had a "Queer" (probably BPD or something) mentor friend who was cutting herself, she seemed to escape away from it all... When she was younger she seemed to have a healthy "immune system"/skepticism. I will have to check out those reads.
feminine, same-sex attracted boys are *unacceptable (I edited the original comment; I think you knew I meant this) So weird that right after I wrote that comment, I picked up my copy of Sue and Marcus Evans' book, Gender Dysphoria: A Therapeutic Approach (or Model?) one of those two, which I'm slowly making my way through. In the section I'm in, they introduced the concept of a "psychic retreat" which seems like a great way to capture much of what I described in Defining Trans. Do you have that book? I'll try to grab it later today and reference the actual section.
It's Ch 5, the first case study is Jane, a 15yo girl. In the Case Discussion, p. 83: "The idea of gender as a fixed solution can function just like a psychic retreat--a defensive state in which the confusion and anxieties caused by the inexorable path of sexual development can be put on hold for a prolonged period....When faced with the challenges of development, the young person retreats into a psychic suit of armour." Such a relief to have therapists who have a solid grasp of child development creating content on the topic.
It's a good book. This has been the most helpful section for me so far. I shared it with my daughter's therapist yesterday. She seems eager to read Ch 5 and discuss with me. Grateful I found her--she's doing good work with my kid because she values me as an expert on my daughter and meets with me regularly to get my input. She also recognizes how off the rails the "affirmative model" is.
Some of the types of "dysphoria" are not even dysphoria, IMO.
Agreed that the economic sector that's arisen around this lie is not going to go quietly. I also hope that this can't last much longer. We cannot be passive but must help see it out the door.
Dysphoria is also a pretty nebulous word. Right now it is used to describe the "current symptom cluster." I would much rather my daughter believe she has gender dysphoria than that she was somehow born in the wrong body. I guess what I'm saying is just as I don't believe in "true trans", I'm skeptical of lots of disorders we've named in the DSM. I think people are in psychic pain and seeking answers. Even those HSTS boys are likely just homosexual but growing up in a culture where feminine, same-sex attracted boys are unacceptable. Unacceptable = psychic pain. Crazy Like Us is a good read. And Anatomy of an Epidemic. I came into this already skeptical of our profit-driven sick care system. It's why my girl knew I'd never get on board with this.
At this point - years in - I believe my daughter thinks that she "is a guy" and that people see her that way but is pretty much ok with her body/likes the way she looks?? I guess that's progress? Someone from 1975 when girls could have short hair might meet her and never guess she had weird ideas in her head. I'm still scared.
I think this is where my girl is too. I REALLY hope so, as she turns 18 in 5 months and I am holding my breath. So. Scared.
Mine turns 18 in June.
A friend of my daughter's went on "T" at 18 but the birthday came and went for us without any issue... These confused kids are being fed what the "steps" are. "At 18 you can take "T"! "It's liberation!" I will hold my breath until my daughter's head is right and until our society is sane again - and this radical ideology is put down - and we have a memorial museum about it. Wishing you both the best for your daughters.
Sounds like progress to me! I write a lot on my Substack about fear and trust. How old is your daughter?
I avoid precise details for my daughter's sake, but she is a little older than your daughter.
"growing up in a culture where feminine, same-sex attracted boys are acceptable. Unacceptable = psychic pain." Oh, I so agree! And, I think my girl has avoided psychic pain - not facing some aspects of life - and "escaped". Even when she had a "Queer" (probably BPD or something) mentor friend who was cutting herself, she seemed to escape away from it all... When she was younger she seemed to have a healthy "immune system"/skepticism. I will have to check out those reads.
feminine, same-sex attracted boys are *unacceptable (I edited the original comment; I think you knew I meant this) So weird that right after I wrote that comment, I picked up my copy of Sue and Marcus Evans' book, Gender Dysphoria: A Therapeutic Approach (or Model?) one of those two, which I'm slowly making my way through. In the section I'm in, they introduced the concept of a "psychic retreat" which seems like a great way to capture much of what I described in Defining Trans. Do you have that book? I'll try to grab it later today and reference the actual section.
Please do!
It's Ch 5, the first case study is Jane, a 15yo girl. In the Case Discussion, p. 83: "The idea of gender as a fixed solution can function just like a psychic retreat--a defensive state in which the confusion and anxieties caused by the inexorable path of sexual development can be put on hold for a prolonged period....When faced with the challenges of development, the young person retreats into a psychic suit of armour." Such a relief to have therapists who have a solid grasp of child development creating content on the topic.
Thank you, StoicMom!
It's a good book. This has been the most helpful section for me so far. I shared it with my daughter's therapist yesterday. She seems eager to read Ch 5 and discuss with me. Grateful I found her--she's doing good work with my kid because she values me as an expert on my daughter and meets with me regularly to get my input. She also recognizes how off the rails the "affirmative model" is.