FTM place to vent and talk

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by ~KnightsBlade~

I am so sick of being labeled. I would have thought that by 2013 the medical field would have gotten away from using labels disguised as a diagnosis long ago However, I found out very recently that this fantasy of mine has not happened yet so I now have another label stuck on me. I now am, according to the ones with degrees, someone with gender identity disorder GID. Last time I looked I have no problem with the body I was born into except that it does not match the body in my head or the one I believe I should have been born into. Can you tell I don't appreciate having the label GID especially when there are so many I could have received. I also have no problem being trans and if I have to live my life in this body it will not kill me. It also will not make me happy or to feel complete. When will our society get away from labels and trying to put people into a box.

Hey, KnightsBlade, I work in the field of mental health, so if you would like a additional info. on why you might have been given this diagnosis, I would be happy to talk with you about it.

As an aside, the mental health community does not see gender dysphoria (or GID) as a mental illness, it is just kept in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel so that people can get insurance to pay for counseling or medical services (hormone, sugery). The new DSM (that just came out, DSM V), actually changed the diagnosis to Gender Dysphoria, because it is not seen as a disorder. It just means that people feel distress due to the body they are born in. It does not mean that people who are trans have a mental illness.

Anyway, I never "diagnose" anyone with GID (meaning, send that diagnose to their insurance company), unless they request it so that they can get medical services (it is needed in order for insurance company to pay for top surgeries and also for surgeons who follow the Standards of Care to actually agree to do the surgery).

Ok, so this is long winded, but I hope the above makes you feel better. Of course, not knowing more info. I can't tell you if the doc was trying to help or was being a dick. Either way, I think they should have talked with you about it, if they actually put that on an insurance form.