Mental health articles

transgender mental illness study Transgender is an umbrella term for individuals who transcend traditional
gender norms—behavior and values that society deems appropriate for one
sex or another—and includes transvestites, transsexuals, and gender benders.
Many students are content with their biological sex, yet because they do
not behave in gender-stereotypical ways consider themselves transgender.
Th ey oft en grow up being teased for inappropriate gender role behavior and as
adults may continue to harbor feelings of inadequacy that benefi t from therapeutic
intervention.
Transvestism Transvestites are sexually aroused by images of themselves
wearing “sexy” opposite-sex clothing. Usually heterosexual men with a male
gender identity (they like their genitals), they may feel empowered and rebellious
by the act. Cross-dressing begins in childhood or adolescence and oft en
increases in frequency (and wardrobe) but has decreasing erotic appeal. Eventually,
it may serve primarily to relieve anxiety.
Female impersonators and gay men who dress in drag for fun or entertainment
do not necessarily derive sexual pleasure from the act. As such, they
are not transvestites. Many transvestites are content and well functioning. If
they request counseling, it is oft en because they want to strategize how best
to share their secret with a partner to increase closeness and, perhaps, to
permit cross-dressing at home. Others seek counseling when they encounter
social diffi culty or suff er increasing anxiety. Th e goals of treatment may
include identifying relational and sexual needs, fi nding alternate sexual outlets,
and developing novel ways of managing anxiety. Cognitive-behavioral
treatments may help identify avoidable thoughts, feelings, and situations that
generate cross-dressing and that can be managed with cognitive restructuring
strategies.
Transsexualism Transsexuals experience severe gender dysphoria and ongoing
desire for the social roles and physical traits of the opposite sex. Unlike
transvestites, they usually do not derive sexual gratifi cation from cross-dressing.
Rather, many feel trapped in an incorrect body and cross-dress to reclaim
their rightful persona. Some transsexuals meet DSM-IV criteria for gender
identity disorder since childhood and grow up suff ering castigation and even
violence from family and peers, as illustrated in the movie Boys Don’t Cry.
When they are mandated to conceal their gender atypicality, anxiety and
depression may ensue.

Gender identity disorder and transsexualism are almost certainly of biological
etiology and impervious to drug and talk therapies. However, counseling
is benefi cial for mitigating resulting emotional problems. Th ere has been
a slight increase in students, usually males, wanting treatment to obtain sex
hormones or to fulfi ll counseling requirements prior to obtaining sex hormones
or sex reassignment surgery. Most therapists lack appropriate training
for this work and are advised to refer patients to sex reassignment clinics
or other appropriate specialists. It is vital to follow through with referrals
because frustrated or impoverished students may forgo medical oversight in
favor of dangerously impure underground sex steroids. Counselors whose
moral beliefs preclude their supporting the transsexual’s transformation
should refer the case.

Tags: mental illness