Bringing up mental illness to others

[dear_kallisti]

This is only partially related to anything transgender, but it is still slightly related and can't post it anywhere else, so please don't flame me.

Quick background: FtM in my mid-to-late teens, had three therapists in my lifetime and been in therapy for the past four years, one institutionalization for attempted suicide at age twelve and have

Comments

[gaykitten]

I had a friend that tried to accuse me of that recently. Of having BPD and that's where my gender identity "problems" come from. He's no longer my friend. If your therapist has biases against you for this reason, I'd suggest switching therapists. Good luck.

[dear_kallisti]

It's tough enough when we receive assumption and judgment from strangers, but it is awful when it comes from friends x_x; good riddance.

[fabfemmeboy]

You just need to find a good therapist and explain to him or her what you said here. I had similar concerns because I was bipolar through my entire teens (oddly enough, it switched to major depression when I came out). Because I expressed a fairly clear understanding of my mental health (or lack thereof) and what transition would or would not do to 'fix' those issues, it wasn't a bar to my transition at all.

[dear_kallisti]

Thank you :] My brother is bipolar, I know that navigating through the system with that diagnosis can be tough enough without adding being transgender on top of that, so I wish you luck.

[aphenine]

I got the impression that mood swings could be very normal in a transition environment from my own experience with them and from learning to damp them

[dear_kallisti]

Thank you, I found this helpful =] I certainly agree and can see where overall stabler mental health could make others more comfortable with supporting my gender identity.

[elosoconqueso]

Watch out for a BPD diagnosis, self- or otherwise. Many psych and social work professionals I've talked to think that BPD is just a new word for "hysterical." There's a lot of debate over whether it's a valid diagnosis or not, and I'm firmly on the side that it's not. Don't roll over and accept it, either from a professional or from yourself.

That said, there isn't a person alive who a good therapist couldn't help. The whole point of the therapeutic relationship is to have a safe place where you are listened to and respected-- if you can't get that with the person you're seeing now, find someone else.

[dear_kallisti]

I never claimed to be rolling over and accepting anything. I also never asked for anyone's opinion on the diagnosis itself. I was already aware of the fact that BPD is a controversial diagnosis. I didn't need to know your opinion about it. Thank you for your second bit of advice however, as that was more the sort I was asking for and actually found helpful.

[frankielfs]

I see a therapist in a GLBT clinic. Although they diagnosed and treated me for my mental illnesses from the beginning, I had to wait until after a hospitalization to get help with my trans issues. I'm FTM, waiting to move to Baltimore from Annapolis, to start T because the daytreatment program I attend won't facilitate my transition.

I hope you can talk with your therapist about your issues.