In my last role as a school nurse there was a girl who, at the age of 11 told her parents she wanted to be a boy. So,, the parents did what they could and got help from various doctors and experts, and over the course of the next 3 years I got to know this student well, and regardless of what I thought on the matter, was able to support this student. The student knew I had a different perspective but we had a good working relationship and this student appreciated a different perspective eg I disagreed with the hormone blockers, chest compression brace and eventual male hormones.
Anyway, during this student's time here, 2 close female friends of the student decided they were trans as well. The thing is, I believed they were not trans. I knew both of them had serious family issues, including a family divorce, and had also gone through the gambit of self harm - from cutting, eating disorders etc. But the rest of the group of girls all agreed they were trans, and encouraged this.
At about the same time this was happening, Brown university came out with a study looking into ROGD (rapid onset gender dysphoria) which showed that the vast majority of the teens and young adults coming out as trans, were not actually trans. They cited various issues, including media pressure as well as underlying, unresolved psychological issues. Unfortunately, because this study was not 'affirming' of their transition, the study was withdrawn due to media pressure.
Anyway, regardless of my thoughts, these students were sent to the pediatric psychologist, who promptly refused to see them. I knew the psychologist very and and she confided in me that it's far too dangerous a minefield and she could easily lose her licence. She said that basically, any opinion that did not affirm someone as trans risked it all. A second pediatric psychologist I knew also refused to see them.
Anyway, the school decided to go along with one of the girl's requests to be called a boy. I was not happy to do this, but did ask my manager if the girl's parents were aware we were calling their daughter a boy. My manager said 'Yes' the parents were aware.
I was not convinced I was being told the truth, and about one week after being told the parents were aware, the headmaster had a talk with us in the health center, and told us that if we have any communication with the parents, not to call their daughter a boy or use her boy name ie we were told to lie to the parents.
I was not happy to do this, and quit. And now I'm in the middle of the Australian desert having new adventures.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
2 minutes ago, PsychNurse24 said:
You are ignorant! People who are transgender have gender dysphoria which is a diagnosis in the DSM-5. This is not my opinion, this is from the American Psychiatric Association. As a psychiatric nurse I treat people with gender dysphoria, depression, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, And multiple other diagnoses with compassion and without judgement.
There is already a stigma around mental health issues, and you only make this worse by denying that gender dysphoria is an APA diagnosis. How about putting your energy into erasing the stigma of mental health and ensuring that people with mental health disorders Receive the same compassionate care as everyone?
Please get a DSM-5 and look up gender dysphoria. Per the APA.
Per the APA: “Some people who are transgender will experience “gender dysphoria,” which refers to psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one’s sex assigned at birth and one’s gender identity.”
They are clearly saying in that statement that transgender and gender dysphoria are NOT the same, as only some people who are transgender experience it. Sounds like you need to educate yourself more, per the APA.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
3 hours ago, nursingaround1 said:
You are indoctrinated and it's and any further time spent in dialogue with you is a waste of time. You are part of the problem. You are the reason we are at war. Yes, there is a war going on, and it's a war that is targeting our schools and our children, and you're on the wrong side and don't know it. There is no reconciliation with the insanity of the left because they actually believe they're morally right, and as such, condone any action to further their ends.
You are the enemy.
Holy ***. You are so out of bounds that you’re not even visible anymore.
Per the APA: “Some people who are transgender will experience “gender dysphoria,” which refers to psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one’s sex assigned at birth and one’s gender identity.”
They are clearly saying in that statement that transgender and gender dysphoria are NOT the same, as only some people who are transgender experience it. Sounds like you need to educate yourself more, per the APA.
Hmm, The American Psychiatric Association, and the DSM-5, consider transgender to be a mental illness. It is called Gender Dysphoria. We do not use what the world health organization believes as criteria for the diagnosis of mental illnesses in this country. The APA is the most reputable source!
In my specialty I seldom have reason to look things up in the DSM-5, but aren’t you misrepresenting the diagnosis Gender Dysphoria when you claim that the DSM-5 considers ”transgender” to be a mental illness? That’s not at all how I interpret it after having just looked.
The key word in the diagnosis appears to be dysphoria. A person whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned at birth or sex-related physical characteristics but who feels at ease with their bodies (either with or without medical/surgical intervention) and generally content with their life would not get a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, would they?
It’s the possible/eventual discomfort the identity might cause, not the gender identity itself, that the diagnosis covers. Mustn’t a person feel clinicallysignificantdistress or impairment in order for the diagnosis to be made? The distress could be caused by external factors as well as internal. I can only imagine how it would feel to not be accepted by family, friends and society. I can easily see that causing distress.
So no, I don’t think that the DSM-5 says that ”transgender” is a mental illness.
On 3/14/2021 at 9:54 AM, Closed Account 12345 said:
"If the article comes from the nationalreview.com website, it must be true!" -No One Ever
Here is my thought on this, and I am extremely conservative. It's not up to you as a nurse to decide who is "really" trans. It's your responsibility to be respectful. Does it harm you in any way to call someone by their preferred name or pronoun?
Now, I do agree that schools have no right intentionally deceiving parents, but that's something that staff should discuss with the student early on. "We're happy to make these accommodations, but please know that while we won't advertise them to your parents, we also won't hide them. Because you are a minor in their care, they have full access to xyz information from the school."
It's amazing that you know your mind and destiny so well. I'm 28 and I still haven't figured things out but I do know that at 11 years old I certainly didn't know squat about anything except playing soccer and watching TV and eating etc.
I really have a very strong mind and I have never followed anyone. No celebrity, jock, friends, no one ever! I always did what I wanted! But, there's no way in hell, that I would at 11, know anything about trans unless someone put that idea into my head deliberately and reinforced it. Full disclosure, I know nothing about the subject matter but that's some serious *** for an 11 year old to address when they should be just yapping nonsense constantly and causing as much trouble as possible. That's the way I was raised. My siblings and I caused my parents as much headaches as possible and they dealt with the consequences for us. We were allowed to be kids!
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
22 minutes ago, PsychNurse24 said:
You are ignorant! People who are transgender have gender dysphoria which is a diagnosis in the DSM-5. This is not my opinion, this is from the American Psychiatric Association. As a psychiatric nurse I treat people with gender dysphoria, depression, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, And multiple other diagnoses with compassion and without judgement.
There is already a stigma around mental health issues, and you only make this worse by denying that gender dysphoria is an APA diagnosis. How about putting your energy into erasing the stigma of mental health and ensuring that people with mental health disorders Receive the same compassionate care as everyone?
Please get a DSM-5 and look up gender dysphoria. Per the APA.
No, I’m not ignorant. How about you don’t make assumptions into what I already am and am not putting my energy into. You know nothing about me.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
2 minutes ago, macawake said:
It’s the eventual discomfort the identity might cause, not the gender identity itself, that the diagnosis covers.
Exactly this. The dysphoria comes, in part, from outside influences making them feel ***. So one could argue that attitudes like the OP and psychnurse24 cause gender dysphoria. Huh, imagine that.
No, I’m not ignorant. How about you don’t make assumptions into what I already am and am not putting my energy into. You know nothing about me.
I see on this thread that many people do not believe that gender dysphoria, which is common among people who are transgender, is not a psychiatric disorder. It is. Not knowing the facts is what ignorance is. It is not an insult it is the definition of the word.
Said by someone who evidently believes the world health organization more than the American Psychiatric Association.
That's a non-starter as I haven't commented on the issue, just your mode of communication. And, by the way, explaining to someone that (you think) their facts are wrong by leading with "You're ignorant!" is, in fact, an insult.
Exactly this. The dysphoria comes, in part, from outside influences making them feel ***. So one could argue that attitudes like the OP and psychnurse24 cause gender dysphoria. Huh, imagine that.
Yes, please blame me! Always place blame on others. Never take accountability for oneself! I’m sure it is the nurse who is talking with you and finding you support that is to blame when you are 28 years old rather than the obstacles you faced for an entire lifetime.
I see on this thread that many people do not believe that gender dysphoria, which is common among people who are transgender, is not a psychiatric disorder. It is. Not knowing the facts is what ignorance is. It is not an insult it is the definition of the word.
People only need to look a few posts up to where I quoted you saying that the DSM-5 consider transgender to be a mental illness.
That is not what the DSM-5 says.
You are now backpedalling. You really, really do not get to call us ignorant.
Question: Why does an anesthetist interpret the DSM-5 more accurately than a nurse who specializes in psychiatry?
JadedCPN, BSN, RN
1,476 Posts
Per the APA: “Some people who are transgender will experience “gender dysphoria,” which refers to psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one’s sex assigned at birth and one’s gender identity.”
They are clearly saying in that statement that transgender and gender dysphoria are NOT the same, as only some people who are transgender experience it. Sounds like you need to educate yourself more, per the APA.
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria