Should Someone With Gender Dysphoria Talk To A Psychiatrist?
Gender dysphoria (GD) is when there's a contradiction between a person's assigned gender at birth and the gender they actually identify with. The notion of gender being assigned is fairly clinical and is simply based upon a visual confirmation of a newborn baby's sex organs. An acknowledgement of GD can be the first step towards gender transition; however, this is not an automatic outcome. GD can be a time of great emotional, psychological, and social complexity, and you will need some assistance during the process — whether or not this eventually leads to gender transition. Should GD be discussed with a psychiatrist?
Extremely Beneficial
Consulting a psychiatrist is not mandatory for people experiencing GD; however. it can be extremely beneficial. It doesn't matter if you sought out a psychiatrist yourself, did so at the recommendation of your family, or were referred by your physician. It's important to remember that a psychiatrist is working with you to achieve your objectives, even if these objectives have not yet been clearly defined. They will not dismiss your GD, nor will they attempt to deter you from transitioning if this should be your optimal outcome.
Your Gender Dysphoria
A psychiatric consultation for GD will inevitably involve a discussion about why your gender identity has diverged from your assigned birth gender. Your psychiatrist will not provide these answers, and you may similarly be unable to clearly do so either. It's more about exploring the source of your GD, as this can be of great assistance in helping to determine what further steps will be needed.
The Next Stages
A psychiatric consultation could help to clarify certain aspects of your GD. It may be of assistance in confirming to yourself that you are in fact transgender or even non-binary. Your psychiatrist can make a recommendation about your suitability for the next stages of any medical or surgical intervention, which can involve hormone therapy with a view to surgical gender transition. Your psychiatrist effectively becomes part of your gender-affirming healthcare team.
A Positive Effect
Forging a productive relationship with a psychiatrist can have a positive effect on transition. You will be able to regularly discuss the psychological and social implications of your transition (your pre and post-transition psycho-social adaptation). Transition is life-changing, and it's extremely advantageous to have a good relationship with a psychiatrist to assist you with the ramifications (both positive and negative) of this change. Although surgical transition is primarily focused on the physical change, this change is more straightforward when your mental health is simultaneously addressed.
Anyone who suspects they might be experiencing gender dysphoria doesn't automatically need to see a psychiatrist. Yet, it can be a crucial form of assistance for many people and so should be strongly considered.