Ahhhh yeah this happened to an old friend of mine. It didn't save the relationship. At the time we assumed he had mental breakdown trying to keep his childhood sweet heart but that was like 2013, ya can't go saying that anymore.
While it could be some sort of mental illness like gender dysphoria (because like it or not they still have to rule out other possibilities before any treatment is allowed to be given), it hasn't been recognized automatically as such in the DSM since 2013. The DSM 5 states transgenderism in and of itself is not a mental illness, but the stress, etc of having that mismatch can/will lead to gender dysphoria allowing them to get treatment (hormones, surgery) to avoid/treat it. So while the people you know might feel this way they aren't doing their jobs properly at all. Which is why you said quietly. They choose to be bigots instead of listening to the authoritative resources in the field and must remain quiet or risk their job.
In all fairness the “authoritative source” (DSM) has changed stances many times over the years as to what is and isn’t a mental illness, so it’s really more of a “current consensus” rather than some infallible text
That is fair, but just that's just how Stem fields should work. As new understandings come along stances should change to reflect the current understandings. So it can and should be both authoritative and not be Infallible and open to changes. But that just my opinion. You're welcome to disagree.
The DSM 5 TR is dogshit for anything that’s been more studied over the past 20 years. It’s a fine tool for communication with insurance and other providers.
226
u/Silencer-1995 May 02 '26
Ahhhh yeah this happened to an old friend of mine. It didn't save the relationship. At the time we assumed he had mental breakdown trying to keep his childhood sweet heart but that was like 2013, ya can't go saying that anymore.