TRANSGENDERAnother Form of Trans Privilege: Exempt from Exposure Therapy

submitted by lunarstrain from self.TumblrInAction

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[–]lunarstrain[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Using exposure therapy to treat it wouldn't make sense, since technically they are already exposing themselves every waking minute, by virtue of just being the gender they wish they weren't.

I've seen many self-identified transgender medically transitioning individuals who talk about certain interactions with other people "triggering" or "worsening" their dysphoria. I've seen too many videos of bleary-eyed transgender "men" after a supposed instance of "misgendering". That's the angle I'm approaching this from. Do you think that's a genuine portrayal of the condition? Or would you describe that as an AGP/AAP/Auto-Homo symptom? How much would you say external validation/recognition plays a part in a real case of GD?

IMO the real treatment for GD would be a thought-stopping cognitive therapy where they learn to stop the negative thoughts and focus their brain on things that actually matter.

I agree with this too, I just feel the intense emotions from supposed external gender dysphoric triggers could be lessened from Exposure therapy.

[–]LtGreenCo 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Do you think that's a genuine portrayal of the condition?

I don't believe that misgendering, deadnaming, or doing anything to remind them of their real gender can actually trigger a neurological response akin to PTSD. I'm very skeptical of that claim and I think it's more likely it is a tactic they employ to elicit attention and/or manipulate people.

Regardless, treatment for these people should be focused on helping them to identify and accept reality. The exposure therapy you speak of might be a good short term solution to fortify them against anxiety. But ultimately that might do more harm than good, because it is just making it easier for them to stay deluded.