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say...don't go making up your own uninformed judgements. There are many papers explaining WHY...here's a summary...feel free to do more research yourself.


AI Overview

Gender dysphoria isn't considered a mental illness itself but rather the distress from a mismatch between one's gender identity and assigned sex, a shift reflecting understanding that being transgender isn't inherently pathological; major health organizations now view the incongruence as a condition, not a disorder, with the severe mental health issues (anxiety, depression) arising from societal stigma, rejection, and lack of support, not being trans. The focus shifted from pathologizing gender identity (formerly "Gender Identity Disorder") to treating the distress (Gender Dysphoria) and affirming the individual's true gender, often resolving symptoms in supportive environments.

Key Reasons for the Shift:

Being Transgender is Not Pathological: Scientific evidence shows gender identity has deep biological roots, meaning being transgender isn't a choice or mental defect.

Focus on Distress: The diagnostic criteria (like in the DSM-5) now focus on the clinically significant distress (dysphoria) caused by the incongruence, not the incongruence itself, notes the American Psychiatric Association.

Social Stigma is the Real Issue: Research indicates that poor mental health in transgender people is primarily due to societal stigma, discrimination, and violence, not their gender identity, says this study in The Lancet.

WHO Classification Change: The World Health Organization (WHO) moved "Gender Incongruence" out of mental disorders in the ICD-11, classifying it under "Conditions Related to Sexual Health," acknowledging it's not a mental illness, according to this article from the Journal of Mental Health & Clinical Psychology.

In essence: The identity is real, but the suffering often experienced is a result of a world that misunderstands or rejects that identity, explains Brown University Health.
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