What does transgender mean?
When a baby is firstborn, it is assigned female at birth (AFAB) or male at birth (AMAB) based on the genitalia. As the child grows older and learns to understand themselves and their body better, they can decide to identify their gender as their assigned (biological) sex, which would mean they are cis-gendered; or they may come to realize that their gender does not identify with their biological sex, meaning they are transgender.
How does being transgender affect someone’s mental health?
Just because someone identifies as transgender does not mean they have a mental illness, or it does not mean their mental illness is related to the way they identify. However, trans individuals face a higher social stigma which may cause a burden on their mental health.
Growing up as transgender can be difficult; many trans individuals have reported feeling unwelcome in a social setting such as school and work. Teenage and Adolescent trans individuals have reported facing bullying, discrimination, and verbal and physical harassment.
Incidents such as these can initiate or worsen mental health disorders.
What is gender dysphoria?
Some trans individuals experience Gender Dysphoria; they feel the need or desire to change their predominant characteristics to match their gender and identity. They may feel this way prior to surgery, but it can cause a lot of unease and tension. This may also lead to
Anxiety.
Depression, sadness, or a sense of loss.
Negative self-image or poor self-esteem.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Shame.
Social isolation.
If these emotions go into overdrive, it may lead to
Alcoholism.
Drug addiction.
Eating disorders.
Self-injury.
Suicidal behavior.
Are transgender people more likely to suffer from mental health disorders?
Although these reasons are not directly correlated to their identity as trans individuals, they are more likely to suffer from mental health disorders because of the painful and traumatic experiences they may go through because of social stigma.
Note from Balanced Ketamine
Mental Wellness is a human right. Although it is not brought to light enough, many transgender individuals experience mental health disorders that can go beyond limits. You are not alone. If you feel this way, you can reach out to your primary physician, therapist, and local support groups.