• PugJesus@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        9 days ago

        Idk. There have been cases where people have regretted having the treatment. They are few compared to the number of people who think that the treatment was the best thing they ever did, but they do exist. I guess that being trans might cause some effects, like people being mean and bigoted or just the stress of knowing that you don’t fit in to what society seem to expect you to. I think prioritizing mental support through therapy might be a good start before the physical treatment. It will be good for both those that would regret the treatment but also for those that will get all sorts of weird interactions with others during the transition.

        … is this the comment you’re talking about?

        • Sunshine (she/her)@lemmy.caOP
          0·
          9 days ago

          Pushing this message that therapists should be required before allowing transitioning is very harmful as it’s often not required as trans people know very well of who they truly are. Gender dysphoria is really terrible as it negatively affects your mental health.

          Some places in their world require 2 psychiatrists before allowing trans people to simply transition on hormones.

          • PugJesus@lemmy.worldEnglish
            0·
            9 days ago

            Uh, okay, but at most this is “Commenter wants medical providers to be more cautious than is necessary”, and

            prioritizing mental support through therapy might be a good start before the physical treatment.

            is hardly a statement of gatekeeping

            • Sunshine (she/her)@lemmy.caOP
              0·
              9 days ago

              You do not understand how it feels to look at your body and feel out of place. It eats you alive. Therapy can only help so much.

              • Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone
                0·
                9 days ago

                I’m trans and I support therapy before HRT, but I disagree with the sentiment that it’s because of possibilities of regret. I believe that gender-focused therapy helps one prepare for the changes and challenges they will endure on HRT - it’s a big step, afterall. Approaching medical transition with strong mental health is essential to wellbeing while undergoing difficult and impactful changes.

                For context, when I started on HRT in the early 2010s it was normal to be required to have a panel interview with your therapist, another mental health professional, and a medical doctor (with whom you had had a physical exam and blood tests) to present your case and ensure that HRT was the best treatment option before starting. It was a rite of passage for trans people who pursued HRT. I’m glad that things have gotten easier now, but at the time it helped me feel certain that I was ready and fully prepared.

                • Jerkface (any/all)@lemmy.caEnglish
                  1·
                  8 days ago

                  Honestly, therapy is an almost necessary part of gender-affirming care. It doesn’t just prepare you or help you go through it, it’s fully part of it.