Trans Bodies, Trans Selves by Erickson-Schroth Laura

Author:Erickson-Schroth, Laura
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 2014-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

“Having to disclose who I was and my transition was traumatic for me because I knew and worked with so many people over the years. I really did not know how they would react. But after all was said and done, most everyone was very accepting or just didn’t care. It was a huge weight off my shoulders. I no longer felt like I was deceiving everyone.”

For some of us, our feelings of anxiety may reach a debilitating level, warranting the need for intensive therapy or medication. Some of us may feel constantly anxious. We may have panic attacks, where we have temporary but terrifying periods of paralyzing fear or the feeling of “impending doom.” Some of us are so anxious that it keeps us from performing daily activities, like going to the store or to school.

There are different types of anxiety disorders, and severity differs from person to person. Anxiety disorders are more common than we typically think. One in four people may develop an anxiety disorder across their life span. Anxiety disorders are often experienced alongside other mental health issues, including depression, bipolar disorder, substance use, and personality disorders. The rate of anxiety disorders in trans and gender nonconforming communities is higher than the general population (De Vries et al., 2011; Hepp, Kraemer, Schnyder, Miller, & Delsignore, 2005; Hoshiai et al., 2010).

“Being a man, in and of itself, even in a woman’s body, doesn’t make me mentally ill, but it does come with considerable mental stress to be in a body that doesn’t fit you. The fear, dysphoria, depression, discomfort, confusion, etc, it all takes its toll.”

Common anxiety disorders include the following:

• Phobia—excessive fear about a situation or object, such as fear of flying or spiders

• Social anxiety—difficulties in social situations, such as being afraid of what others will think of us

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)—frequent, excessive worry about many different things

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)—intrusive repetitive thoughts or behaviors, such as turning on/off the lights multiple times, frequently checking locks, or washing our hands excessively

• Panic disorder—discrete episodes in which we may have a racing heart, fast breathing, profuse sweating, or a fear of dying, which may occur in particularly distressing circumstances or at random

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