re: Transgenderism

Even here in the early part of the 21st century, most people can't seem to accept that the brain is just another organ in the body. For some reason, they view mental function and brain function as separate processes with the former being a kind of supernatural entity apart from the physical body.

Only now are psychiatrists and psychologists beginning to see, and accept, that human behaviors are directly related to the state of the physical brain. Hopefully, the term "mental illness" will change to "brain disorder" in describing the asocial and antisocial behaviors of some individuals.

Medical technology is advancing at a pace similar to other fields and researchers are discovering that the best approach to dealing with brain disorders (mental illnesses) is to first analyze the physical differences of the afflicted brain, as with, for example, transgenderism; then to assess the possibility of treating the brain (rather than addressing the behavior) in attempts to help the individual.

Obviously with transgenderism there is a long way to go before effective changes to the brain can be made but research is offering a lot of promise. Transgenderism is a biological mismatch between the brain of a person and his or her sex; a birth defect of the brain.

The only current method of correcting this mismatch is to attempt to change the sex of the person. Success rates, as already mentioned, are not good.

Won't it be wonderful when doctors will be able to change the brain's physical structure to match the body's sex?

The irony of the Campaign against female genital mutilation in some African society and some Muslim groups is just too strange when in the same world as the transgender surgeries..

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As I understand it , there is quite a bit of tinkering going on involving trifluoperazine, again.

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Yes, but that's just more treatment of symptoms. Being different in a society can cause debilitating stress. Stress kills. It can be so overwhelming that it commands more attention than its cause, even from doctors and researchers.

It's gene therapy and other strategies that will alter the brain's structure to a more "normal" status. While this may sound a bit dystopian to some, it should be balanced by knowing that the suffering by those who are social outcasts, through no fault of their own, can be reduced or eliminated.

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You can join the military and the government will pay up to $100,000 towards the surgery and mental guidance.

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I disagree with that policy, too. I'm sure the healthcare that's provided by the military looks at transgenderism as a pre-existing condition. I've never thought that insurance companies should have to insure someone with a pre-existing illness. It's like an auto insurance company would have to repair a car that was wrecked before its owner got insurance.

On the flip side, only 25 transgenders have undergone sex change surgery after joining the military. When it comes time for the surgery, many transgenders will shy away from the certain physical pain that accompanies the change.

People may say Im mentally ill but it has nothing to do with sexuality.

Pretty much standard as an Auburn fan.

Kentucker,
True. But all end up going through mental help. They join just to get the treatment. ( surgical ). About 3/4s back out. I don’t know if they can truly be helped.

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But all end up going through mental help.

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I should hope so. It’s the only thing that keeps many of them alive. Put yourself in their shoes, or high heels, for a moment and imagine the self-loathing that comes from such a disorder.

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They join just to get the treatment. ( surgical ).

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And this is wrong. Of course, many other people join for other wrong reasons, too. The military should not be used as an escape from one’s environment or situation. The prime motivation should be to serve the nation.

Well, brain research is in hyperdrive mode. We're already understanding that the brain is a biological quantum computer with a complexity that once seemed undecipherable.

Mapping the areas that regulate functions is progressing well. It was once thought that each area had a specific task but that's no longer the case. We now know that any particular function is dependent on multiple areas of the brain, with some even dependent on non-brain regulatory cells, such as the digestive process. There are "brain cells" in the stomach and intestines that participate in regulating our intake and digestion of food.

The operations are radical, both for male-to-female and female-to-male surgeries. We think of only the genitalia being changed but other parts of the body are altered, too.

I agree that some transgenders choose sex change surgery out of desperation. They can't tolerate seeing someone in the mirror that's the opposite of who they see in their mind. At best they can hope for a facsimile of the person they want to be but, unfortunately, that doesn't often happen. At present it's very difficult and cost prohibitive to convert a man to a believable woman and vice versa.

I mentioned brain restructuring as a solution but body restructuring of transgenders could be improved, too. Stem cell research is being done regarding the regrowth of amputated limbs and the nerves associated with paralysis. Perhaps scientists will one day learn how to reprogram bodies to grow into forms that match their brains.

As Archur C. Clarke said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."