Afraid of gatekeeping or saying the wrong thing
I want to talk to a doctor or a professional about my dysphoria and gender identity so that they can hopefully recommend someone to me. But I'm afraid of being gate-kept, sort of like this website I found explains it: "In order to obtain any form of gender reassignment, they (trans people) must face gatekeeping from the medical community, because being trans is seen as pathological. This takes the form of having to "prove" they are trans, usually by showing signs of genital dysphoria, in order to receive adequate medical care."
I'm afraid of saying something and then having them respond with something like "just because you like to wear X Y or Z doesn't make you trans" when that's how I try to explain how I feel. Or jumping at something I say and going "Oh that means you're not trans then". Or them thinking I said something cliche. I know who I am and that I want to transition. But I'm afraid of explaining it wrong. Does that make sense? And when someone tells me I'm wrong, especially something this serious and about me, I start to cry and can't articulate myself anymore. Like I feel as if they're suppressing me and telling me to shut up and ignore it. Or that it doesn't matter. It makes me want to break down and give up.
I want to bring it up to my pediatrician how I feel so that she can recommend a resource to me. I'm 17 and still have a kid's insurance that no real therapist takes. My mother told me to talk to her because she may know other trans individuals, or a nearby support group that could help me. Besides, she was really good at recognizing my anorexia and recommending a counselor to me. But I'm afraid she's going to deny my gender identity before she does that. And if I do get a counselor, that THEY might shut me down. I mean, is there anything that I can say to be taken seriously? Or anything I should avoid saying? I know this sounds like a silly question, but that's what I feared two years ago when I first talked to someone about it. And it isn't any different now. If I experience gatekeeping, do I just keep looking for different therapists? Help?
Posted Apr 15, 2016, 1:36 AM UTC