Baptists rally to attack gay marriage again..

[Magical Realist]

"Mental illness is any diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that interferes with or limits a person's ability to live, work, learn, and participate fully in his or her community."

I don't see any reference to it necessarily inducing distress. It's all about interference with the ability to live and function normally.

AI Overview

"... mental illness doesn't always cause distress. While it is often associated with distress, some mental health conditions can be mild and only interfere with daily life in limited ways, or may not cause significant distress at all."

OTOH there are many purely physical conditions that cause distress:

Examples of physical conditions that can cause distress:

Chronic pain:
Conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic back pain, or arthritis can lead to persistent physical discomfort and a decline in quality of life, contributing to emotional distress.

Chronic diseases:
Conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer can involve long-term health management, potential complications, and the fear of progression, leading to anxiety and distress.

Thyroid problems:
Conditions like hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism can disrupt the body's natural rhythms, leading to fatigue, anxiety, and mood swings.

Respiratory disorders:
Conditions like COPD or asthma can cause shortness of breath, difficulty with daily activities, and anxiety about future health.

Digestive issues:
Conditions like IBS or ulcers can cause chronic pain, digestive discomfort, and anxiety about managing symptoms.

Autoimmune diseases:
Conditions like lupus or multiple sclerosis can involve persistent inflammation, pain, and fatigue, leading to emotional distress.

Sleep disorders:
Conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating, which can exacerbate anxiety

[Syne]

Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses can be associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities. - https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-fami...al-illness

But that doesn't answer my question.
Why is gender dysphoria a special case, where healthy physiology is blamed for the distress (and/or problems functioning socially), instead of the disorder itself?

[Magical Realist]

Why is gender dysphoria a special case, where healthy physiology is blamed for the distress (and/or problems functioning socially), instead of the disorder itself?

Because their gender identity isn't the cause of the dysphoria. The physical sex of their body/societal expectations are the cause of it. Hence it isn't a mental disorder. That's why the only treatment that works is physical transition and not psychiatric therapy.

[Syne]

Why does that differ from every other disorder?
Why have we accepted the subjective opinion over the healthy physiological facts? Is it that our culture has become more accepting in general?

[Magical Realist]

Why does that differ from every other disorder?

What other disorders? How does it differ?

Why have we accepted the subjective opinion over the healthy physiological facts? Is it that our culture has become more accepting in general?

You mean why don't we accept the Biblethumpers' definition of gender and gender identity over that of the psychiatrists and psychologists? I think you know the answer.

[Syne]

Why does that differ from every other disorder?

What other disorders? How does it differ?

The effects of every other disorder we attribute to the disorder, but the effects of gender dysphoria we attribute to a physiologically healthy body.
I can't think of any other diagnosis that attributes a problem to a healthy body.

Why is that?

Why have we accepted the subjective opinion over the healthy physiological facts? Is it that our culture has become more accepting in general?

You mean why don't we accept the Biblethumpers' definition of gender and gender identity over that of the psychiatrists and psychologists? I think you know the answer.

I mean what I asked. Why has the culture accepted transgenders to the extent it has? Has the culture become more accepting?

[Magical Realist]

The effects of every other disorder we attribute to the disorder, but the effects of gender dysphoria we attribute to a physiologically healthy body.
I can't think of any other diagnosis that attributes a problem to a healthy body.

So what? Maybe it's the only one. Why would that even matter to you?

I mean what I asked. Why has the culture accepted transgenders to the extent it has? Has the culture become more accepting?

Same reason it has learned to accept other stigmatized persons like gays and lesbians, the mentally ill, autistic persons, the disabled, etc. Society evolves towards more tolerance, as history shows us.

[Syne]

The effects of every other disorder we attribute to the disorder, but the effects of gender dysphoria we attribute to a physiologically healthy body.
I can't think of any other diagnosis that attributes a problem to a healthy body.

So what? Maybe it's the only one. Why would that even matter to you?

It just smacks of inconsistency, special pleading, or maybe even malpractice.

I mean what I asked. Why has the culture accepted transgenders to the extent it has? Has the culture become more accepting?

Same reason it has learned to accept other stigmatized persons like gays and lesbians, the mentally ill, autistic persons, the disabled, etc. Society evolves towards more tolerance, as history shows us.

Where do you think that tolerance of stigmatized people started?
Gays and lesbians?

[Magical Realist]

Where do you think that tolerance of stigmatized people started?
Gays and lesbians?

Probably with the dawning of the field of psychology in which people formerly viewed as freaks and monsters were understood to just be different kinds of human beings with their own rights to live freely and without harassment.

[Syne]

Where do you think it started in society at a large, as a shift in the culture?