Who cares, this debate is an exercise in futility.

A mental illness is defined as something that prevents a person from leading a healthy, meaningful, productive life. I don’t think that a born man becoming a woman (and vice versa) at any point effects if they can live their life.

It isn't considered a mental illness or disorder because the condition doesn't inherently cause distress -- that comes from the social stigma of transgenderism. It's really as simple as that.

As someone with gender dysphoria, I'm curious as to what your understanding of the condition is.

Oh boy, another gender related thread. Become original [spoiler]And of course Gender Dysphoria is metal disorder, you dope. The question should be "Should being transgender be classified as having Gender Dysphoria?"[/spoiler]

It doesn't satisfy the main requirement to be considered a mental illness: [quote][url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3101504/]" that is associated with present distress (e.g., a painful symptom) or disability (i.e., impairment in one or more important areas of functioning) or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom"[/url].[/quote] This was the DSM-IV's definition. However, it was changed in the DSM-V because that definition was too broad. By the definition in the DSM-IV, people who are blind, deaf, mute could have been considered mentally ill, even if that isn't the case. By this definition also, people who are socially awkward are also mentally ill themselves or mentally handicapped. When the DSM-IV was revised to the DSM-V in 2013, it changed a few definitions around and also removed material that wasn't considered mental illness, such as homosexuality and social awkwardness. Even though it was revised, the same case that the DSM-IV had that the DSM-V has is that it is going to be revised again as more information is discovered. Also, by definition from the DSM-V and the APA, gender dysphoria isn't a mental illness: [quote][url=http://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/transgender.aspx]A psychological state is considered a mental disorder only if it causes significant distress or disability. [b]Many transgender people do not experience their gender as distressing or disabling, which implies that identifying as transgender does not constitute a mental disorder. For these individuals, the significant problem is finding affordable resources, such as counseling, hormone therapy, medical procedures and the social support necessary to freely express their gender identity and minimize discrimination.[/b] Many other obstacles may lead to distress, including a lack of acceptance within society, direct or indirect experiences with discrimination, or assault. These experiences may lead many transgender people to suffer with anxiety, depression or related disorders at higher rates than nontransgender persons. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), people who experience intense, persistent gender incongruence can be given the diagnosis of "gender dysphoria." Some contend that the diagnosis inappropriately pathologizes gender noncongruence and should be eliminated. Others argue that it is essential to retain the diagnosis to ensure access to care. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is under revision and there may be changes to its current classification of intense persistent gender incongruence as "gender identity disorder."[/url][/quote] Gender Dysphoria is mainly referenced in the DSM-V not as a mental illness, but as a way for people who do have gender dysphoria to receive fair treatment (such as hormone blockers/enhancers for example). I'll also reiterate - This material is subject to change as more information is discovered through research. If the next version of the DSM adds in that gender dysphoria is officially a mental illness, then I'll change my stance to reflect that. Though, there are people still hotly debating today on whether or not it is. Overall, the collective psychologists and physiologists don't consider gender dysphoria a mental illness. Gender dysphoria itself doesn't cause distress, but other factors such as a society or people being pieces of shit to people who are transgender is a big factor. tl;dr: People should stop saying gender dysphoria is a mental illness, when a manual dedicated to mental disorders, professionals, and people who dedicate their lives to studying mental illnesses say that gender dysphoria isn't a mental illness. This is from the POV of Psychology - While I didn't get my major in Psychology, I ended up getting my minor in it, with focus on Biological Psychology. Stuff like mental illnesses, addiction, human psychology through biological processes, etc. is material that I'm very familiar with. Edit: For anyone who doesn't agree, I'd like to see your sources for why you don't agree. Your personal opinion isn't a source. Also, I do acknowledge that there was ONE physiologist who made a study stating the opposite, [url=https://hub.jhu.edu/2016/09/29/gender-sexuality-report-response/]but that was quickly debunked by the society he worked for because it didn't go through the correct channels, and it wasn't peer-reviewed[/url]. Please don't use that source, because it's a debunked study made by only ONE person.

What do you consider to be a mental illness? "Mental illness" is such a wonderfully abstract term, with no medical consensus as to what exactly it means. Yet the term "mental illness" carries with it a bountiful fountain of stigmas. I suffer from depression, ergo, I'm "mentally ill". A friend of mine is bipolar. Therefore, they are mentally ill as well. And when we come to trans people and the issue of gender dysphoria, they are the center of society's greatest stigma -- crossing the gender barrier in such a conformative, rigid society is almost unthinkable to many. It is a mental issue and it cannot be comprehended by even sympathizers like me, therefore it is a mental illness, and a perverted one at that. But there's a general trend here: these are all issues that arise in the brain that are only visible to other people through their symptoms. And from there, people that neither suffer from it nor can see the root cause of the issues are unable to really understand the process. I've experienced a lot of this first-hand from my battles with my own illness -- people just don't seem to understand. Do you see what I'm getting at? I ask you this: what do you hope to achieve by defining GD as a mental illness? Don't take my question as an attack -- I would generally agree with you -- but I'm just letting you know the responsibilities you assume by taking this position. Are you prepared to fight the stigma that these people face? Are you willing to support their transition, as it is, by medical consensus, the best course of treatment? Trans suicide rates are through the roof. Are you willing to help? [spoiler]I'm new to the forum if you don't recognize me. I've had bad experiences in the past making big foofoo-y introduction posts so consider this my intro. Lol[/spoiler]

Before we start this discussion, do you actually want your mind changed or are you like that other guy with the abortion post?

It is but come on, stop trying to be crowder. Find your own thing. (He already talked about Transgenders and mental illness)