Gender Identity and Mental Health in the Family with Aaron and Asher

Content Warning: This episode discusses depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and gender dysphoria.

This week, our ongoing conversation about families and mental health turns to the family of our host, Dr. Michelle K. Murray, President and CEO of Nexus Family Healing. She welcomes her brother Aaron and nephew Asher for an enlightening talk about Asher’s journey. Having dealt with clinical depression, anxiety issues, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for much of his young life, Asher discovered that some of his difficulties arose from another problem: gender dysphoria. That’s a feeling of distress when the gender one identifies with is different than the one they were assigned at birth. Asher talks about realizing that he was transgender and his dad, Aaron, discusses the ways he and Asher’s mom stepped up to support him and help him find the more peaceful and contented place he is in today.

 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• The Trevor Project
• Trans Youth Equality - For Parents
• Transgender Children and Youth: Understanding the Basics
• Parents of Trans Youth