How does counselling help with gender identity issues?

Mental healthMental health is about being able to work and study to your full potential, cope with day-to-day life stresses, be involved in your community, and live your life in a free and satisfying way. Discrimination, abuse and being made to feel 'different' because of your sexuality or gender identity can make it difficult to enjoy life fully
and to have a sense of wellbeing. It can make it hard to ask for help when problems come up, and to know where to turn when you need help and support.

Why do mental health problems develop?
There is no single cause of mental illnesses. Instead, they usually result from a number of overlapping factors including:

• Biological factors such as the genes inherited from your parents
• Early life experiences such as abuse, neglect, or the loss of someone close to you
• Individual factors such as your level of self-esteem, coping skills and thinking styles
• Current circumstances, for example stress at school or work, worries about money, difficult personal relationships, or problems within your family

When does your mental health become a problem?
Things to look out for include:

• Changes in behaviour - such as being more or less talkative, or more aggressive
• Changes in mood - such as feeling sadder or more anxious than usual
• Changes in relationships - for example falling out with friends or your partner, or conflict with family
• Changes in appetite and sleep patterns - such as sleeping or eating more or less than usual, or losing or gaining weight rapidly
• Changes in coping - feeling overwhelmed or tired of life

While it's normal to experience some of these changes from time to time, it's time to ask for some help if they last longer than usual, affect most areas of your life, or stop you from doing the things you usually enjoy.




http://www.headspace.org.au/is-it-just-me/find-information/sexuality-and-gender-identity