This last year of lockdown has been a strange and unsettling time for many. We have heard reports of gender issues escalating rapidly and we have also heard accounts of people leaving all thoughts of gender identity far behind. The impact of our restricted lifestyle on our mental health is explored and some strategies that might help in these difficult times are suggested. Stella and Sasha give listeners from around the globe shout-outs and audience members are invited to request future show topics and to share their burning gender questions.

Links:

• Msnet thread: Mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3952739-The-effect-of-lockdown-on-transitioning-teen-girls
• Stella O’Malley, The Journal, “Young people have suffered so much this year — they need our support”: Thejournal.ie/readme/wellness-stella-omalley-5252594-Nov2020/
• Stella O’Malley, Irish Independent, “We must confront painful truth: we are facing into a mental health crisis”: Independent.ie/opinion/comment/we-must-confront-painful-truth-we-are-facing-into-a-mental-health-crisis-40031671.html
• Stella O’Malley, Sunday Independent, “Locked in by Covid for almost a year, the kids aren’t all right”: Independent.ie/opinion/comment/locked-in-by-covid-for-almost-a-year-the-kids-arent-all-right-40088973.html
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Extended Notes

• How has the lockdown affected people with gender dysphoria?
• Some clients spend months watching transition videos on YouTube.
• The internet is a very influential place. Get your children off of it!
• Stella has noticed that young people are really scared of life.
• Sasha remembers being afraid to step outside after the lockdown. She’s an adult, imagine what it’s like for young people!
• What is Ireland like right now?
• What does life look like for the rest of the world? Let Sasha and Stella know!
• Everyone is isolated right now and Stella is seeing a lot of relapses happening. Everything from eating disorders to gender.
• We’ve gotten through worse! But by saying that you are denying our current experiences.
• We know the mental impacts war and famine have on our wellbeings that last a lifetime, but what about isolation?
• Children are still developing and not being able to see any of their friends; both Sasha and Stella are curious what kinds of long-term effects this will have on our society.
• There are intense despair and loneliness happening right now with our children.
• Stella shares some observations she’s had with both her introverted clients vs. extroverted clients.
• Sasha shares why the lockdown made her decide to move to a different location.
• Stella was worried that her children were spending too much time on the screens. She needed them outside.
• The irony is despite being on their phones all the time, young adults are under-stimulated.
• What have been some of the pros of the lockdown?
• Shoutout to the listeners! Thank you for...
  
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