Thank you for asking this question, it's something I've always struggled with myself and came here looking to understand.

It seems strange to me that most accounts of gender dysphoria I've read about or openly discussed with transexual people in person revolve around cultural "gender roles" and a preference towards one or the other. This is especially true when talking about a child's "gender."

It seems very strange to me that it would be viewed as a healthy/positive thing to want to change one's self to fit a culturally dictated idea of gender. If someone wanted to wear specific clothes, have hobbies, mannerisms and hair styles I don't see why they should have to change their sex in order to do so. Why would we encourage gender roles to be so rigid that is something "wrong" that needs to be "fixed" to allow someone with a penis to wear a skirt and makeup?

What I really don't understand is why it is not healthier to preach accepting yourself and who you are as a whole unit. Why is therapy not encouraged to meditate and "be with what is" and accept and love ones self and ones body regardless of what cultural gender norms dictate?

It worries me because the transexual people I've met off the internet are all struggling with hefty mental problems, traumatizing past experiences. I feel like identifying as trans could be one of many symptoms of a deeper rooted identity crisis and it worries me that radical hormone/body modification/genital mutilation is so extreme and might not be the best approach for society to push as the "norm."

Now, before you jump on this comment for being bigoted or hostile ... disclaimer: I fully believe consenting adults can do whatever they want for any reason they want - I don't think that they should have to justify it to anyone and should receive respect and protection under the law. I just worry as this culture develops that it is a situation that could do more harm than good and that we as a society may be supporting the wrong "solution" to serious mental issues.