What is Gender Dysphoria? Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Gender dysphoria is defined as incongruence between one’s birth sex and the gender with which they identify or present. A person experiencing gender dysphoria may be clinically diagnosed with gender dysphoria when this mismatch causes significant distress, discomfort, or anxiety to the individual. Gender dysphoria may be referred to as transgenderism, transsexualism, or gender identity disorder (GID). GID was formerly classified as a disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) but has since been reclassified as gender dysphoria because it does not have any inherent mental-health component.
Key facts about gender dysphoria
Gender dysphoria is a condition in which a person's gender identity conflicts with the sex assigned at birth. It causes intense discomfort or distress. A person may be unhappy with the male or female gender roles associated with his or her biological sex. They may identify as transgender--having a gender identity that doesn't match their biological sex.
The main symptom of GD
Gender dysphoria is a condition where there's a mismatch between the sex one was assigned at birth (based on their reproductive organs) and the gender they identify with. The cause of GD isn't clear, but it may be influenced by several factors including genetics or hormones. It can begin in early childhood or late in puberty. In some cases, GD may resolve itself over time without any intervention; however some people may need medical treatment to align their body with their gender identity.
The cause of gender dysphoria
Gender dysphoria is when a person's gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. It can be diagnosed in children as young as two years old. A person with gender dysphoria may feel uncomfortable with the idea of being part of a gender they don't identify with. They may also feel intense discomfort or distress from their biological sex characteristics.
What it’s like to have GD
Growing up with gender dysphoria can feel like
being trapped in the wrong body. It can be difficult to understand what it
feels like to be trapped in a body that doesn't match your gender identity.
Understanding what it's like to have GD can help you empathize with someone who
is struggling with this condition. Here are some tips for understanding more
about what it's like to have GD:
1. Keep an open mind and don't assume anything
about a person before you get to know them better.
2. Recognize the difference between gender
dysphoria (GD) and sexual orientation or mental illness.
3. Realize that there may not be one cause of GD but instead many factors such as biological makeup, genetics, or hormone levels during development may contribute to developing GD
Treatments of gender dysphoria
Individuals with gender dysphoria can experience a variety of emotions including depression, anxiety, anger or sadness. According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), there are two major types of treatments for gender dysphoria. The first type includes psychotherapy which can be used to identify the root cause of feelings that might lead to gender dysphoria. This type also includes exposure therapy where the individual will be exposed to situations that they would otherwise avoid because they feel anxious about them. An example of this treatment would be asking an individual who feels anxious around members of the opposite sex to spend time with someone from that sex.
Another type of treatment for gender dysphoria is medication therapy. These medications will typically target the emotional aspects like depression and anxiety as well as some physical symptoms like reduced libido or enlarged breasts in women.
How it feels to have therapy for gender identity disorder
Therapy can be a great way to discover more
about yourself. Personally, I think therapy has helped me understand the root
of my gender dysphoria. It's not the only thing that helped me- but it
definitely played a role. My therapist and I have done a lot of work to get to
where we are today. Therapy is something that you need to take seriously if you
want it to do any good for you as an individual.
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