What Is Gender Dysphoria?

 

Gender dysphoria refers to feelings of distress and discomfort that a person experiences when their birth-assigned sex or physical characteristics do not match their gender therapist identity. People who experience gender dysphoria may feel uncomfortable with their sex and feel distressed over the conflict between their physical body and how they feel and think about themselves.

They may also experience feelings of distress or discomfort over the traditional gender roles that are expected of their assigned gender.

The effects of gender therapist online dysphoria can differ from one person to the next. For some people, these feelings of conflict may affect their self-image and behavior. A person with gender dysphoria may cope with feelings of discomfort by altering their gender expression, gender representation, or gender assignment from their gender therapy online assigned at birth, as well as changes in their physical appearance.

Children who experience gender dysphoria may express their wish to be the opposite gender and insist on toys, hairstyles, and clothing that are typically associated with the opposite gender. 

Symptoms

Symptoms of gender dysphoria can include feeling a strong sense of distress or discomfort with one’s assigned gender. Some signs that someone is experiencing gender dysphoria include:

• A desire to no longer have the primary sex characteristics of their birth-assigned gender
• A desire to be treated as the opposite gender
• A desire to have the primary and secondary sex characteristics of their preferred gender identity
• The insistence that they are a gender different from their birth-assigned sex
• Preferences for cross-sex roles
• Strong rejection of toys, games, and other things that are typically associated with their birth-assigned gender
• Wearing clothing typically associated with the opposite gender

Gender dysphoria is not related to an individual's sexual orientation. People who experience gender dysphoria may be straight, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. People who feel gender dysphoria may also be gender-nonconforming or gender identity. However, it is important to recognize that not everyone who is transgender or gender identity clinic nonconforming experiences gender dysphoria. 

Diagnosis

Gender dysphoria is a diagnosis listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). In the previous edition of the DSM, it was known as gender identity disorder. This was changed in 2013 to remove the stigma associated with calling it a disorder. Where it was previously presented as a disorder related to identity, the DSM-5 takes a more descriptive approach that is focused on the discomfort and distress that dysphoria causes.

In Adolescents and Adults

In order to be diagnosed with what is gender identity dysphoria as an adolescent or adult, an individual must experience clinically significant distress or impairments in social, work, and other important life areas. These feelings must last for at least six months and be accompanied by at least two of the following:

• A significant in congruence between primary and secondary female to male transition sex characteristics and the individual's experienced gender
• A marked desire to be rid of primary or secondary sex characteristics
• A desire to have the primary or secondary f to m sex characteristics of their experienced gender
• A desire to be their experienced gender
• A wish to be treated as their experienced gender
• A belief that they have the behaviors, feelings, and reactions that are characteristics of their experienced female to male transition

In Children

Children can also experience gender dysphoria. It is not uncommon for kids to exhibit gender non-conforming behaviors, so it is important to distinguish between typical childhood behaviors and true gender dysphoria.

Similar to that of adults, children must experience impairments in functioning or significant distress lasting a minimum of six months. They must also experience at least six of the following symptoms:

• The insistence that they are the opposite gender or a desire to be the opposite gender
• A preference for engaging in fantasy play or make-believe as the opposite gender role
• A preference for clothing typically associated with the opposite gender
• A preference for toys that are stereo-typically preferred by the opposite gender
• Rejecting toys or activities that are typically associated with their assigned gender
• Expressing dislike for their physical sex characteristics
• A desire to have the sex characteristics that match their online gender counseling identity
• Preferring to play with other children of the opposite gender

Signs of gender dysphoria in children can be present as early as age 4. These symptoms often grow more severe as children get older, particularly once they begin to experience the physical changes associated with puberty.