GENDER DYSPHORIA
What is it?
What is gender dysphoria?
Gender Dysphoria or some called Gender Identity Disorder is, “gender that a person identifies with or feels themselves to be”. (Blunden & Dale, 2009)
When looking at the biological properties of sex and gender, for most people these ideas are the same for most people. However for example, some people may have the body of a man, but feel like they are a women. While there are some rear cases, “others may not feel they are definitively either male or female” (Kirk & Belovics, 2008). This can lead depressive moods or feelings of uncomfortableness. Though Gender Dysphoria is “recognized as a mental condition” (Blunden & Dale, 2009). I is not considered a mental illness.
People that live with this disorder normally tend to live toward how they identify themselves. These people are called “transsexual or trans gender” (Kirk & Belovics, 2008) . The idea of this order is not about cross dressing and does not matter what their sexual orientation is. People with this condition may identify themselves either straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual or even asexual, but these feeling of sexual orientation may change.
What causes gender dysphoria?
The exact cause of gender dysphoria is uncertain. When this condition first came around the thought was that it was a “psychiatric condition” (Blunden & Dale, 2009).
It was traditionally thought to be a psychiatric condition, with its causes believed to originate in the mind. But as more research is coming out, it suggested now that it is “abnormal development of a baby while in the womb” (Furtado, Moraes, Renata, Barros, & Barroso, 2012).
Signs of Gender Dysphoria
When it comes to spotting certain signs of gender dysphoria. First, it could start at a very young age. A good example of this is that a boy or girl may want “to wear cloths of the other sex. Even dislike playing in typical boys or girls activities. Most of the time, this is normal behavior and will pass with ttime. However people with this disorder they have these same feelings later throughout childhood and also as they start their lives in adulthood.
As for adults it may make you feel that you are stuck and you cannot break out. They are “trapped” in there own body. Adults do many things to get pass these feelings. Some are so unhappy they live to according of how they feel.
What is the Treatment for Gender Dysphoria
The whole idea of treatment for this disorder is to, “help decrease or eliminate the stressful moods of a mismatch between your sex and gender identity” (Kirk & Belovics, 2008).
This idea of treatment may give people different ideas. For some it could be dressing or living a life as there chosen gender. For other that have this disorder taking hormones or having parts of the “body removed to modify their bodily presence” (Furtado, Moraes, Renata, Barros, & Barroso, 2012).
Common Myths?
In the word today there are many common myths about gender dysphoria.
People choose to be transgendered or transsexual…
The fact of the matter is that “Transgenderism or transsexualism is not a choice or caused by a lack of male or female role models or poor parenting” (Kirk & Belovics, 2008). It is just another way of human variety.
It is just a phase…
A person’s gender identity is deeply personal and should not be considered a phase. “Many transgendered or transsexual people report having felt a sense of difference from other children at a very early age” (Kirk & Belovics, 2008).
Transsexual youth can be cured….
There are mixed feeling about this. Some believe that we should help with the client’s transformation while others believe that using such therapies as “reparative therapy or conversion therapy” (Kirk & Belovics, 2008). Will help. I feel that there needs to be huge support from all around. It is important because they are at a “much greater risk for depression and suicide other than their peers” (Blunden & Dale, 2009).
Who should you see for treatment?
You should talk to someone who has a psychology background. Such as a psychologist or even a psychiatrist. I would suggest more of a psychiatrist because if you are in a depressive state they may write you a prescription to help you with those symptoms. If you do decide to go with treatment, then you need to find someone that understands you and will not judge your needs and wants.
Also for children that need assistants. “Educators should offer counseling, support, and access to age-appropriate resources to help trans-identified and gender variant youth clarify his or her feelings of identity” (Furtado, Moraes, Renata, Barros, & Barroso, 2012). We do not want anyone to get loss in their feelings. However with all this new research and help coming out. People with gender dysphoria still face prejudice and misunderstanding.
References
Blunden, P., & Dale, J. (2009). Gender Dysphoria: Time for Positive Thinking. Mental Health Practice, 16-19.
Furtado, P. S., Moraes, F., Renata, Barros, L. O., & Barroso, U. J. (2012). Genderdysphoria associated wih disorders of sex development. Nature Reviews Urology, 620.
Kirk, J., & Belovics, R. (2008). Understanding and couseling transgender clients. Journal of Employment Counseling, 29-43.