The Professor’s Name
Gender dysphoria is not a widely spread Gender Identity Disorder, but still this condition deserves a deep analysis. The site Psychology Today offers scientific data about gender dysphoria that is based on the information gained from such reliable sources as National Institutes of Health - National Library of Medicine and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Gender dysphoria is a type of Gender Identity Disorder that is defined by a persistent sense of being a person of opposite gender and a strong discomfort with the person’s sex that can result in impairment and distress (Gender Dysphoria, 2015). People who suffer from gender dysphoria wish to be the member of the opposite sex and commonly use mannerisms and dress as people of the other gender. In rare cases, people who suffer from gender dysphoria may use hormone treatment or undergo surgery wishing to start living in the experienced gender.
Features that Are Associated with Gender Dysphoria
Most people with gender dysphoria are socially isolated. They may not wish to communicate with other people because of their low self-esteem. That may lead to school dropping out and aversion. Commonly boys are teased by peers more often than girls. Such boys are usually mocked because of their feminine speech patterns and mannerisms. Generally, people with gender dysphoria are more occupied with appearance especially at the time when they start living in the opposite sex role. They are more concentrated on the activities that reduce the gender distress. Their relations with parents may be impaired. Heavy depression that is the result of dissatisfaction with their sex can result in self-treatment with hormones and even make them do their own penectomy or castration. Also, boys can be involved in prostitution thus being at high risk for HIV infection. Suicide attempts are more common among teenagers. Children with gender dysphoria usually have symptoms of depression and suffer from anxiety disorders. Males suffer from personality disorders more often than females according to the adult gender clinics’ statistics (Gender Dysphoria, 2015).
Symptoms of Gender Dysphoria
In order to get the clinical diagnosis “gender dysphoria”, a person must strongly identify himself or herself with the opposite gender and have a constant discomfort with sex traits. Boys should detest their genitals, hope that genitals will soon disappear and reject activities that are common for most males. Girls should hope to get a penis, wish not to have breasts and hate clothing that is typical for females.
Cause of Gender Dysphoria
Though the causes of gender dysphoria are not known, it is supposed that hormonal influences on a fetus can be involved.
Treatment
Family and individual consultations are recommended for children, and couples and individual therapy is more appropriate for adults. Hormonal therapy and surgery should be used in rare cases because of problems that may occur after such treatment.
Gender dysphoria is one of the types of gender disorders. People with gender dysphoria should get proper treatment as early as it is possible otherwise, they will suffer from heavy depression that may lead to conflicts with people nearby and even self-made surgery. These people should get a psychological help and individual therapy that will help them to live with this diagnosis for the rest of their lives.
References
Gender Dysphoria. (2015, December 27). In Psychology Today online. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/gender-dysphoria
