Gender Dysphoria - GoodTherapy

How Is Gender Dysphoria Treated? GoodTherapy Home> LearnAboutTherapy> GenderDysphoria GenderDysphoria Genderdysphoria,alsoknownasgenderincongruence,maybeexperiencedbytransgenderindividualsandotherswhosegenderdoesnotalignwiththegendertheywereassignedatbirth.Somepeoplemaydevelopmentalhealthconcernsasaresultofdistressexperiencedwithgenderdysphoria,butthisincongruenceitselfisnotamentalhealthcondition,justasbeingtransgenderisnotamentalhealthcondition. Many—thoughnotall—trans peopleexperiencedysphoria.Non-binary,agender,andothergendernon-conformingindividualsmightalsoexperiencedysphoria, asmaysomeintersexpeople. Anxiety,depression,stress,andfeelingsofisolationmaydevelopinthosewhoexperiencedysphoria,andatherapistorcounselorcanoffersupporttoindividualscopingwiththeseandotherconcerns. UnderstandingGenderDysphoria BodyDysphoriavs.SocialDysphoria IntersexConditionsandGenderDysphoria OnsetofGenderDysphoria HowIsGenderDysphoriaTreated? CaseExample UnderstandingGenderDysphoria  GenderdysphoriaappearsinthemostrecenteditionoftheDiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisorders(DSM-5)asarevisionofgenderidentitydisorder.Thisrevisionwasmadein supportoftrans individualsseekingtreatmentorcareoptionssuchas counseling,hormonetreatments,genderconfirmationsurgery,and/oralegalnameandgenderchange.Manyoftheseoptionsfortransitioncanonlybeaccessedbythosewhohaveadiagnosis. Somepeoplefeelincludinganydiagnosisrelatedtogenderidentityinthe DSM falselyperpetuatesabeliefthatthediagnosisindicatesamentalhealthcondition,buttheAmericanPsychiatricAssociationmade thechoicetomaintaintheentrytoallowindividualscontinuedaccesstocare.Theterm"dysphoria"isbelievedtomoreaccuratelyrepresentchallengesfacedinrelationtoagenderidentityinconsistentwiththatassignedatbirth,andthus,mayhelpreducestigmaandbarrierstotreatmentfortranspeople.  Oncethoughttobeapsychiatriccondition,genderincongruenceisnowwidelyrecognizedasamedicalconditionthatispotentiallyrootedinbiologicalfactorssuchasprenataldevelopmentofgenderidentity.However,thecauseofdysphoricfeelings,aswellasthereasonssomeexperienceitandsomedonot,hasnotyetbeendetermined. Theexperienceofdysphoriadiffersbyindividual,anddistress isnotnecessarilypartoftheexperienceofalltransindividuals.Formany,feelingsofdysphoriacanbedistressingoruncomfortable,butnotallindividualswhoexperiencedysphoriawillbenegativelyimpacted.Genderdysphoriaitselfdoesnotindicateorcausementalhealthconcerns,justasbeingtransgenderdoesnot.However,peoplewhohavedysphoriamaydevelopdepression,anxiety,orfaceotherchallengestomentalandemotionalwell-being,oftenasaresultofsocietaljudgment,stigma,transphobia,and/or harmfulstereotypes. Peoplemayexperiencedysphoriaregardlessoftheirgenderidentity;thatis,non-binaryorgender-nonconformingindividualsareequallylikelytoexperiencebodyorsocialdysphoria. FindaTherapist AdvancedSearch Genderdysphoriaissometimesincorrectlyassociatedwithbodydysmorphia,aconditionassociatedwithbodyimageandanxiety, butthetwoarenotrelated. Peoplediagnosedwithbodydysmorphiausuallyexperiencepersistentnegativethoughtsaboutwhattheyfeelareimperfectionsintheirappearance,butthesethoughtstypicallycausesignificantdistress,oftentothepointwheretheyinterferewithdailylife. Individualsdiagnosedwithbodydysmorphia mayseektocorrectwhattheyperceivetobeflawswithsurgery,butsurgeryisnotconsideredatreatmentforbodydysmorphia,asitdoesnotusuallyresolvethefeelingsofdistress.Bodydysmorphia isnotrelatedtogenderidentity.  BodyDysphoriavs.SocialDysphoria Genderdysphoriamaybeexperiencedasbodydysphoria,socialdysphoria,orboth.Bodydysphoriamayleadanindividualtofeeluncomfortablewiththeentirebodyoronlywithcertainpartsofthebody.Somemayfeelasiftheywerebornintothe“wrong”body,butothersmayusedifferentlanguagetodescribetheirpersonalexperience.Becauseeachperson’sexperiencediffers,nobroadstatementcandescribehowanindividualmaybeaffectedbydysphoria. Socialdysphoriacandescribedistressanddiscomfortthatoccursasaresultofhowoneisviewedbysociety.Assumingaperson’sgender,usingincorrectpronouns,ormakingassumptionsaboutsocialrolesinrelationtogendercanallbefactorscontributingtoaperson’sexperienceofsocialdysphoria.  Individualswhoarenon-binary(peoplewhodonotidentifyasmaleorfemale)mightexperiencebothbodyandsocialdysphoria.Non-binaryidentitiesareoften marginalized,ignored,orwrittenoffas"genderconfusion."Somepeoplemaynotevenbeawareofanygenderidentityotherthanmaleorfemale,andpeoplewhodonotconformtosocietalexpectationsofgendermaybestigmatized,misgendered (sometimesintentionally),andmayfaceharassment.Allofthesecanhaveaharmfulimpactandcontributetonegativefeelings,includingdysphoria.  IntersexConditionsandGenderDysphoria Thetermintersexdescribestheconditionofhavingreproductiveorsexualanatomythatdoesnotalignwithwhatistypicallydescribedasfemaleormale.Aperson'sgenitaliaorsecondarysexcharacteristicsmaybeaffected,buttheremayalsobenooutwardsignthataperson isintersex.Anintersexconditionmaybenoticedlateinlife,inadulthood,atbirth,ormayneverberealized.Inyearspast,whenbabieswerebornwithintersexanatomy,doctorsoftenperformedsurgeryimmediatelytogivetheinfanteithermaleorfemalegenitalia.Somedoctorsinformedtheparentsandallowedthemtomakethechoice,butsomedoctorsperformedtheseprocedureswithouttheparents'knowledgeorconsent.Ineitherscenario,manychildrenwhowereassignedagenderandthenreceivedsurgerytophysicallyaligntheirbodieswiththatgenderexpressedadifferentgenderidentitylaterinlife,andmanyofthemexperiencedgenderdysphoria. Today,awarenessoftheharmthispracticecancauseisshiftingthewayintersexconditionsaretreated.Manydoctorsencourageparentstowaituntilchildren bornwithintersexareoldenoughtomakeaninformeddecisionaboutsurgeryforthemselves.Individualswhoseeksurgeryontheirowntoalignphysicalcharacteristicswiththeirinternalsenseofgendermaybelesslikelytoexperiencedysphoria.  OnsetofGenderDysphoria Manyindividualsfirstexperiencegenderincongruence inchildhood,butsomemaynothavefeelingsofdysphoriauntillaterinlife. Childrenwhoexpressagenderidentitydifferentfromthegenderassignedatbirthearlyinlifemayalsohavefeelingsofdysphoriaatanearlyage.Someresearchhasshownwhenthesechildren areencouragedtoliveastheiractualgenderandareotherwisesupportedandaccepted,theymaybeless likelytoexperienceanxietyanddepressionandmayexperiencegreateremotionalandmentalwell-beingoverallthanthosewhoarenotsupported.  Peoplemightdevelopfeelingsofdysphoriawhentheyfirstrealizetheirphysicalcharacteristicsdonotalignwiththeirgender,buttheymayalsonotexperiencefeelingsofdysphoriauntillaterinlife,ifatall.Manyindividualsseekthehelpofatherapistwhentheyfirstexperiencethesefeelings,butmanymorearenotabletoseekprofessionalcare,foranynumberofreasons. Thelackofaccesstocare maycontributedtoworsenedfeelingsofdysphoriaandmayhaveanimpactonmentalandemotionalwell-being. .  HowIsGenderDysphoriaTreated? Apersonmaycontinuetoexperience dysphoric feelingsformonthsorevenyears.Somemaybesignificantlyimpactedbydysphoria,butforothers,thedistressingfeelingsmayonlyrarelysurface.Formany,outwardlyexpressingtheiractualgenderhelpsaddressthesenseofgenderincongruenceandmayreducedysphoricfeelings. Thereisnospecifictreatmentforgenderdysphoria,butthoseexperiencingdistressingfeelingstypicallycantakeanumberofstepstoaddressthem. Manyworkthroughfeelings ofdysphoriawiththehelpofatrainedtherapistorcounselor.Individualswhowishtotakehormonesand/orpursuesurgerytobetteralignphysicalcharacteristicswiththeirgendermayfindfeelingsofdysphoriabegintoeaseastheytakethesesteps.Somemaysimplyliveastheirtruegenderwithouthormonesorsurgery.Manyindividualslegallychangetheirnameandgendermarkertoreflecttheirtruegender,andformanyindividuals,itmaybethecasethatbeingsociallyrecognizedasamemberoftheiractualgenderandbeingaddressedbythecorrectpronounshelpstoeasefeelingsofdysphoria.  Peoplemightdevelopfeelingsofdysphoriawhentheyfirstrealizetheirphysicalcharacteristicsdonotalignwiththeirgender,buttheymayalsonotexperiencefeelingsofdysphoriauntillaterinlife,ifatall.Regardlessofthestageapersonisatintransitionor whetherornotapersontransitionsatall,genderdysphoriamaystillpersist,andtalkingthroughanynegativeordistressingfeelingswithatherapistorcounselormaybebeneficialtomany.Familyacceptanceandpeersupportcanalsohaveapositiveimpact. Ingeneral,greaterawarenessandsocialacceptanceoftransandnon-binaryidentitiesmayhelpmaketheexperienceofsocialdysphorialesslikelyformany.  Itisimportanttonotegenderdysphoriaisnotlinkedtolowself-esteem.Peoplewithgenderdysphoriamayexperiencelowself-esteem,likeanyoneelse,butencouragingindividualstolovetheirbodyorhavemoreself-confidenceorotherwiseattemptingtotreatlowself-esteemwillnotresolvefeelingsofdistressrelatedtogenderdysphoriaandmayhaveanegativeimpact.Individualswhoseektherapeutictreatmentmaywishtofindatherapistwhospecializesinthetreatmentofgenderdypshoria.  Whenindividualswithgenderdysphoriaalsoexperiencedepression,anxiety,orotherconcerns,atherapistwilltreatthesealso.Someindividualsmaybereferredtoapsychiatristformedicationtotreattheseconditions, ortheymaycontinueintherapyfortreatmentofotherconcernseveniftheydonotcontinuetoexperiencegenderdysphoria.  Manyindividualswhoexperiencegenderdysphoriadonothaveaccesstoanysortofcounselingormedicalcare.Everypersonshouldhaveaccesstocareandalltreatmentoptions,whethertheychoosetopursueanymanneroftreatmentornot.Increasedawarenessoftransgenderandnon-binaryidentities,peoplewhoareintersex,andthechallengestheymayfaceislikelytobeahelpfulstepingreaterrecognitionofgenderdysphoriaandanincreaseinaccesstocompassionatemedicalandmentalhealthcare.  CaseExample Exploringothers'reactionstogenderqueeridentityintherapy: Ash,24,enterstherapyreportingfeelingsofanxietyandhighlevelsofstress.Theytellthetherapisttheyaregenderqueerandhaverecentlybegunusingthepronoun"they"toreflecttheiridentity.AnumberofAsh'sfriendswereimmediatelysupportiveandbegantouse thecorrectpronounuponbeingtold,butotherpeopleinAsh'slife,includingacquaintancesandfamilymembers,werenotassupportive.Ashtellsthetherapisttheywereassignedfemaleatbirthbutneverfeltcomfortableidentifyingasfemale,nordidtheyeverfeelasiftheyweremale.Nothavingadefinedgenderfeelsright,Ashsays,andtheyarecomfortablewiththeiridentitybutexperiencedistressbecauseotherpeoplearenotcomfortable.Ashreportsbeingtold,"Ofcourseyou'reagirl!Youweardressesandhavelonghair"and"Youjustwanttobedifferentfromeveryoneelse."But,theytellthetherapist,beingcalledagirlcausesintensediscomfort,asdoesmenstruationandthesizeoftheirchest.ThethoughtofgoingoutinpublicleadsAshtoexperienceanxietyoutofafearofbeingmisgendered,andmanydailyinteractionshavebecomesostressfulAshhascometodread gettingoutofbed.Ashalsoreportsagenerallownessofmoodthatcomesandgoes,dependingonday-to-dayinteractionswithothers.Ashexpressestheintenttohavetopsurgerytofeelmorecomfortableintheirbodyanddiscusseswiththetherapistpossibleoptionstostopmenstruationtoreduceperiod-relateddysphoria.Insessions,Ashandthetherapistalsodiscussmethodsofhavingaproductive conversationaboutgender withthepeopleintheirlife whoarelessthanacceptingofgendernonconformityandexplorewaysAshmightrelievesomeoftheanxietyanddreadofpublicinteractions.  References: Balaconis,Z.(2016,April11).Transgenderkidsneedparentalsupport&here'swhy.Retrievedfromhttps://www.romper.com/p/transgender-kids-need-parental-support-heres-why-8656 Bodydysmorphicdisorder(BDD).(2014,September).Retrievedfromhttp://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/other-related-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder-bdd Diagnosticandstatisticalmanualofmentaldisorders:DSM-5.(5thed.).(2013).Washington,D.C.:AmericanPsychiatricAssociation. Finch,S.D.(2015,June17).These5mythsaboutbodydysphoriaintransfolksaresupercommon-butalsosuperwrong.Retrievedfromhttp://everydayfeminism.com/2015/06/these-5-myths-about-body-dysphoria-in-trans-folks-are-super-common-but-also-super-wrong Genderdysphoria.(2013).Retrievedfromhttp://www.dsm5.org/documents/genderdysphoriafactsheet.pdf Harding,M.(2015,February23).Genderdysphoria.Retrievedfromhttp://patient.info/health/gender-dysphoria-leaflet Parry,W.(2013,June04).Genderdysphoria:DSM-5reflectsshiftinperspectiveongenderidentity.Retrievedfromhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/04/gender-dysphoria-dsm-5_n_3385287.html Whatisintersex?(2008).Retrievedfromhttp://www.isna.org/faq/what_is_intersex LastUpdate: 07-18-2018 MoreLikeThis HelpingTransPeopleAddressaSenseofForeshortenedFuture BanonTransgenderServiceMembersIgnoresResearch,APASays HowParentsCanSupportaChildwithGenderDysphoria CanGenderAffirmationSurgeryImproveTransgenderWomen’sLives? ShouldITellMyPartnerAboutMyGenderDysphoria? 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