Dysphoria

Dysphoria  is a state of generalized unhappiness, restlessness, dissatisfaction, or frustration, and it can be a  symptom of a number of mental health conditions.

Dysphoria   describes discomfort, aversion, anxiety and depression revolving around social gender role and/or physical characteristics of sex .

It is a very serious experience that leads to increased anxiety/depression issues, depersonalization, thoughts of suicide, social withdrawal, self harm, etc.

What is gender dysphoria?

Gender dysphoria is   a condition characterized by a disconnect between one’s assigned and perceived genders. Individuals with this problem often identify as transgender or transsexual, depending on their ideological feelings about sex and gender.

Some transgender individuals also disagree with their categorization, or more specifically, gender identity disorder, as a medical condition, as part of a broader exploration of gender identity and “normal” gender.

It’s also important to note that this is different from being a cross-dresser; technically, a transvestite is someone who wears clothing that belongs to the opposite sex, but he or she is generally happy and secure with their gender identity.

People of all ages can experience  gender dysphoria , although most sufferers experience a sense of disconnection from a very young age.

A child suffering  from gender dysphoria  may not seek treatment until they are much older, but the underlying feelings are still present.

Adolescence is also a common time period for symptoms to appear, while, more rarely, some individuals only begin to question their gender when they are much older.

Individuals with gender identity issues seeking treatment often begin by seeing a psychologist to discuss their feelings.

how to identify dysphoria

Gender dysphoria can begin around age 2 or 3, however, some people may recognize feelings of dysphoria only when they reach adolescence or adulthood.

1. Symptoms in children

Children with gender dysphoria may have the following symptoms:

• They want to wear clothes made for children of the opposite sex;
• They constantly claim that they belong to the opposite sex;
• Pretend they are the opposite sex in many situations;
• They like to play with toys and games associated with the other sex more;
• Show negative feelings towards their genitals;
• Avoid playing with other children of their own sex;
• They prefer to have playmates of the opposite sex.

In addition, children may also avoid games characteristic of the opposite sex, or, in the case of a female child, they may urinate standing up or urinating sitting down, if it is a boy.

2. Symptoms in adolescents and adults

Some people with gender dysphoria only realize the disconnect between their birth sex and gender identity when they are teenagers or adults, and may start by wearing women’s clothes, and only later realize that they have gender dysphoria, for example. However, one should not confuse gender dysphoria with transvestism, which is when the person feels sexual arousal when wearing clothes of the opposite sex, but which can continue to have the feeling of belonging to their birth sex.

Other characteristics of the adolescent or adult with gender dysphoria may include a strong desire to get rid of or prevent the development (in the adolescent) of their sexual characteristics or desire for the sexual characteristics of the gender they identify with.

People who only recognize gender dysphoria in adulthood may also develop symptoms of depression, anxiety or even suicidal behavior, for fear of not being accepted by society, family and friends.

How the diagnosis is made

The diagnosis of gender dysphoria is usually made by a psychologist, and it is also recommended that a multidisciplinary team be evaluated, including an endocrinologist, social worker and nurse, so that an empathetic, welcoming and patient-centered evaluation can be carried out.

Gender dysphoria is usually confirmed in cases where people feel for 6 months or more that their birth sex is incompatible with their gender identity, having an aversion to their anatomy, in addition to feeling extreme distress, losing the will and motivation to perform day-to-day tasks.

What to do to deal with dysphoria

In addition to being essential to receive support from friends and family, to deal with dysphoria, it is essential to have individualized and constant monitoring by a multidisciplinary team so that it is possible to listen, guide and assist the person’s decisions, aiming at general well-being.

People with gender dysphoria who don’t have feelings of distress or depression, for example, usually don’t need help. However, some people may need psychotherapy, hormone therapy and, in some cases, sex reassignment surgery.

1. Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy consists of a series of sessions, accompanied by a psychologist or a psychiatrist, where the objective is not to change the person’s feeling in relation to their gender identity, but to deal with the suffering caused by the anguish of feeling in a body that is not yours or not feeling accepted by society.

The person with gender dysphoria may be more vulnerable to mental disorders, either because of the social context such as stigma, prejudice and discrimination or because they need help to facilitate the identification and expression of a comfortable gender. Therefore, a respectful, conscious and bias-free approach by a psychotherapist can help with self-acceptance and the person’s general well-being.

2. Hormone therapy

Hormone therapy consists of drug-based therapy that decreases the production of sex hormones to minimize the person’s birth sex characteristics and induce the desired sex characteristics.

Because they cause some side effects, such as weight gain, acne, hair loss or type 2 diabetes, it is important that the use of hormones is done under the supervision of an endocrinologist and a psychologist.

In men, the medicine normally used is the combination of estrogen and antiandrogen, which leads to breast growth, decrease in penis size, reduction of muscle mass and voice change.

In women, the hormone normally used is testosterone, which leads to the growth of body hair, including a beard, increased muscle mass and deepening of the voice.

3. Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment is done with the aim of remodeling the genitals according to the desired sex and physical appearance, so that the person has the body with which they feel comfortable. This surgery can be performed on both sexes and consists of constructing new genitalia and removing other organs.