Understanding Gender Dysphoria: Navigating Identity, Affirmation, and Mental Health
A feeling of discomfort about the discrepancy between one’s ascribed gender and gender identity is known as gender dysphoria. Many transgender persons have this feeling before they start living as their true selves, but not all of them (transition and gender expression). It can happen at any stage of life, from infancy to maturity. When unable to communicate their experienced gender or when they don’t get the support and acceptance they require, people with gender dysphoria may suffer from severe emotional and psychological suffering. Individuals who identify as transgender may pursue various forms of gender affirmation, such as legal affirmation (such as changing gender markers on government-issued documents), medical affirmation (such as pubertal suppression or gender-affirming hormones), social affirmation (such as changing one’s name and pronouns), and surgical affirmation (such as vaginoplasty, facial feminization surgery, breast augmentation, masculine chest reconstruction, etc.). Not everyone who identifies as transgender will want gender affirmation in every area because these are very personal and unique choices.
It’s critical to understand the distinction between gender expression and gender identity. Gender expression describes how a person displays themselves to the outside world in a gendered manner, whereas gender identification relates to their internal perception of their gender. Additionally, gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same. The types of individuals to whom one is sexually attracted are referred to as one’s sexual orientation, transgender individuals exhibit a wide variety of sexual orientations. While gender dysphoria is not a mental illness, if left untreated, it can worsen mood disorders, anxiety, and depression, as well as create other issues that the person may be dealing with. Due to their physical characteristics belonging to one gender and their identification with a gender that is either opposite of their biological gender or one that defies the binary gender definition of male and female, most people with gender dysphoria experience strong, complex emotions. They might feel worried. down on oneself, alone, misinterpreted, something is lacking, disgusting, suicidal thoughts, a desire to hurt oneself, not comfortable with the way one looks.
Gender dysphoria can be diagnosed in children and adults if they display certain symptoms, such as preferring to dress in clothes associated with another gender, wishing for traits that match their expressed gender, wishing to be treated as another gender and many more. The treatments available for gender dysphoria include gender expression, medical therapies and gender affirmation surgery. Gender expression covers the attitudes and deeds that support one in realising their ideal gender identity. An individual might want to modify their name and the pronouns (he, she, or they) that people use to refer to them or change their gender on all official identification, choose gender-neutral clothing, and make cosmetic adjustments, such as growing or shaving facial hair. Gender-affirming hormones may be used in medical treatments: testosterone, a masculinising hormone, for transgender guys. Feminising drugs (progesterone and estrogen) and testosterone blockers for transwomen. Permanent modifications that are more in line with one’s preferred gender can be made with surgery.
Speaking with a certified mental health specialist can assist one in addressing the unpleasant emotions they are feeling and acquiring coping mechanisms and alternative thought processes. Additionally, therapy may involve prescriptions for drugs that can help them manage their depression or anxiety more effectively and get emergency counselling if they’re in a crisis and thinking about taking their own life. One can overcome the unpleasant emotions they’re feeling by getting treatment. It’s simpler to make decisions about their future, like declaring a preferred gender identity, when they feel better about themselves.
Sources
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22634-gender-dysphoria
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria
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