Understanding Gender Dysphoria : Causes, Symptoms, and Navigating Through Challenges

Gender dysphoria (GD) is the feeling of distress and discomfort that could appear in individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. Gender dysphoria is a mental health diagnosis that can be experienced by transgender and gender-diverse individuals, at some point in their lives. However, not every transgender or gender-diverse person experiences Gender dysphoria;  and they might even feel at ease with their bodies.

Let us read further to understand gender dysphoria in a better way, and know the causes, symptoms, and more.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5), Gender dysphoria is defined as a, “marked incongruence between their experienced or expressed gender, and the sex they were assigned at birth.” Previously, this was termed a “Gender identity disorder.” ⁽¹⁾ However, in recent times it has been established that having a gender identity that is different from the one associated with the gender assigned at birth is not a problem or disorder.

Gender dysphoria is a mental health diagnosis that has received a lot of attention in the past decade, however, it is not a new concept or experience. This mental health diagnosis is currently given to gender non-binary people or transgender individuals who might be seeking specific gender-affirming care to align their bodies to their gender identities.

Individuals experiencing gender dysphoria (GD) might feel uncomfortable with and distressed over the conflict between their physical body’s sexual characteristics and how they feel or think about themselves.⁽²⁾ There are numerous instances of people experiencing Gender dysphoria related to their gender identity and assigned gender throughout history, which dates back to third-century Roman culture.⁽³⁾

The effects of gender dysphoria can differ from one individual to another. For some individuals, these feelings of conflict can affect their behavior and self-image. Someone with gender dysphoria (GD) might cope with discomfort by altering their gender representation, gender expression, or gender assignment from the gender assigned at birth. These people can also make specific adjustments to their physical appearance.

Children experiencing gender dysphoria might express their wish to be the opposite gender and this could be known from their interest in gender-specific toys, hairstyles, or clothing typically used with their opposite gender.

NOTE: Not every transgender person experiences gender dysphoria, and not everyone who experiences the condition is a transgender individual.

According to older research, it has been suggested one’s understanding of their gender identity gets constant between the first 5 years and 7 years of their life.⁽⁴⁾ According to a study of 210 adult transgender found around 78% of trans men and 73% of trans women first experienced gender dysphoria in the first 7 years of their lives.⁽⁵⁾ So, these findings suggest gender dysphoria usually develops earlier in life, although children or adolescents might not properly understand and describe their feelings as dysphoria.

People of all ages can experience the condition. However, adults would realize later in their lives that the feelings they used to have in their adolescence resulted from dysphoria, or they might find language to describe their feelings in their adulthood.

Although several factors play a role in developing gender dysphoria, the exact causes are not completely understood. Genetics, hormonal influences during prenatal development, and certain environmental factors could be involved in the occurrence of gender dysphoria.

For instance, exposure to specific chemicals during prenatal development has been linked with disruptions in the normal development of sex determination before childbirth. Research even suggests the presence of a genetic link, since there is a higher shared prevalence between identical twins than fraternal twins.⁽⁶⁾

The onset of gender dysphoria (GD) usually begins during early childhood. Although the real mechanisms are unclear, we are aware that when children are born, their gender is assigned based on their physical anatomy. However, as they grow older, they might start to feel a mismatch between their gender identity and the gender assigned at birth. In certain cases, this mismatch can result in feelings of gender dysphoria.

Gender dysphoria could start in childhood and continue into their adolescence and adulthood. However, one might even have a phase of life in which they might no longer experience gender dysphoria.

Some of the symptoms that people experiencing gender dysphoria could experience include:

Persons with gender dysphoria experience a difference between their gender identity and genitals or their sexual characteristics like breast size, voice, and facial hair.

Gender dysphoria can cause significant distress in people experiencing the same, and this could affect how they function in social situations, at schools, colleges, or work, and in other fields of their lives.

Some other symptoms of gender dysphoria include:

• A strong desire to get rid of their genitals or secondary sex characteristics, or a desire to prevent the development of their secondary sex characteristics.
• Desirous to become or to be treated as another gender.
• Having a strong desire to have the genitals and secondary sex characteristics of another gender that they desire to have or be like.
• Being desirous of having the typical feelings and reactions of another gender.
• Wearing clothing that is usually associated with the opposite gender.⁽⁷⁾

People with gender dysphoria and are transgender or gender nonconforming, have an increasing risk of being the victims of bullying and violence. Apart from this, these individuals are also at a higher risk of exposure to discrimination, depression, and stigma.

Research has shown that individuals experiencing gender dysphoria have an increased risk of dying by suicide than other people.⁽⁸⁾ A study has discovered that 48.5% of participants with gender dysphoria (GD) had experienced suicidal ideation, and 23.8% of them had attempted suicide at least once.⁽⁹⁾

Moreover, people with GD who lack social support can often contribute to mental distress and several other health issues. Depression, anxiety, self-harm, substance abuse, and other mental health issues are some conditions associated with gender dysphoria.

Though there are several ways to deal with gender dysphoria, yet, children and other people have a greater risk of being bullied and going through stigma and depression. The best way to overcome this condition is to accept the situation and seek the necessary psychological counseling and medical care.

Following are some ways to go on a road to acceptance and win over the challenges faced by people with gender dysphoria.

1. Find Support

To find the right support, it is good to join a support group and talk to peers who have had similar experiences of dysphoria. This would give a lot of strength to accept the feelings and circumstances that people with gender dysphoria might be going through.

2. Self-care is the Key

Someone experiencing GD should prioritize self-care and emotional wellness and do things that make them feel good and happy about their body and their being.

3. Affirm your Gender Identity

Doing small things that can help affirm one’s gender identity could be helpful. This can include wearing certain types of clothing, and accessories, changing hairstyles, and so on. 

4. Plan for the Future

Someone experiencing gender dysphoria should plan for their future long-term goals, whether those that involve social, medical, or those that involve legal transition. 

5. Look for Appropriate Treatments

One of the most important ways to achieve a wholesome life even with gender dysphoria is to go for appropriate treatments.

Treatments or medical interventions for gender dysphoria include:

• Counseling to help people with gender dysphoria understand their real feelings and offer the required support.
• Family or couple counseling helps create understanding, reduce conflict, and provide a supportive environment for people experiencing the condition.
• Gender-affirming hormone therapy
• Gender-affirming surgery

Gender dysphoria (GD) is a mental health diagnosis that could occur in people whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned at birth. However, not everyone who experiences GD is transgender. In some cases, the feelings of dysphoria could remain for a long, while in other cases there can be short-term feelings. As one accepts the condition and works toward finding a proper solution, there are lots of ways to win over the feeling of distress caused due to gender dysphoria and lead a quality life. Medical interventions, along with appropriate support and acceptance, can help people experiencing gender dysphoria, lead a happy, content, and respectable life.

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