What is Gender Dysphoria

The feeling that one's physical sex does not match their gender identity results in gender dysphoria. It often appears in early childhood, as early as two years of age. Such feelings are considered to be symptoms of a gender identity disorder. Boys may want to play with dolls or wear girls clothing. Girls may want to dress in boyish clothing and are considered tomboyish. Transgender teens experience difficulty as their bodies mature sexually. Their changing bodies often disgust them and feeling pressured to conform to traditional gender roles often causes them emotional difficulties.
 
Many in the transgender community dispute the notion that non-conformity with traditionally accepted gender roles is a sign of a mental disorder. Many children grow out of gender dysphoria, and come to feel comfortable with their gender, but are identified as homosexuals. Some teens try desperately to fit in with their socially defined gender roles. This may cause them great emotional distress. Those who object to the idea of a gender identity disorder point out, particularly in the case of a transgender teen who may be exploring his or her sexual identity, the idea that they may have a mental illness and this reinforces the notion that "different is bad."

Sometimes gender dysphoria persists into adulthood. A person may feel that he or she is of one sex, but trapped in the body of the other. As transgender teens, they may have had a desire to live as the opposite physical sex. When they become adults, these persons may decide to get transgender therapy. They then receive psychological counseling, and are treated with hormones to give their bodies the appearance of the desired sex. Ultimately, they may have sexual reassignment surgery. Usually, the transgender surgery will be done only after the person has lived as a member of the desired physical sex for a period of a year to two years.

The feeling of being trapped inside the body of the other sex causes great emotional pain. Many feel pressure from family members to conform to traditional gender roles. A transgender teen may suffer from harassment, which compounds the problems caused by gender dysphoria. Transgender therapy is available for adults who seek to have their physical sex match their gender identity. Those who choose to have transgender surgery often feel that their bodies finally reflect who they really are inside.

Gender Dysphoria - Google News
Gender Dysphoria - Google News

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