Learning
Gender Dysphoria in Marin County Teens
When a teen is feeling emotional or physiological distress as a result of the gender assigned at birth, they
are likely suffering from gender dysphoria.
It's important to understand that treatment for gender dysphoria isn't about changing your teen's gender
identity or how your teen feels about his or her identity. Rather, it's to help your teen cope with the
distress accompanying those feelings.
- An incongruence between the individual's experienced/expressed gender and primary sex characteristics (sexual organs) and/or secondary sex characteristics (breasts, underarm hair), lasting for at least six months
- A strong desire to be rid of one's primary and/or secondary sex characteristics
- A strong desire for the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the other gender
- A strong desire to be of the other gender or an alternative gender
- A strong desire to be treated as the other gender or an alternative gender
- A strong conviction that one has the typical feelings and reactions of the other gender or an alternative gender
If at least two of the above symptoms are present, a diagnosis of gender dysphoria may be given
if it includes:
- Clinically significant distress or impairment in major areas of functioning, such as social relationships, school, or home life
STATISTICS AND FACTS ABOUT GENDER DYSPHORIA
- Throughout their lifetime, over 70% of individuals with gender dysphoria will have another psychiatric disorder
- Having an unsupportive family greatly increases the risk of suicide (57%) in transgender teens; the suicide rate of those with supportive families is only 4%
- Research suggests suicide risk is high in transgender youth, with 50% attempting suicide before the age of 20 according to a 2011 survey of 6500 transgender individuals
- A 2016 study found that over 40% of transgender youth have engaged in cutting or other forms of non-suicidal self-harm, and 30% have attempted suicide at least once
- An estimated 3% of teens identify as transgender
- Transgender individuals are frequently subjected to significant discrimination (including healthcare and housing), verbal harassment, bullying, violent attacks, and social isolation
- While symptoms of gender dysphoria often appear in early childhood, it's not uncommon for them to first appear during adolescence or, in some cases, even adulthood. Also, feelings of dysphoria don't always accompany gender incongruence; in some cases, it may develop years later - or not at all.
CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS
Individuals with gender disorder often have another mental health disorder, such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Specific phobia
- Adjustment disorder
- Substance use disorders
- Posttraumatic stress disorder
- Asperger's syndrome
- Bipolar disorder
- Eating disorders
RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF GENDER DYSPHORIA
Some teens with gender dysphoria exhibited gender-nonconforming behaviors as children. However,
that's not always the case. When gender dysphoria emerges during the teens years many parents are
caught completely off guard.
Teens may go out of their way to hide their struggles with gender identity. This is often due to their fear of
ridicule, judgment, rejection, or condemnation - not only from peers and others, but also - and
sometimes especially - from their parents. That's why it's so important for you to know what to watch for
so you can recognize the signs of gender dysphoria in your teen. Doing so will enable you to get your
teen the help he or she needs.
It should be noted that gender dysphoria isn't the same as being gay or lesbian. Nor should it be
confused with "gender nonconformity", i.e. behaving in ways that don't align with gender stereotypes or
norms associated with one's gender at birth ("assigned gender").
Signs to watch for include:
- Conviction that they were born the wrong gender
- Strong, persistent discomfort with their own gender
- Feelings of disgust with their genitals
- Avoiding activities that would require them to touch or see their genitals (e.g. having sex or taking showers)
- Preoccupation with ridding their body of primary and secondary sex characteristics through surgery, hormones, or other medical procedures
- A deep-seated belief that they feel and react in ways typical of the opposite gender
- Expressed desire that others treat them and refer to them as their gender identity
- Dressing and altering their outward appearance to pass as their gender identity
- Expressed desire to live as their gender identity
- Feelings of social isolation
- Distress caused by the conflict between their biological sex (assigned gender) and the gender they identify with
- The internal conflict causes impairment in one or more significant areas of life
- His or her desire to be the opposite gender is not due to social or cultural benefits or advantages associated with the other gender
- The distress is not related to a physical intersex condition
Associated signs of gender dysphoria may include:
- School aversion
- Low self-esteem
- Non-suicidal self-harm (e.g. cutting, burning)
- Depressed mood
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors*
*Suicidal thoughts or behaviors should never be ignored. Don't assume your teen is just being
"dramatic" or manipulative. The risk of suicide is particularly high for teens suffering from gender
dysphoria.
Source:
Evolve,
Polaris Teen
The information contained on this website should not be used as a substitute for the
mental healthcare of a professional, such as a psychiatrist, pediatrician or therapist.