Gender dysphoria is a mental health disorder where the person experiences a conflict between their assigned gender, or the gender they were born with, and their gender identity, or their experienced gender. Gender dysphoria can occur in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood and often involves the person wanting to get rid of their sexual characteristics due to this conflict and due to their desire to find congruence with the gender they feel they are.
One of the primary characteristics of Gender Dysphoria is the strong desire that the person has to fully embody the other gender that they feel they truly are. They want to be treated as the experienced gender by society and the individuals they interact with on a regular basis and it is living as their assigned gender that causes them distress. Gender Dysphoria becomes severe if the person cannot find the congruence they need with their experienced gender. They can experience difficulties in all areas of functioning (i.e., work/school, relationships, family).
When a person with Gender Dysphoria is Posttransition, they have successfully transitioned to living full-time as the gender they desire or as their experienced gender. This state can occur regardless of whether the person has legalized their gender change.
In the posttransition stage, the person has had or is preparing to have at least one medical procedure, treatment, hormone treatment, and/or gender reassignment in order to become congruent with their experienced gender. Typically, it is recommended that people with Gender Dysphoria first live their lives as their experienced gender for one to two years before making the decision to have surgery or undergo any treatment. This helps the person to ensure that surgery, which is a permanent decision, is the right option for them.
Treatment for Gender Dysphoria involves the individual receiving counseling to support any issues with self-image or self-esteem, the experience of societal stigma, and counseling during the posttransition phase or in preparation for this phase. Gender Dysphoria is often treated when the person is able to develop congruence with their experienced gender. Many times, these individuals live for many years abiding by the norms and expectations of their assigned gender, which causes much distress and emotional dysfunction. By fully connecting with their experienced gender, these individuals often improve their wellbeing and quality of life.
Additional treatments often include family therapy since the transition phase can be a source of stress for family members, children, and loved ones of the affected person.
