What Exactly is Gender Dysphoria?
Gender dysphoria is a condition that causes distress. It can be driven by an intense desire to identify with something other than one's gender, such as wearing the same clothes and participating in the same social activities. This is a feeling of discomfort a person feels when their gender identity does not match their biological sex.
Gender dysphoria sufferers should be supported by therapies that help them to identify the root cause of their discomfort and accept their sexuality.
Gender dysphoria is not a diagnosis that should be treated with irreversible hormonal or surgical interventions. These treatments can give false hope, promote negative body views and ignore mental health needs.
Abhilash and Patra, youth champions for BaateinUnlocked, list what parents can do to help their children. BaateinUnlocked, a youth-led movement that engages young people in India, is designed to bring them together to discuss everything "taboo" across the country and to break down cultural and social barriers.
What can parents do to help?
Parents can help their children tremendously by observing certain dos and don'ts.
How to identify signs of gender dysphoria
The most apparent signs of gender dysfunction in teens include an intense desire to be the opposite sex (i.e., dressing up as the other sex, discomfort with biological sex, or anger about the gender binary are all signs of gender dysphoria). These are just some of the symptoms. Other symptoms include feeling "trapped," feeling disconnected, feeling different, or having unhealthy coping skills.
Be open to your child's thoughts and feelings.
You will be able to validate your child's identity as a person and not have to validate their trans-identity.
Talking with your child should be friendly. Children should have the opportunity to express themselves and should be allowed to speak. Parents can help their children express themselves and avoid restricting them from doing so. It is okay to break from the norms. All children should know that their parents love and support them.
Always remember to abide by the four laws of LIFE
Listen to your child and show unconditional love.
Introspect and I-Interact: Ask questions about the gender dysphoria experience of your teens. Also, think about your own thoughts and feelings. This will help you understand what your child is going through.
Feel and find: Find your doubts, questions, and experts, and then discuss them with them. Feel what your child is feeling, and reach out to experts.
Educate: Learning about transgender issues and becoming more educated on gender dysphoria is an excellent way for you to support your child.
Videos created by credible and trusted experts can be viewed by parents and children. These videos can give authenticity and trust to the issues children and parents are dealing with. A local actor or athlete coping with gender dysphoria could be a trusted voice. Doctors or therapists could also be trusted experts.
Find the right therapist for you.
Don't let anyone blame your child. Morally, shame and blaming are not psychological approaches. Therapists are required to be honest and open when describing their therapeutic methods. If a therapist pressures your child by telling them that your child must "transition" or become a suicide statistic, leave with your child. This is false! Sometimes, parents' good intentions may have contributed to gender dysphoria. Except for objective abuse, therapists should not "take sides." Parents and children will benefit from therapists who can help them understand each other and improve communication and family connection. It is essential to find the right therapist.
Parents should support their children through medical transitions. This can be done by offering counseling or hormone replacement therapy.
Conversion therapy should not be supported by parents without sufficient knowledge. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.
Establishing parent groups: Parents should talk about these issues in the community. Then, they need to work together to create a culture that respects the body. Promoting transgender matters in schools and creating safe spaces for children is essential. You can involve teachers and school boards and develop policies. Then push them through the community.
Behera (she/her), a transgender activist, is the Director of the Tarit Foundation. This community organization works in Odisha.
Abhilash Patra, an epidemiologist and bio-statistician is a core member of the LGBTQIA+ community-based organization in Bhubaneswar (Odisha).
Bhubaneswar: Pride Committee Organizer.
Is Gender Dysphoria A Mental Illness?
Although gender dysphoria is listed on the DSM-5 (Diagnostic Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders Fifth Edition), experts don't consider it a mental illness. The feeling that you don't belong to the sex you were given at birth is not considered a mental illness. It is only the discomfort that this gap in identity can cause that could indicate specific mental health problems in gender dysphoria.
Gender Dysphoria vs. Gender nonconformity.
Gender dysphoria is not to be confused with gender nonconformity. It can be considered a subset or group of gender nonconformity, but it is not the same as gender conformity. Gender nonconformity can be used to describe a variety of behaviors that are not in line with society's gender expectations. Gender dysphoria can be experienced by some non-conforming people, but not all.
Nonconformity is when a girl chooses to wear more masculine clothing than what is expected. These girls may display behavior traits that are expected of boys. This may not prove that she is suffering from gender dysphoria.
Gender dysphoria, which is not synonymous with homosexuality, is not related to sexual behavior. An individual sexually attracted by people of the same sex is called a homosexual. Gender dysphoria is not defined by the sexual attraction of a person.