Gender Dysphoria

What is Gender Dysphoria?

Gender dysphoria is the psychological distress that may occur when an individual’s gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. Transgender and gender-nonconforming people are likely to experience this at least once in their lives, but its not necessary for everyone to be affected.

Symptoms of Gender Dysphoria

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) states the conditions for gender dysphoria to be:

A noticeable difference between the gender identity an individual see themselves as, and the sex assigned at birth;
An intense need to get rid of their primary and/or secondary sex characteristics;
A desire to have the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics of the gender they see themselves as;
A want for society to treat them as another gender;
Clinically identifiable distress, that limits the individual socially, or in other aspects of life.

Treatment

There exist a variety of treatments for gender dysphoria, which can range from medical or surgical treatments that directly target characteristics that cause the dysphoria, and psychological therapies that help the individual on the road to self-love and ease the effects of dysphoria.

Medical Treatments:

Puberty Blockers: given to prepubescent individuals, so that they don’t develop characteristics that could put them at high risk for pathological gender dysphoria.
Hormone Therapy: gender-affirming hormones can be given to individuals to align their characteristics with their gender identity.
Gender-affirming Surgeries: Surgical procedures such as breast augmentation, top surgery, hysterectomy (to remove the womb via surgery), and testicle removal are examples of a few surgeries available for transgender and gender-nonconforming people to permenantly alter characteristics that trigger their dysphoria.

Psychological Treatments:

Behavioural Therapy: therapy that doesn’t aim to affect your characteristics, but to address gender concerns and lessen the distress of gender dysphoria.
Peer Support Groups

How to Support Someone Suffering From Gender Dysphoria?

Listen closely whenever they open up with you and trust their experiences (because everyone doesn’t share the same experience for gender and transitioning, and everyone’s experiences are valid)
Use the language they prefer, when talking to them or even addressing them. You can know how someone identifies by listening to them but it's always better to ask them and confirm if you’re unsure. This includes not only pronouns, but also do they prefer umbrella terms like “trans” or do they feel more comfortable with a more specific term such as MTF or FTM, and their preferred name (if they have any).
Do smaller actions of kindness such as sending them self-care packages, or even regular texts, to remind them that you care for them. (Do make sure, however, that they’re comfortable with such contact and don’t just want to
Compliment them, especially with descriptors of their identity such as referring to them as “handsome” instead of “pretty”.
Ask how you can help. Like every person has a different experience with their gender, they are also fluid in things that can help. Don’t suggest specific interventions, but instead allow them to bring up what they want to do.
If they engage in unhealthy coping behaviour, and seem to be mentally unravelling, encourage them to seek professional help.

Sources and pages to read more on gender dysphoria: