Ask Doctor T

View Original

Why is it called "gender dysphoria?"

Gender dysphoria is a clinical diagnosis given to you if your gender identity is different than that which was assigned at birth AND, because of this discrepancy, you experience significant stress and anxiety. It is considered a “disorder”  which is in-and-of-itself problematic, but it is also a required diagnosis in order to medically qualify for insurance coverage of some gender reassignment measures.
To break it down, a “gender dysphoria” diagnosis requires:

  1. a gender identity that is different than your assigned gender at birth, and

  2. distress as a result of your gender identity.

The implication here is that you need to feel angst because of your gender in order to receive medical intervention. Hopefully, as our society and the medical community catch up with new ways to define and accept gender identity we will do away with the “dysphoria” altogether. Until then, don’t let the diagnosis define you. Seek support and affection from those that accept you for who you are, and ask a doctor if you want to discuss ways to feel more comfortable with your gender identity. I posted previously about what some of those interventions might look like, but let me know if you want more information.