Source: OWN
Oprah Winfrey sat down with author, activist and transgender woman Janet Mock for an interview on “Super Soul Sunday.” Mock told her story to Marie Claire in 2011, wrote about it in her bestselling book Redefining Realness and talked about it again last night with Oprah. With President Obama mentioning the transgender community in his most recent State of the Union address, Bruce Jenner telling his truth to Diane Sawyer and Time magazine placing Laverne Cox on their cover, the conversation about the trans community is growing. It is very important for us to understand exactly what transgender means and why it is not a fancy term for cross dressing. We need to be able to identify when someone has gender dysphoria so we can help them to live their truth.
It is first important to understand the difference between gender, sexuality. Sexuality is who you want to go to bed with and gender identity is who you want to go to bed as. Most of us are very familiar with Rupaul, Rupaul is a transvestite, he is a man that dresses as a woman occasionally. People who have gender dysphoria (the diagnosis given to people who feel transgendered) feel strongly that they are not the gender they physically appear to be. For example, a person who has a penis and all other physical traits of a man, might feel instead that he is actually a woman. That person would have an intense desire to have a female body and to be accepted by others as a female. Or, someone with the physical characteristics of a female would feel her true identity is male. Anyone that has gender dysphoria, or a state of unease or generalized dissatisfaction with their physical or assigned gender, usually also suffers from anxiety, severe distress and depression. It is important that these symptoms be addressed.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
To be diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a person has to have symptoms that last for at least six months.
In children, these symptoms may include:
- Consistently saying they are really a girl even though they have the physical traits of a boy or really a boy if they have the physical traits of a girl
- Strongly preferring friends of the sex with which they identify
- Rejecting the clothes, toys, and games typical for boys or girls
- Refusing to urinate in the way — standing or sitting — that other boys or girls typically do
- Saying they want to get rid of their genitals and have the genitals of their true sex
- Believing that even though they have the physical traits of a girl they will grow up to be a man; or believing if they have the physical traits of a boy they will still be a woman when they grow up
- Having extreme distress about the body changes that happen during puberty
In teens and adults, symptoms may include:
- Certainty that their true gender is not aligned with their body.
- Disgust with their genitals. They may avoid showering, changing clothes, or having sex in order to avoid seeing or touching their genitals.
- Strong desire to be rid of their genitals and other sex traits.
Children or adults might dress and otherwise present themselves like the sex they feel they are. Parents if you notice any of these symptoms in your child you should talk to a professional to find out the best way to handle this in your family. There is no definite way to find out if these behaviors are “just a phase” or if the child is transgender. Most experts say you should follow the child’s lead.
Undiagnosed or Untreated Gender Dysphoria
Diagnosis and treatment are important. People with gender dysphoria have higher rates of mental health conditions. Some estimates say that 71% of people with gender dysphoria will have some other mental health diagnosis in their lifetime. That includes mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, and suicide attempts.
Treatment
The goal is not to change how the person feels about his or her gender because gender dysphoria is not a mental illness. Instead, the goal is to deal with the distress that may come with those feelings.
Talking with a psychologist or psychiatrist is part of any treatment for gender dysphoria. “Talk” therapy is one way to address the mental health issues that this condition can cause.
Beyond talk therapy, many people choose to take at least some steps to bring their physical appearance in line with how they feel inside. They might change the way they dress or go by a different name. They may also take medicine or have surgery to change their appearance. Possible treatments include:
- Puberty blockers — A young person in early puberty with gender dysphoria might ask to be prescribed hormones (testosterone or estrogen) that would suppress physical changes. Before making that decision, the young person should talk with a pediatrician and sometimes a psychiatrist about the pros and cons of taking these hormones, especially at a young age.
- Hormones – Teens or adults may take the hormones estrogen or testosterone to develop traits of the sex that they identify with.
- Surgery – Some people choose to have complete sex-reassignment surgery. This used to be called a sex-change operation. But not everyone does. People may choose to have only some procedures done in order to bring their looks more in line with their feelings.
With the help of professionals, people choose the treatment that is right for them based on what they want and what they already look like.
After transitioning, a person may no longer feel dysphoria. But the person may still need therapy. Friends, family, co-workers, potential employers, and religious groups can sometimes have a hard time understanding when someone’s gender appears to change. This and other challenges of transitioning can call for professional help. If any of this information has resonated with you or a loved one. Please understand that there are people that can help you and your loved ones navigate this dysphoria so that you can live a happy life. There are more and more celebrities that are transgender and living happy lives. If you have any questions please Ask Dr. Renee.
