Gender Dysmorphia

1 Gender Dysmorphia Gender Dysmorphia is terminology describing the feeling of intense distress and discomfort in people whose biological sex mismatches their gender identity. This feeling is familiar among gender-diverse and transgender individuals. Poretsky and Hembree (2019) pointed out that the intense anxiety experienced by transgender individuals is attributable to the feeling of being trapped in the wrong gender. Consequently, members of this community have significantly higher rates of psychological problems, including the risk of attempted suicide. The cause of gender dysmorphia is poorly understood (Yarbrough, 2018). However, experts believe that hormonal imbalances and genetic, cultural, and environmental factors significantly contribute to this problem.

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2 Symptoms Gender Dysmorphia symptoms vary from one person to another. For instance, some children may exhibit gender identity confusion that continues beyond puberty. The mismatch between gender and sexual identity may cause depression, anxiety, and discomfort (Bizic et al., 2018). Some people might try to hide the physical attributes of their biological sex. Many people with this condition have an extreme, long-term desire to live a life that aligns with their gender identity (Yarbrough, 2018). They may achieve this desire by changing their physical characteristics and behaviors. Also, they may use hormones to express their gender identities.

Gender dysmorphia is a psychiatric health condition, and in extreme cases, it may lead to mental health comorbidities in some people. The typical signs of Gender Dysmorphia include low self-esteem, anxiety, self-neglect, depression, social isolation, and unnecessary risks. The emotional distress caused by gender dysmorphia interferes with work, religious practice, school, and social life. Some people may become suicidal in extreme cases (Poretsky & Hembree, 2019).

Treatment Guidelines Therapists usually develop a personalized treatment plan for gender dysmorphia. The critical treatment goal is to help the client overcome their overwhelming distress. Individuals with this problem are actively engaged in the treatment plan. The therapist guides them in identifying a treatment plan that best suits their mental health needs. Treatment includes counseling, gender-affirming surgery, and family counseling (Yarbrough, 2018). Counseling helps the person understand their feeling and develop appropriate coping skills. Also, it helps an individual accept themselves, explore and integrate their gender identity (Poretsky & Hembree, 2019). Counseling is crucial in addressing the mental and emotional health effects of Gender Dysmorphia. Family counseling is incorporated into the treatment plan since it

3 helps lower family conflicts and creates a supportive environment for the client (Bernstein et al., 2023).

Desired Outcomes Identifying and starting early treatment for gender dysmorphia reduces the likelihood of depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. Treatment helps individuals develop appropriate coping mechanisms. Also, it creates a framework for establishing a supportive environment at home, school, and work (Yarbrough, 2018). A supportive environment allows an individual to express their gender identity freely, besides making them comfortable even in stressful situations. Moreover, treatment aims to increase an individual's understanding of interventions to reduce anxiety and distress (Bernstein et al., 2023). Transitioning is a challenging process for people with Gender Dysmorphia. However, counseling helps the person overcome this process's social and legal challenges.

Conclusion Gender Dysmorphia is a mental health issue typified by distress and anxiety triggered by the perception that certain physical appearances are wrong and defective and do not align with a person’s gender identity. Treatment for this condition includes counseling therapy and gender-affirming surgical operations.

4 References Bernstein, E. E., Szkutak, A., Fang, A., Blashill, A. J., Ragan, J., & Greenberg, J. L. (2023).

CBT for Body Dysmorphic Disorder. In The Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of cognitive behavioral therapy (pp. 201-215). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Bizic, M. R., Jeftovic, M., Pusica, S., Stojanovic, B., Duisin, D., Vujovic, S., ... & Djordjevic, M. L. (2018). Gender dysphoria: bioethical aspects of medical treatment. BioMed Research International, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9652305 Poretsky, L., & Hembree, W. C. (2019). Transgender medicine: A multidisciplinary approach. Germany: Springer International Publishing.

Yarbrough, E. (2018). Transgender mental health. American Psychiatric Association Publishing.