It can be challenging to understand what it feels like to be unsure of your gender. Many people simply accept the fact that they are male or female and don’t give it a second thought. However, those who suffer from gender dysphoria have a different experience. These individuals often struggle to realize who they really are. Understanding gender dysphoria in children is your first step to making life easier for your child.
It May Not Be a Phase
Many parents make the mistake of presuming gender dysphoria in children is a passing phase most children go through. While it’s considered normal for children to break out of their assigned gender during their play, children who suffer from gender dysphoria don’t see it as part of their play. For them, it’s reality. When a parent treats it as a phase, it can have harmful, long-lasting effects.
Watch for Signs
Knowing what to look for to determine if your child suffers from gender dysphoria in children is essential to ensure you can get help as soon as possible to reduce the stress your child experiences. Some signs you may notice if your child suffers from gender dysphoria include insisting they are the opposite gender, wearing clothes for the preferred gender, rejecting toys typically associated with their assigned gender, a strong dislike of their sexual anatomy, selecting friends of the preferred gender, and others. A medical professional can provide a diagnosis.
Problems Caused by a Lack of Treatment
Some parents turn a blind eye on gender dysphoria in children and think it will go away if they don’t address it. Unfortunately, the opposite is likely to be true. In fact, children who don’t get the help they need to deal with their feelings may suffer from anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, avoidance, and other negative and potentially harmful behaviors.
If you want to learn more about gender dysphoria in children, visit The International Center for Transgender Care to learn more about how to handle it.
