Can puberty cause gender dysphoria?
Additionally, while some transgender adolescents have shown gender non-conformity since early childhood, other adolescents might experience gender dysphoria during or after the onset of pubertal physical changes. Some adolescents may have kept their gender incongruence to themselves for a long time.
What do I do if my child has gender dysphoria?
Treatment options include: Counseling. Some people who experience gender dysphoria don’t wish to pursue medical or surgical transition. For example, you may want to live and be recognized as your affirmed gender without using hormones or having gender affirmation surgery.
Is it normal for a 4 year old boy to pretend to be a girl?
Children dressing up as the opposite gender is very common (almost as common, in fact, as parents who are worried about this behavior.) But rest assured, it is perfectly normal. Dressing up and playing pretend is the activity of choice for children of this age.
What should I do if my child has gender dysphoria?
How can I help my child?
- Show your child explicitly that you accept them and want to support them if they are feeling confused about, or coming to terms with, their gender-identity.
- Be patient if they don’t want to talk about it, and focus on listening and finding out what it’s like for them when they are ready.
Is gender dysphoria caused by trauma?
Gender dysphoria currently exists as a mental health diagnosis, perpetuating stigma as well as pathologizing gender variance. Clinical social workers have preserved a harmful formulation that gender dysphoria is a disorder caused by trauma.
Is it normal for a girl to pretend to be a boy?
Her early desire to be a boy was NOTHING to do with gender confusion or being transgender. It was imaginative play. Actually, it’s pretty common for kids to do this, and between 85% and 90% of boys who pretend to be girls, or girls who pretend to be boys won’t grow up with any gender identify confusion.
What kind of trauma causes gender dysphoria?
Gender Dysphoria and Complex Trauma Maltreatment experiences may include: severe neglect; exposure to domestic violence; intensive, painful medical conditions; and physical and sexual abuse (Zilberstein, 2014).
