We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Most Common Dysphoria Symptoms?

Laura M. Sands
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,847
Share

In children, dysphoria symptoms may include an intense preoccupation with dressing like an opposite sex child, a proclivity toward playing with toys that are socially deemed to be for the opposite sex and the strong belief that one will eventually grow up to be an adult of the opposite sex. Children with gender dysphoria often desire to be addressed by a name that is stereotypically assigned to people of the opposite sex and often express dislike toward their own genitalia while expressing a desire to have the genitalia of the opposite sex, instead. In adults, similar dysphoria symptoms may exist and, while gender reassignment surgery is often sought by people struggling with this type of gender identity disorder, doctors are reluctant to perform such a procedure on individuals who have not shown signs of dysphoria for at least two consecutive years. Dysphoria is often treated with psychological intervention and early childhood symptoms are not necessarily an indicator of a person’s sexual orientation later in life.

The strong need to be identified with names, styles of dress, toys and activities that are socially attributed to members of the opposite sex are some of the hallmark dysphoria symptoms. Individuals who exhibit these symptoms do not merely express a desire to be identified as a member of the opposite sex, but also experience extreme stress as a result of being born in what they tend to believe is the wrong sex. Often, these symptoms are exhibited at a very young age when the child is not able to adequately understand or articulate her or his discomfort with their body.

Among the first steps in treating dysphoria symptoms is to seek psychological assistance and support to help the person understand her or his condition. Medical tests are also performed to determine whether or not a hormonal imbalance may contribute to these feelings. In many instances, it is only when there is no underlying physical cause for symptoms that a person is diagnosed as having true dysphoria symptoms.

While dysphoria symptoms are often carried from childhood into adulthood, this is not always so. Dysphoria symptoms are also not necessarily a predictor of a person’s sexual preference later in life. Some children who exhibit early symptoms of dysphoria do not experience symptoms in adulthood and, while research shows that many people end up being homosexual adults, many people with symptoms in childhood grow up to be heterosexual adults. Many with dysphoria also eventually opt for gender reassignment surgery, but not all do.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Laura M. Sands
By Laura M. Sands
Laura Sands, the founder of a publishing company, brings her passion for writing and her expertise in digital publishing to her work. With a background in social sciences and extensive online work experience, she crafts compelling copy and content across various platforms. Her ability to understand and connect with target audiences makes her a skilled contributor to any content creation team.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Laura M. Sands
Laura M. Sands
Laura Sands, the founder of a publishing company, brings her passion for writing and her expertise in digital publishing...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-most-common-dysphoria-symptoms.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.