{"id":122873,"date":"2021-06-24T11:00:10","date_gmt":"2021-06-24T10:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/?p=122873"},"modified":"2023-03-07T15:04:06","modified_gmt":"2023-03-07T15:04:06","slug":"what-is-gender-dysphoria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/what-is-gender-dysphoria.htm","title":{"rendered":"What is Gender Dysphoria ?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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photo by Yasin Yusaf<\/p><\/div>\n

by Andrea M. Darcy<\/span><\/p>\n

Feel like there is a mismatch between the body you are in and the person you actually are<\/a>? And wonder, “What is gender dysphoria, and does it apply to me?”.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is gender?<\/span><\/h2>\n

When we are born we are attributed a sex of<\/strong> ‘male’ or ‘female’, depending on our visible sexual organs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Gender is different than sex. It refers to what<\/strong> ‘male’ and ‘female’ means in our society and culture. It’s a set of expectations and roles for each sex, not a biological fact. There is no scientific reason that women wear skirts and makeup, for example.<\/p>\n

And then what is gender dysphoria?<\/h2>\n

Dysphoria is a strange sounding word. But you probably know <\/strong>its opposite, euphoria, or feeling really amazing and satisfied. Dysphoria<\/a> is feeling uneasy<\/em> and dissatisfied<\/em>. It comes from the Greek language, and translates as \u2018difficult to bear\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Gender dysphoria means that your gender identity (the gender that feels right to you personally) doesn\u2019t match the one that society expects of your sex, and the clash is affecting your ability to cope.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

You might choose to call yourself transgender.\u00a0<\/strong>Note that identifying as transgender doesn’t instantly imply gender dysphoria. If you are one of the lucky few who have strong support from family and your community, then dysphoria might not happen.<\/p>\n

**Also note that if you don’t like the word ‘dysphoria’? And feel uncomfortable with the idea your gender has to be discussed using such words that feel too ‘medical’ or analytical to you personally?\u00a0 If you are struggling because of how other people are treating you and you want to speak to a therapist, tell them you don’t want to use this word. A good therapist is there to help in a way that works for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Is it a big deal? <\/span><\/h2>\n

Yes, because it involves feeling emotionally distressed<\/strong> about not externally being the sex that matches the gender you know you are. And it can be <\/span>connected to serious mental health issues like:<\/p>\n