Let’s Understand Gender Dysphoria!
Today, let’s delve deeper into understanding gender dysphoria.
This is important especially because gender dysphoria manifests uniquely amongst those who experience it.
And while some trans or non-binary individuals experience gender dysphoria, it is not a pre-requisite of being trans or non-binary.
Let’s explore this concept more… 🌿
🌷 What is Gender Dysphoria? It is generally experienced when there is an awareness that your gender does not align with the sex that you were assigned at birth.
So, if you were assigned female at birth and you feel like a man but your body does not appear this way, then you may experience gender dysphoria.
So if you were assigned male or female at birth and you feel that your gender sits outside of the gender binary of man or woman, then you may also experience gender dysphoria in relation to certain parts of your body or how you are perceived by others.
🏳️⚧️ Gender Dysphoria is Not a Mental Disorder. There is nothing wrong with someone who experiences gender dysphoria. It is not an individual pathology or illness. This means that gender incongruence is not classified as a mental health disorder, that’s why we say “dysphoria” and not “disorder”.
🍀 Facets of Dysphoria: There are mainly two aspects of gender dysphoria: social dysphoria, stemming from being perceived differently than one's gender identity, and physical dysphoria, a disconnect or discomfort with one’s physical attributes. These can bring a range of feelings, from shame and confusion to sadness and anger.
🔍 Intersectionality Comes in: Our experiences of gender can intersect with various aspects of our identity like sexuality, culture, race, neurodiversity, and religion. These other identities can interact with and influence how we experience our gender dysphoria.
🌟 Embracing All Experiences: Every experience is unique, valid, and an integral part of the vast spectrum of our identities. It’s crucial to embrace the diversity and expansive aspects of who we are.
You might have been told that who you are is not okay. Some might have told you that they disapprove of you. But the thing is, trans people and non-binary people have always existed.
We have a rich and glorious history across cultures, and across centuries.
It’s not our identities that are the problem. It’s the social stories, and the narratives about our identities that is the problem.
The world is such a difficult place to be trans right now.
But we can start by embracing and accepting all of our identities.
If the journey to understanding gender dysphoria seems daunting, and you seek support... Voda is here to support you.
If you’re looking for mental health support to cope with gender dysphoria, or know someone who does, head over to Voda.
We’re here to support you every step of the way.
You can download Voda here.
With Love and Acceptance,
