Some people are at odds with their assigned gender at birth, as they feel it’s not the same as their true gender identity. This incongruity is known as a gender identity disorder, a mental health condition that can cause substantial upset without proper treatment.
Fortunately, transgender individuals can access medical and psychological support to help affirm their gender identities. For many people, affirmation will involve some sort of hormone therapy.
Some people are at odds with their assigned gender at birth, as they feel it’s not the same as their true gender identity. This incongruity is known as a gender identity disorder, a mental health condition that can cause substantial upset without proper treatment.
Fortunately, transgender individuals can access medical and psychological support to help affirm their gender identities. For many people, affirmation will involve some sort of hormone therapy.
Also known as gender dysphoria, gender identity disorders cause a distressed state of mind when a person’s assigned gender at birth does not match their gender identity. To alleviate this sense of distress, transgender individuals may change their names and how they’re addressed (i.e., pronouns) in order to align with their gender identity. They may also seek out medical treatments, including surgery and medication, to further align with their gender identity.
People with gender dysphoria begin by speaking with a therapist, who can help them process their feelings and develop a plan to address gender identity issues. Depending on certain factors, such as a person’s age and their personal preferences regarding their gender identity, surgical affirmations may be recommended.
Many people with gender identity disorders also pursue hormone therapy to align with their gender identity. This can entail two approaches:
Not every transgender person has the same experience or desires the same outcome with gender affirming treatments. Some may also struggle with mental health issues related to gender dysphoria, such as anxiety and depression. In this case, doctors may prescribe antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to manage mental health issues.