Approximately 0.6% of Americans experience gender dysphoria—many are teenagers. Gender dysphoria stems from incongruence between one’s assigned sex at birth and their gender identity. The condition is typically experienced by transgender individuals.
The distress of gender dysphoria is often magnified by the other stressors teens face, including social stigma, bullying, and harassment. All of these stressors impact the mental health and overall well-being of teenagers.
Gender dysphoria in teens can cause intense distress. In response, they need a safe, understanding environment in which they can talk about the issues they face. This allows them to develop coping skills they can use to safely navigate their way through stressful situations and experiences.
What Is Gender Dysphoria?
Dysphoria is a type of psychological distress characterized by anxiety, dissatisfaction, or uneasiness about life or oneself. Gender dysphoria stems from incongruence between someone’s assigned sex at birth and their gender identity. The condition is typically experienced by transgender individuals, whose assigned sex at birth does not match their gender identity.
The distress of gender dysphoria is often magnified by the other stressors transgender teens face, including social stigma, bullying, and harassment. All of these stressors impact the mental health and overall well-being of teenagers.
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What Are Signs of Gender Dysphoria in Teens?
Teens struggling with gender dysphoria sometimes find it difficult to identify gender dysphoria for what it actually is, at first only identifying it as anxiety, low self-esteem, or general body dysphoria. While only a qualified professional can diagnose gender dysphoria, parents can watch for signs of distress and offer support. If your teen is experiencing gender dysphoria, they may display:
- Alterations to their hair, clothing, speech, name, or pronouns that align with another gender
- Discomfort with traditional roles associated with their assigned gender
- Unwillingness to use gendered restrooms, locker rooms, or other spaces
- Feelings of disgust or self-loathing, often about their body or sex characteristics
The hormones active during teenage development can exacerbate confused feelings, and many teens may be reluctant or unable to articulate their feelings to their parents. This level of distress may lead to or co-occur with other mental health symptoms. Depression, mood swings, feelings of low self-worth, self-harming behaviors, and substance use are common in teens who experience gender dysphoria.
It’s important to note that these signs alone do not necessarily indicate gender dysphoria. Teens may explore their identity in various ways as a part of typical development.
At What Age Does Gender Dysphoria Develop?
Gender dysphoria can develop at any age. However, it typically starts in early childhood or adolescence. In one study, people with gender dysphoria reported first experiencing it by the age of seven. In some cases, the onset of puberty is a catalyst for dysphoria. Developing secondary sex characteristics can trigger or intensify the discomfort these teens are feelings.
What Does Treatment for Gender Dysphoria Look Like?
Treatment for gender dysphoria may involve traditional psychological modalities for dealing with distress including talk therapy, group therapy, building healthy coping skills, and developing a strong social support network.
What Happens If You Don’t Treat Gender Dysphoria?
Gender dysphoria can ebb and flow in intensity over time. It may be particularly pronounced in adolescence as teens first gain an understanding of their bodies and identities. However, it may not dissipate without treatment.
Gender affirmation, in the form of support from parents, and learning safe and appropriate ways of expressing their gender identity, is one of the best ways for teens to find relief from gender dysphoria. Without affirmation and treatment, the distress caused by gender dysphoria is likely to worsen over time. Teens may develop intense depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, or maladaptive coping mechanisms such as substance use or self-harming behaviors.
When To Seek Help For Teen Gender Dysphoria
Any time a teen is in distress, they will benefit from additional support. As a parent, you should gain an understanding of gender identities and gender dysphoria, and assure your teen that you are there to help. Clinical professionals experienced in teen gender issues can offer additional services to help with the symptoms of gender dysphoria.
Muir Wood offers a supportive treatment environment where professionals can address behavioral issues in teens, including gender dysphoria, substance use, and mental health issues. If you would like to learn more about how gender issues can affect teens, explore our resources on gender identity.
Gender Dysphoria in Teens FAQs
According to studies conducted by the Mayo Clinic, there are some cases in which gender confusion could be a phase. It’s important to remember that children continue to develop physically, emotionally, socially, and mentally well into their late teen years, with the ages of 12 – 16 being the years most hormonally active. During a child’s development, it’s understandable that there can be many changes – including confusion about gender identity – which the teen could potentially grow out of as they become older. What is critical to remember is that teens need to have a supportive environment so they feel safe to go through changes in a nurturing, judge-free environment.
Regrettably, the precise cause of gender dysphoria is not clear. With continued research and studies, we may find more answers. In the meantime, psychological experts agree that gender dysphoria is not necessarily linked to sexual orientation. Experts also agree that gender dysphoria typically develops at a young age, before entering adolescence. It is not until a child begins to further develop in their teens that gender identity confusion begins to manifest. In some cases, identity issues may manifest into adulthood if children do not receive the support and necessary therapy required to identify their internal conflicts.
Gender dysphoria can develop at any age. However, as mentioned, it commonly develops at a young age – around the age of 6 or 7. As a child develops, more clear manifestations of associating with a gender that is different from their assigned gender at birth may become more prevalent.
In some teens, puberty can become a trigger for intense gender identity confusion. This makes sense, as the surge of hormones is at its peak during puberty. However, there is evidence that gender dysphoria can abate after puberty. It’s essential to understand that each child is different. Some teens show early signs of identifying with a different gender than the one they were assigned. Some teens may continue to maintain the conviction that they are the gender identity they choose for themselves long after puberty. Each case is different, which is why therapy is the best path toward assessing your teen’s situation and finding individualized solutions.
If gender dysphoria occurs as a temporary manifestation of a child’s development, experts say that the age of 10 – 13 is the average time frame when this condition should abate. However, in some cases, gender dysphoria can persist into adulthood. This is why therapy is crucial in helping teens cope and avoid mental health complications in the future.
While there is no conclusive proof that trauma can cause gender dysphoria, it cannot be ruled out. If a child experiences sexual abuse or trauma, it may trigger gender dysphoria. Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder can inflict many different mental health challenges, including conflicts regarding identity. However, more studies need to be conducted in order to make a conclusive link between trauma and gender dysphoria.
While gender dysphoria is not a mental illness, it can manifest into mental conditions that can negatively impact your teen’s life. When not addressed, gender dysphoria can develop into intense depression, anxiety disorders, and mental struggles that can stunt the well-being of your child. Furthermore, untreated gender dysphoria has been known to lead to other mental maladies such as substance or alcohol addiction, self-harming, or even suicidal tendencies.