3 Tips to Support a Child Coping With Gender Dysphoria

By Your Health Magazine

Your Health Magazine

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3 Tips to Support a Child Coping With Gender Dysphoria

Have you picked up a few clues that your child feels out of alignment with the gender they were assigned at birth? Then, your child could be experiencing gender dysphoria. You need to recognize the signs and seek help from a youth residential treatment center sooner rather than later.

Thousands of children in the U.S. are identifying themselves as a gender different from the one they were assigned when they were born. Recent research has revealed that the percentage of gender dysphoria diagnoses among patients under the age of 18 grew from 17.5% to 20.4% between 2018 and 2022. That’s concerning. 

If your child expresses a desire to be treated as the opposite gender, they could be experiencing gender dysphoria. Watch out for signs like a preference to play the role of another gender in make-believe games or an inclination for toys typically associated with the other gender

Learning about your child’s gender dysphoria could be overwhelming, but it’s essential to support them in this journey. Here, we’ll share a few tips that will help you support your child as they explore who they are. 

Understanding Gender Dysphoria 

Gender dysphoria refers to the discomfort or distress that arises when an individual’s gender identity doesn’t match with the sex they were assigned at birth. In other words, gender dysphoria occurs when a person assigned female or male at the time of birth feels out of sync with that categorization. 

Experiencing this incongruity in a culture that insists on binary gender categorization—masculine and feminine—has a profound impact on a person’s mental health. 

A systematic review revealed that 22% to 78% of adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria had concomitant mental health disorders. The prevalence of mood disorders was high, followed by anxiety disorders and suicidal ideation. 

How to Support Your Child to Cope With Gender Dysphoria? 3 Ways

There are several ways you can support your child to cope with gender dysphoria, and we’ll discuss a few of them here:

1. Reassure Your Child That You Love Them Irrespective of Their Gender

Your child is already overwhelmed by the feelings of gender dysphoria. The last thing you’d want to do is add to their anguish by expressing disappointment. Instead, affirm your unconditional love and support. 

Let them know that their gender identity does not change your love for them and you will stand by them no matter what. Your reassurance will provide your child with a sense of security and belonging. This is essential for their emotional well-being. 

Make sure to step in and assure your child right after you learn about their gender dysphoria. The sooner you intervene and remind your child that they are allowed to be who they are, the sooner their distress can be transformed into exploration and comfort with themselves.

2. Educate Yourself About Gender Dysphoria

You will be able to help your child navigate gender dysphoria only when you’re aware of it. Take the time to learn about the distress an individual experiences due to the incompatibility between gender identities. 

It will only take a click or two of your mouse to learn about gender dysphoria. HRC.org is one website that you should browse. It offers a page full of resources for parents of gender-expansive children. Here, you can learn about the various organizations that focus on such children, read reports on how to care for them and find books on the subject. 

3. Seek Professional Support

Navigating the complexities of gender dysphoria isn’t easy. Consider seeking guidance from a qualified therapist or counselor who specializes in gender identity issues. These professionals can provide invaluable guidance, support, and coping strategies for both you and your child.

Your child might have to go for therapy. There, they will be able to explore their feelings, identity, and experiences in a nonjudgmental environment. This will help them navigate the complexities of gender dysphoria and develop coping strategies.

If your child’s mental health is significantly impacted, the professional might advise you to admit your child to a residential treatment center. Follow their advice and get them admitted to one. It will be beneficial. These centers provide a structured environment where the child can receive comprehensive therapeutic interventions. This could include individual and group therapy, educational support, and medical supervision if needed. 

While the specific time frame depends on the wellness needs of a child, Polaris Teen Center explains that treatment programs last somewhere between three weeks and a few months. 

During this period, your child will have access to highly trained and empathetic mental health professionals and doctors. These professionals will help them live the way they want, i.e., in their preferred gender identity.

To wrap things up, it’s essential to extend support to help your child who is experiencing gender dysphoria. You must provide them with the support they need so that they can cope with resilience and confidence. These tips will help you in supporting them, so follow them. However, you must also listen to them without judgment, respect their gender identity, and advocate for their needs in various settings. Ultimately, they will be able to thrive and lead fulfilling lives as their authentic selves.