Gender Identity Disorders include discomfort with a person's genetically coded gender and sexual identity. The International Scientific Classification recognizes that these disorders are congenital. While the first scientific definitions were made in the 1950s, diagnostic classifications were made after 1980. Psychosexual development begins with the emergence of gender awareness towards the end of 2 years of age. Sexual orientation begins to form in early adolescence. With the completion of adolescence, Gender Identity is formed. There are no definitive studies on how common Gender Identity Disorders are. Genetic, endocrine, social and psychodynamic factors play a role in the causes of Gender Identity Disorders.
In the preschool period, many boys wear girls' clothes and can take on the role of mothers in games. This period should normally be short and temporary. It is expected that such behaviors will pass with the school term. In Gender Identity Disorder, starting from the first years of childhood, they are constantly interested in games, toys and behaviors specific to the opposite sex. Studies show that most children with sexual identity problems have these behaviors before the age of 4. Despite the intervention of the environment, children insist on their wishes. Most of the time, families notice this situation and ignore it, thinking it is temporary. After this situation lasts for a long time, some families become worried, while others continue to ignore it. Most families do not want to accept this situation and avoid confronting it. Especially fathers are disturbed by ignoring this situation and bringing these issues to the agenda.
Diagnostic Criteria for Gender Identity Disorder in Children
- Strong and persistent identification with the opposite sex.
- Repeatedly expressing the desire or insistence on being of the other gender (Ex: I don't want to be a girl..?)
- Boys' girls' clothes, Girls' clothes Insisting on wearing men's clothes (e.g. Boys wanting to wear skirts, Girls wanting to wear trousers and shorts..)
- Constantly and very willingly wanting to play opposite gender roles in the game they play
(e.g., when it comes to domesticity, a girl wants to be a father and a boy wants to be a mother..) - Insisting on the opposite sex playing. (e.g. a girl playing football, a boy wanting to play football) playing house..)
- Insistently preferring to play with the opposite sex (e.g. boys always playing with girls in primary school.., girls playing football with boys..)
During childhood: boys may express that they are uncomfortable with their genitals and want it to disappear in the future. Boys do not prefer to play with boys, and girls do not prefer to play with girls. Boys prefer to wear girls' clothes and behave like girls. Girls, on the other hand, prefer to wear boys' clothes and behave in boys' ways. Girls may also refuse to urinate while sitting down. Girls may think that they will have sexual organs like boys in the future. Sometimes they can express these wishes.
In adolescents: If their parents are not oppressive in this regard, they can start to openly express their sexual development, but this is often not possible. They usually show these wishes through their choices and behaviors. Boys, like girls, can grow their hair long, have it cut, wear light make-up, choose clothes that are loose, colorful and do not show their genitals (because they are uncomfortable with their genitals), and can remove unwanted hair and hair… Girls, especially on their breasts. They are uncomfortable with the way they look, so they prefer short hair and trousers as clothing. Girls may engage excessively in male sports, especially bodybuilding, in order to have a male body.
With the end of adolescence, discomfort with their genital organs increases significantly. While they can do this through their clothing choices during adolescence, they become seriously uncomfortable with the presence of their sexual organs as they grow older. Because of this disorder, they make attempts to get rid of their genitals. Most often they use hormones on their own. This poses great risks for health.
- Situations involving Gender Identity Disorder What are they?
Crossdressing: They are not disturbed by their biological gender, as in Gender Identity Disorder. They are happy with their own gender characteristics, but they only prefer clothing of the opposite gender. Ex: Girls may want to wear trousers, but they do not play boys' games.
Homosexuality: Unlike Sexual Identity Disorder, they are satisfied with their own gender characteristics. They have sexual orientation towards their own gender.
Gender Identity Confusion: It is the confusion with sexual development that occurs during adolescence. These adolescents do not show cross-sex role behavior in their past stories. With psychotherapy, the Gender Identity confusion disappears.
Intersexuality (Intermediate Sex States): There is the development of sexual organs that are not compatible with the genetic structure of the person. Genetically and physically, both sexes have sexual organs. This condition is seen in Turner Syndrome, Klinefelter Syndrome, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Pseudohermaphroditism disorders. Role behavior of both genders can be observed. In this case, from birth, urology, pediatric surgery and child psychiatry doctors must work together and help the child in choosing an identity.
TREATMENT
The most important step in treatment is correct diagnosis. is placed in this way. Another important point is early diagnosis. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the more important it is to prevent other psychopathologies. Sociocultural situations play the most important role in making the diagnosis and organizing the treatment. It is very important to work with the family and evaluate the situation together. Most often, children with Gender Identity Disorder seek treatment on their own when they become adults. The most important factor in this is that the family and the environment do not accept this situation. Families, especially fathers, often deny the situation. In fact, although everyone is aware of the situation, families often think that the situation will get better by suppressing or ignoring it.
In fact, at a young age, children explain the situation to their families without talking about it through their choice of games, toys and friends. At a later age, they express that they are uncomfortable with this situation. They reflect it in their work and eventually in their emotions. When they feel that they are not understood by their families and those around them, they may close themselves off to their inner world temporarily, sometimes permanently. Late diagnosis and treatment can lead especially to adolescents' wrong choice of friends and environment, moving away from home, running away from home, other psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, suicide and attempts, development of conduct disorders, substance addiction, wrong choice of treatment such as hormones. It causes other health problems to occur. For the above reasons, it is very important that we get help when we suspect the situation…
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