Gender Identity Disorder (Symptoms)

Gender identity disorder occurs when a person feels as if their biological gender doesn’t accord with who they feel themselves to be.

Children:

Express the desire to be the opposite sex
Have disgust with their own genitals
Believe that they will grow up to become the opposite sex
Are rejected by their peer group and feel isolated
Have depression
Have anxiety

Adults:

Desire to live as a person of the opposite sex
Wish to be rid of their own genitals
Dress in a way that is typical of the opposite sex
Feel isolated
Have anxiety

To be clinically diagnosed with GID:

A. Must persistently and strongly identify with the opposite gender (aside from desiring any perceived cultural advantage of being the other gender). In children, the disturbance is manifested by four (or more) of the following:

In adolescents and adults, the disturbance is manifested by symptoms such as a stated desire to be the other sex, frequent passing as the other sex, desire to live or be treated as the other sex, or the conviction that he or she has the typical feelings and reactions of the other sex.

B. A persistent discomfort with his or her sex or sense of inappropriateness in the gender role of that sex. Must have strong discomfort with own gender and may express these qualities:

Boys:

Disgust with own genitals
Belief that genitals will disappear or that it would be preferable not to have a penis
Rejection of male activities such as rough and tumble play, games and toys

Girls:

Rejection of urinating in seated position
Desire not to develop breasts or menstruate
Claims that she will have a penis
Strong dislike for typical female clothing

In adolescents and adults, the disturbance is manifested by symptoms such as preoccupation with getting rid of primary and secondary sex characteristics (such as request for hormones, surgery or other procedures to physically alter sexual characteristics to simulate the other sex) or belief that he or she was born the wrong sex.

C. The disturbance is not concurrent with physical intersex condition.

D. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

Next: Causes