A psychic problem called Gender Dysphoric Disorder can be a serious threat to a child’s mental health and perception of the environment. The distorted image of one’s own identity is fraught with the loss of communication with peers and parents, which, in turn, can lead to attendant problems. For instance, VanderLaan et al. note that this disorder is closely related to autism, which manifests itself in children as a form of reluctance to adapt to society (1742). Therefore, work on the solution to this health problem should be strengthened and timely.
The disease under consideration has not always had the same name as it does now. According to VanderLaan et al., previously, it was referred to as Gender Identity Disorder, but this wording was changed (1745). According to the authors, it was done because the previous name did not express the presence of disorder, and the violation of identity could not be viewed in terms of a clinical problem (1745). Today, a new term is utilized to reflect the pathology that manifests itself in such a mental illness.
This psychological disorder is certainly a good reason for the intervention of medical professionals. Those children who are exposed to this problem are at risk of receiving severe psychological trauma. The task of parents is to pay attention to any forms of non-standard behavior, for example, clothing preferences, special activities, and other factors. While suspecting this diagnosis, a visit to qualified psychologists should be mandatory since, at an early stage, an opportunity to solve the problem is more likely. In general, children should not be allowed to have a distorted idea of their identity, and if the required measures are taken at an appropriate stage, the probability of restoring normal perception is high.
Works Cited
VanderLaan, Doug P., et al. “Autism Spectrum Disorder Risk Factors and Autistic Traits in Gender Dysphoric Children.” Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, vol. 45, no. 6, 2015, pp. 1742-1750.