Naming Gender Dysphoria
Externalization allows you to recognize that gender dysphoria is trying to control you. A key to externalization is recognizing that the problem is the problem, you are not the problem. (El problema es el problema. Tú no eres el problema.)
By seeing gender dysphoria as something separate from yourself, you can gain more control over its impact on your life.
Gender dysphoria can be powerful and it’s common to feel like you are the problem and become overwhelmed.
Through externalization you will be able to acknowledge that gender dysphoria is the actual problem you are dealing with, not you!
The first step is to find a name for gender dysphoria. This name should be a noun (person/place/thing) that describes your experiences in a unique way. (El primer paso es encontrar un nombre para la disforia de género. Este nombre debe ser un sustantivo (persona, lugar o cosa) que describa tus experiencias de una manera única.)
For instance, Mac in the video named their gender dysphoria “the distractor” because gender dysphoria diverts their attention and prevents them from fully engaging in their daily life.
What name would you give to your gender dysphoria? (¿Qué nombre le darías a tu disforia de género?)
What comes to mind when you think about how gender dysphoria tries to take control? (¿Qué te viene a la mente cuando piensas en cómo la disforia de género intenta tomar el control?)
It’s useful to begin with “the” to give a name to this person, place, or thing word. (Es útil comenzar con “el” o “la” para darle un nombre a esta palabra que representa una persona, lugar o cosa.)
“It was really helpful to think of a name for my gender dysphoria, I hadn’t otherwise thought of that, but it helped me frame what it feels like for me in a different way.” (A Black, gender fluid and nonbinary individual)
“I was skeptical about the idea of naming and personifying my dysphoria, but when I did it, I actually did find it helpful.” (A White Ashkenzai, trans man)
