Dysphoria: What It Is, Symptoms, and How to Deal With it

Dysphoria is an intense emotional state that can be a symptom of many mental health conditions. It is a profound state of dissatisfaction and unease. People may describe dysphoria as feeling very unhappy or sad.

Gender Dysphoria

Gender dysphoria is a condition where an individual's true gender identity does not align with the gender they were assigned at birth. This mismatch can cause distress and lead to symptoms such as depression, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. Other signs of gender dysphoria include experiencing strong emotions like anger, a lack of interest or pleasure in usual activities, and disruptions in eating and sleeping patterns. Studies have suggested that individuals with gender dysphoria may have a negative outlook on the world, making it challenging for them to consider realistic outcomes for the future.

Dysphoria may occur during a mixed state: A person has feelings of sadness, apathy, or irritability while also having symptoms of mania, such as an inflated sense of self, racing thoughts, or pressured speech.

Dysphoria vs. Dysphoric Mania

Dysphoria is a period when a person feels deep unhappiness, discontentment, and disconnect. The symptoms can be similar to those of depression but may be different. Dysphoric mania is the current term for a mixed state, meaning a person has both signs of depression and mania. An example might look like racing thoughts and irritability while feeling depressed

What Causes a Dysphoric Mood?

Different states in bipolar disorder attributed dysphoria to several factors:

• Trauma

• Negative childhood experiences

• Substance use

• Withdrawal from substances

• Stress

• Rumination (focusing on the same thoughts)

• Disruptions in circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycle)

• Genetic vulnerability

• Changes in neurotransmitters such as dopamine, which can cause shifts in mood

What Does Dysphoria Feel Like?

People have unique experiences of dysphoria. Generally, a dysphoric mood can include the following symptoms:

• Irritability 

• Powerful emotions such as guilt, anger, or melancholia

• Feelings of failure

• A deep sense of discontent or dissatisfaction 

• Feeling overwhelmed

• Aggression and hostility 

• Lack of pleasure in daily activities

• Stress

• Changes in eating and sleeping patterns

• Struggling to manage or recover from low and profound emotions

Is Dysphoria a Diagnosis?

Dysphoria is not a diagnosis. It describes an intense emotional state that can be a symptom of mental health conditions like bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, and PTSD. 

Overlap With Other Mental Disorders

A state of dysphoria can also occur with the following conditions:

• Major depressive disorder

• Bipolar disorder

• Generalized anxiety disorder

• Schizophrenia

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Substance use disorders (and withdrawal from substances)

• Eating disorders

  MedlinePlus. Eating disorders.

• Personality disorders, specifically borderline personality disorder

• Gender dysphoria

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Dysphoria that's coupled with anxiety or substance use can be more difficult to treat. It’s important to reach out to a provider for help if you have symptoms of dysphoria.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is widely recognized as an effective treatment for social anxiety disorder. When working with minority groups such as transgender youth, it is important for therapists to adapt CBT to ensure it is culturally sensitive and effective. However, there is limited research on the efficacy of CBT for transgender youth with mental health issues. This gap in the literature makes it difficult to identify effective treatments for transgender youth with social anxiety disorder alone or in combination with gender dysphoria. This literature review aims to explore the prevalence of mental health disorders in transgender youth, the current research on adapting cognitive behavioral techniques, and the need for further research on adapting CBT for transgender individuals, particularly those with social anxiety disorder and gender dysphoria.