{"id":25613,"date":"2014-09-30T16:32:02","date_gmt":"2014-09-30T23:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?page_id=25613"},"modified":"2023-09-12T16:33:38","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T20:33:38","slug":"dysphoria","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/dysphoria\/","title":{"rendered":"Dysphoria"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-25614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/woman-experiencing-dysphoria-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"Woman experiencing dysphoria.\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" data-id=\"25614\" Dysphoria is state of generalized or and it can be symptom several mental health title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/woman-experiencing-dysphoria-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/woman-experiencing-dysphoria-1024x682.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n<h2><strong>WHAT IS DYSPHORIA?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\nDysphoria is a psychological state that is often caused by or accompanies a mental health condition. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/stress\">Stress<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/grief\">grief<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/relationships\">relationship difficulties<\/a>, and other environmental problems can also cause dysphoria.\n<\/p>\n<p>\nMost often, dysphoria is a mood, which means someone can have fleeting moments of dysphoria. People can also experience long-term dysphoric states, and long-term dysphoria is often strongly associated with mental health conditions that affect mood, such as major <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/depression\">depression<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/mania\">mania<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/cyclothymia\">cyclothymia<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n<p>\nNutritional deficits and health conditions can also cause dysphoria. For example, people with hypoglycemia sometimes report feelings of dysphoria, and the stress of a chronic illness can cause feelings of unhappiness and frustration, which can be considered dysphoria.\n<\/p>\n<h2><strong>SIGNS OF DYSPHORIA<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\nThe feeling of dysphoria can be characterized by the following qualities and behaviors:\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/sadness\">Sadness<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/apathy\">Apathy<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/chronic-fatigue\">Fatigue<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/worry\">Worry<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Uneasiness\n<\/li>\n<li>Lack of satisfaction with oneself or life\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\nDysphoria is the opposite of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/euphoria\">euphoria<\/a>. Many mental health conditions may cause people to experience bouts of dysphoria.\n<\/p>\n<h2><strong>DYSPHORIA VS. DYSMORPHIA<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\nWhile the words \u00e2\u20ac\u0153dysphoria\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153dysmorphia\u00e2\u20ac\u009d sound similar and are sometimes used interchangeably, each term has its own distinct meaning.\n<\/p>\n<p>\nPeople often use dysphoria in the context of gender dysphoria. Dysphoria by itself refers to a general sense of unease and dissatisfaction (and to distress related to one\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s gender identity in the case of gender dysphoria). Dysmorphia, on the other hand, refers to irregularity in the shape or size of a body part. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s often used in the context of body dysmorphic disorder, in which an individual has a distorted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/body-image\">body image<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n<h2><strong>DYSPHORIA, PSYCHOLOGY, AND MENTAL HEALTH<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\nA number of mental health conditions including depression, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/bipolar\">bipolar<\/a>, generalized <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/anxiety\">anxiety<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/change\">adjustment challenges<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/schizophrenia\">schizophrenia<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/chronic-pain\">chronic pain<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/therapy-for-personality-disorders\">personality conditions<\/a> can cause a dysphoric mood.\n<\/p>\n<p>\nDysphoria passes normally for most people, but people experiencing long-term dysphoric states are at higher risks of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/suicide\">suicide<\/a> and are therefore encouraged to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\">contact a therapist<\/a> or other health care professional. There are treatments that can help people overcome feelings of sadness or dysphoria.\n<\/p>\n<h2><strong>TYPES OF DYSPHORIA<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\nDysphoria is not a mental health condition, so it is not officially divided into subtypes. Some mental health-related conditions associated with dysphoria, however, include the following.\n<\/p>\n<h3>Gender dysphoria<\/h3>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/gender-dysphoria\">Gender dysphoria<\/a>, described in the <em>Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)<\/em> as distress often present in individuals whose <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/gender\">gender identity<\/a> differs from gender assigned at birth, replaces the diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder (GID). GID was removed from the fifth edition of the DSM as the diagnosis was believed to contribute to pathologization of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/transgender\">transgender<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/nonbinary-gender\">gender nonconforming<\/a> individuals.\n<\/p>\n<p>\nGender dysphoria may begin to resolve when an individual transitions, or begins to live as their true gender. Transition can be described as the process through which a person aligns their physical characteristics with their gender identity. This process can often take up to several years and may involve surgery or hormone treatments, though some individuals transition without surgery and\/or hormones.\n<\/p>\n<p>\nPeople may still experience gender dysphoria during transition, especially when misgendered\u00e2\u20ac\u201dwhen their gender is identified incorrectly\u00e2\u20ac\u201dby others. Individuals experiencing gender dysphoria or conditions occurring in conjunction with or as a result of dysphoria, such as depression, may find therapy to be helpful for addressing their distress. It is important to note an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\">ethical and qualified therapist<\/a> will not attempt to encourage a person to conform to the gender assigned at birth or otherwise treat that individual\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s identity as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153confusion.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\n<\/p>\n<h3>Rejection sensitive dysphoria<\/h3>\n<p>\nRejection sensitive dysphoria is a condition associated with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/adhd\">attention-deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD)<\/a>. People who experience rejection sensitive dysphoria may have strong feelings of distress when they think they have fallen short of expectations or disappointed someone else.\n<\/p>\n<h3>Tardive dysphoria<\/h3>\n<p>\nTardive dysphoria is a term used to refer to depression that becomes resistant to treatment through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/psychotropic-medication.html\">psychotropic medication<\/a> over a long period of time. Experts are still learning what may cause tardive dysphoria to occur.\n<\/p>\n<h3>Post-coital dysphoria<\/h3>\n<p>\nPost-coital dysphoria, also known as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153post-sex blues,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d occurs when an individual experiences feelings of sadness or anger directly after sexual intercourse. People who experience post-coital dysphoria may be in loving, committed relationships despite experiencing negative feelings after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/sex-and-sexuality\">sex<\/a>. Research is still out on what causes individuals to experience post-coital dysphoria, but studies have shown the experience is not uncommon.\n<\/p>\n<h3>Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)<\/h3>\n<p>\nPremenstrual dysphoric disorder is similar to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/premenstrual-syndrome\">premenstrual syndrome<\/a>, or PMS, although its symptoms are more severe. Fewer women are impacted by PMDD than by PMS. However, PMDD can cause intense depression and mood issues that may interfere with an individual\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s life if left unaddressed.\n<\/p>\n<h2><strong>HOW IS DYSPHORIA TREATED?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\nDysphoria is a symptom, not a stand-alone diagnosis, and people often seek mental health care for feelings of dysphoria. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/individual-therapy.html\">Psychotherapy<\/a> is a common tool to treat dysphoria and works by first identifying the underlying cause or conditions of dysphoria, and then by addressing the feelings or conditions that cause it.\n<\/p>\n<p>\nDepending on the severity of dysphoria and the conditions that are causing it, medication may be used in conjunction with psychotherapy. People with dysphoria may also require medical treatment if their symptoms are caused by an underlying physical health condition. Sometimes lifestyle changes, such as spending more time with family, engaging in hobbies, changing your diet, or changing routines can also help. Your therapist can help you identify positive lifestyle changes to implement in order to reduce or remove dysphoria from your life.\n<\/p>\n<p>\nReferences:\n<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>American Psychological Association. (2009). <em>APA concise dictionary of psychology.<\/em> Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.\n<\/li>\n<li>Dodson, W. (2019, June 18). [Self-test] Could you have rejection sensitive dysphoria? Retrieved from https:\/\/www.additudemag.com\/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-adhd-symptom-test\n<\/li>\n<li>El-Mallakh, R. S., Gao, Y., &#038; Roberts, J. (2011). Tardive dysphoria: The role of long term antidepressant use in inducing chronic depression. <em>Medical Hypotheses, 76<\/em>(6), 769-773. Retrieved from https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0306987711000223\n<\/li>\n<li>Morin, A., (2019, April 22). What is dysphoria? Retrieved from https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-is-dysphoria-4588634\n<\/li>\n<li>Purse, M. (2019, June 17). Dysphoric mania in bipolar disorder: Episodes with mixed features. Retrieved from https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/what-is-dysphoria-378817\n<\/li>\n<li>Schweitzer, R. D., O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Brien, J., &#038; Burri, A. (2015, October 5). Postcoital dysphoria: Prevalence and psychological correlates. <em>Sexual Medicine, 3<\/em>(4), 235-243. doi: 10.1002\/sm2.74\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>\nLast Updated: 07-30-2019\n<\/p>\n<p><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WHAT IS DYSPHORIA? Dysphoria is a psychological state that is often caused by or accompanies a mental health condition. Stress, grief, relationship difficulties, and other environmental problems can also cause dysphoria. Most often, dysphoria is a mood, which means someone can have fleeting moments of dysphoria. People can also experience long-term dysphoric states, and long-term [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2866,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"psychpedia.php","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-25613","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2866"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25613"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25613\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}