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gender and sexuality and ASD

NAS67667

My 16 year old daughter has recent;y been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, level one. She is high functioning.  She believes she has gender dysphoria but her behaviour suggests questioning or gender fluid. It is hard to know if this is about gender/ sexuality or if it is more about not fitting in/ not wanting to be put in a box.. She has a history of significant generalised anxiety, major depressive disorder, strong suicidal ideation and recent onset of significant motor tics.. She is currently in hospital after deliberately overdosing on her own medication (clonidine).. She is linked in with CAMHS and has had psychological intervention (mostly unsuccessful due to lack of continuity of care) but I have found her a good psychologist. Just wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences with their daughters and if there is any advice as to how to manage this and support her.

  • in reply to NAS67672

    Thank you very much for your comments and support. I am trying hard to 

    understand and be supportive. Will definitely have a look at the Reddit community. Thank you.

  • I'm so sorry to hear that about your child; I'm wishing the both of you the best. Above all else, support, education, and compassion are key. I'm a transgender man, and gender dysphoria + ASD/ADHD have impacted my life significantly; things would have gone much differently if I had support from my family. In my experience ASD/ADHD can make feelings of gender dysphoria more intense, as both conditions contribute to a deep feeling of "not fitting in," however, the two are separate. Do your best to support your child through this time and educate yourself!!! Understanding the experience of gender dysphoria will go a long ways in building trust between the two of you. The ftm community on Reddit has some amazing resources for teens, parents, and families, not just for transgender men but also people who are questioning or non-binary: www.reddit.com/.../index