The Need to Crossdress: Blessing or Curse?
I titled this article the “Need”, which I think accurately describes this compulsion we all seem to share here. Although dressing ourselves up to one extent or another in women’s clothes brings us together, we all travel a different road getting here. Some have dressed since childhood, others were smitten much later in life, either way, our paths are running together for this while. While some of us just dress occasionally, others here live full-time as a woman, and still others have transitioned, or are in the process of doing so. Many are simply happy to dress occasionally for decades. Even for those dressers who don’t do it often, to suggest that this is a “hobby” diminishes it much too much, and if this term is used, I find myself rather offended by it.
This is something that I’ve been thinking about for some time, as the act of dressing up in women’s clothes can cause us so much trouble and distress in many ways. The satisfaction when dressing can sometimes be described as a “high,” but is so often followed by a deep low with a promise to “never do it again” to ourselves, and often to others.
But that never seems to be true.
After talking to many other CDs and TGs, the common thread is we really don’t seem to have a choice in all of this. Some of us have been told by someone to simply not do this anymore, and often we try, but it always seems to come back into our lives, whether it is days, months, years, or even decades later. It’s not as cut-and-dried as what kind of car do you like to drive, what brand of jeans do you like to wear, or where you like to have lunch, etc. Those are choices, this is a compulsion. So with all of the complications this causes in our lives – separations, divorces, lost jobs, friends, alienation from relatives, addiction, even suicide – why on Earth, would anyone ever WANT to do this?
Put like that, we must all be crazy, or something. However long we are able to cast away our feminine side, it always seems to come back to us, and more insistent than ever before. Like a debtor you’ve been avoiding for some time, you turn a corner, and there she is! Right in front of you, and insisting you pay her back with interest!
Most see-saw back and forth between our two sides, like a person with an eating disorder, binge and purge, over and over again. At times this must seem like some kind of curse that we are burdened with. Then when we give in – that indescribable euphoria, sexual for some, or just the peaceful feeling of not just wearing women’s clothes, but becoming feminine for a while. Mostly, it just feels “right”.
What is the allure of this mystic femininity that draws us in? For me, it’s the beauty which is the shape of a woman, the curve of her breasts, hips, and buttocks, but I have no idea why instead of just simply loving them, I want to look like one. My perspective is from a hetro person, though there are those here who identify as bi or gay. One’s presentation as either male, female, or androgynous, has nothing to do with one’s sexual preferences.
I’m sure everyone here can attest that dressing up seems to become more and more addictive! For me, it was the charge I got from simply dressing up in women’s underwear for many years. Now I’ve progressed to an ever growing wardrobe of women’s underwear, skirts, tops, dresses, jeans, shorts, and even bathing suits. There is definitely something of a compulsive aspect to buying clothes, too. Then there is the look and feel of these clothes. The materials are generally softer than men’s, the colours and textures are so much nicer, the styles are more varied and often flamboyant. Though that’s the icing on the cake, I think. Even without those beautiful-looking things seducing me, I’d still want to dress up, even if all I had to wear were women’s Soviet-era clothes!
I was very confused for a while as to where this was taking me, and to an extent, I still am. However, at this point I have learned to accept my femme side as a real person, which has allowed me to start enjoying the ride much more. Personally, I feel that Amy really started to come into her own in January 2019, so I put her “birthday” as Jan 1 2019, though I now realize she has been with me in one way or another all my life. Back in the fall of 2018, I could not have imagined dressing up in pretty clothes, putting makeup on, and going out to a public place. Though these thoughts had crossed my mind for many years, I just thought I could never do it. On top of that, I felt it was simply wrong to want to. At that point I was still just dressing in women’s underwear, my own t-shirts, and jeans. Now I’m dressing up, doing makeup, and showing the world my feminine side, Amy.
Many things have led me to this point, some of them simply a bit of luck, but mostly joining CDH, and learning that I’m not so abnormal after all. There are tens of thousands here, and many others scattered throughout the world! There are also historical records that show men have been dressing as women for centuries, or longer. So this is nothing new at all in the broad spectrum of human nature.
I believe the key is to simply accept who you are, and not try to understand the “why” of this so much, as there is little in the way of answers to that question, I’ve found. It’s like, why is someone a musical genius, a talented artist, or a top athlete, for example? Why do some understand the intricacies of mathematics, and others struggle with simple addition? They simply are what they are. We somehow need to get to that point in our community and beyond.
At its simplest, these are just the clothes we choose to wear, and that by itself shouldn’t be able to hurt anyone. Though of course it often does, as society tells us men are supposed to act and dress a certain way. And since we aren’t wanting to conform to that norm, others get upset.
If you feel you need some professional help to get to the point where you are able to accept your gender fluid nature, then seek out a qualified counsellor, preferably one that has experience with gender issues. Once you can begin to accept yourself, then you can better enjoy this beautiful diversity which your life has given to you. Whether you choose to continue this journey as a crossdresser, or you feel the draw to make the transition into full time femininity, you are on this journey, and you may as well enjoy the ride.
After struggling with this for some time, I’m now at the point where I feel that this is a blessing in my life. It certainly makes things more complicated, and will continue to do so as I go through the rest of my life. Amy is as important a part of me as my wider-known male persona.
So, what do you think, is this a Blessing or a Curse for you?
Have you been able to go from one to the other?
More Articles by Amy Myers
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I very much enjoyed “Blessing or Curse". For me, as I suspect for many if not most of us, it is both. I adore being Abby and I love all her clothes. I am mesmerized when i get all made up and slip into my attire. I sensually feel so feminine when dressed and seek out venues for stepping out into the world. I love , most of all, going to TG conventions and participate fully and adoringly. At First Event, I’ve modeled in the Fashion Show every year and can’t wait to see the audience support me. When I… Read more »
Amy, Nicely written article. Much like your experience, my fem side was a curse and now after decades of self-reflection and some therapy thrown in, It has changed to a blessing. I have learned to love and celebrate this part of my life. I am only part-time as Kendra and that is enough for me. I have many supporting people in my life and with their help I have experienced much healing. I have found my voice and my confidence has soared because of it. Much like Clark Kent and Superman, Kendra is my hidden super power. I am a… Read more »
Hi Amy, First off …. what a wonderfully written article. For me my crossdressing started out as a curse. It was so something I wanted and needed to do and just couldn’t bring myself to doing it. I kept Robin bottled up inside me for the better part of my life. Last year she wanted to come out in a bad way. She tormented me, drove me crazy until I couldn’t think straight and had trouble focusing. I decided to accept my fate and let Robin out. Almost a year later I have to say I am blessed to have… Read more »
Robin, thank you. For a while I thought of myself as two people, my female side, and my male side, and to an extent I still do, though I am now felling more like you describe, Amy is me, and is part of me in everything I do, and every where I go. Part of this I think because I don’t deny that part of me anymore.
Amy
Exactly, it’s all about accepting yourself. The two, as they say, become one.
When I was younger I was Ok with it, but at times I found it inconvenient or a little annoying. After some time I got used to it and accepted it, then it was just there – another aspect of me – I dressed once a week or so using a small selection of clothes. Over time my female aspect has ‘grown up’, all sorts of other female qualities of my personality have emerged. Now it is an essential part of who I am, I wouldn’t be me without it 🙂
Well written Amy and yes at various times it has been both a blessing and a curse. Though- when I think about it, it’s only a curse because of society’s reactions not due to anything intrinsically “bad" about it. And society IS changing to become more accepting- albeit not as quickly as we would like it to do. In my own life, I find that those at the age of say 35-40 and under tend to be much more ….accepting is not the exact word but ‘blase’ or indifferent isn’t either. The people I have told or who have otherwise… Read more »
What a magnificent writing Sis…thank you so very much! I consider it a blessing…never been happier!
Hi Girls, This is me, Sarah Mandy, for the first time admitting that I want to dress as a girl. It is so scary, but at the same time I feel so exhilarated by the thought of exploring this “me". I have had these types of thoughts and even dreams from a youngish age, well from about 13 onwards. (I am not 52) Because of my conservative nature I have always tried to contain these desires to daydreams before I fall to sleep at night. However, I have taken the odd opportunity to try on a par of high heel… Read more »
Perhaps try watching a porn movie , gay categoy while dressed and se if you become aroused. Or watch the material on you tube regarding trans , cds , feminisation . Stri guys who are gorgious as women and arent atracted to guys etc . Just try to edudate the mind girl
Honestly hate myself for worying about how others think of me crossdressed. In my mind wearing mens cloths is crossdresing.
Womens apparel is a passion as well a femme look and sometimes a inner piece, we all understand the others challenges with making the jump and walking out the door. like will i be seen , am i noticbly a male or what is my best civer story. Thanks to all you strong ladies before me, ive finally left the secrecy behind after 38 years and beginning a happy life as lyndsey.
Glad to hear that, Lyndsey. My wish is that we can get to that stage within ourselves, and in our society where we simply dress how we feel, without judgement.
Thank you.
Amy
I agree 100% with all you say, aside from the fact that I continue to ask the question “Why" as I want to understand it better, for my own benefit and to help others deal with it. Your story is nearly identical to mine. I generally view this to be a blessing, but for me it has also been a curse, as it has led to divorce and separation from many I love. I wish others could accept my belief that it is not a choice, as I would not have willingly done things to create such separation were it… Read more »
Rhonda, thank you for your comments. It is amazing how similar some of our stories are, and the important differences too.
I still see this as a need, and not as an addiction either, though buying clothes for Amy might be one! Dressing isn’t though.
Glad you found the common ground with you.
Amy
Amy beautifully written article that discussed the feelings and emotions we all face. I have always looked at cross dressing as a curse for many years and as you have said in your article it is just the way we are and we need to go with the flow and that will lead to true happiness and contentment. Thank you for sharing the article!
Anna;
Thank you very much, and I am so glad that you have got something out of my article.
Amy