Stress and CrossDressing

It helps with stress for me, in that it takes my focus away from other things. However, going outside dressed is its own level of stress. But again, I tend to focus on that and not the million other things that stress me out.

Swimming or biking are both good reasons to shave.

I’m one of the few who said no. I’m lucky, I lead a relatively stress-free life. I’m retired,  financially well off, and have no SO that I need to hide my dressing from. One may say I have a boring life — except I’m a man who dresses up as a woman and goes out in public. That’s not exactly mundane. My dressing doesn’t relieve stress, nor does it cause me any. I get other benefits from it. For me, it’s fun and exciting. It helps me get in touch with my feminine side and appreciate how the other half lives. I realize that for many, crossdressing can be a wonderful way to escape the worries of the day and reduce their stress. But it serves a different purpose for me.

I'm well into my 70's and over  my life's journey, (in the "word of the ages")... I have had quite a few mentally "challenging" times. Somevery... serious, some not so serious.

But when the above arose and I've had the chance to become "Catherine Louise Ryan", all that stress just melts away. Any one of my 13 articles here on CDH will provide ample evidence of the above

To quote my last therapist, (on a CD related matter), "Caty takes you to another place".

With all that femme finery, "figure/facial alterations" and "primping"  with the femme clothes and hair, "male me" just melts away into the background.

When I have to revert back to "him", yes the stress can still be there, but its nowhere near as bad.

Happy dressing

Caty.

I have to answer yes to this question.   Since coming out to my wife a few years ago and going to therapy the guilt and shame I used to feel when I dressed has gone away.  Granted it had been years since I had done any type of dressing but whenever I thought about it those feelings would return.  I was always afraid of being caught so found it to be more stressful than stress reducing.  Moving forward to the present, I find it does reduce stress.  My wife brought this up to me one day.  She said she felt like I needed some Suzanne time as I was getting anxious about some things that were going on.  We talked about it and I came to the realization that dressing does make me more relaxed and whatever is causing my stress is either easier to deal with or goes away.  There have been occasions where I have dressed for therapy sessions and it makes me more comfortable talking about things, especially my dressing.  I don't know if it is a form of escapism or just the ability to connect with a softer, gentler part of myself I conceal from others, all I know is that it makes me feel good.

XOXO
Suzanne

Crossdressing bought about a lot of stresses in my early years as being caught or admitting it were at the fore. Dressing itself was a release that felt comfortable and right for me but at that time very wrong and bought in those stresses.

Once I came out those stresses began to evaporate as I was liberated and free to express myself. I never saw dressing as a stress release although it had a part in allowing time out from the rigors of life enjoying something I loved doing, much like a hobby as such. It allowed the gentler, more feminine side of my nature to come out which, of course, is a release.

Of course this is more than a hobby as it is now a way of life for me and in life there are stresses that dressed or not have to be dealt with. Being myself has taken away the stresses I once had and now it is down to making sure I look fine and haven't tucked my skirt into my knickers before going out...

I find that when I’m in the process of getting dressed, there is absolutely nothing else on my mind except making my self into a woman.  So I answered yes, because from the moment I start to the moment I have to change back, there is nothing else at all on my mind.

Crossdressing for me is a stress relief when I get to be Nicky I can focus on my own needs and can take a break from being masculine. I wish I could stay as Nicky. I feel more like myself. I wish I could be more outgoing and go out in public more often.

Absolutely is a stress reliever for me I feel like a different person after a dressing session. When I come out to my wife I plan on explaining the mental health benefits of  dressing in women’s clothing  my only concern is how much stress will my Crossdressing put on my lovely wife.

Crossdressing to me is not so much a stress reliever, but more of an avenue to relaxation.  I don't get stressed out about many thing to have a need to revert to dressing as relief.  I crossdress for relaxation.  To me wearing a cute "flowy" dress or top, and heels on a warm summer day is wonderfully relaxing.  I love it, and it's fun...   Staci...

I have often wondered if dressing helps with my stress or if I just do it during naturally low stress time. I don't do it around family or at work but even then over time I have found out that is extremely relaxing and I just enjoy it. I would say it helps as much as video games or walking.

I feel so calm and happy when I'm dressed.

I feel a calmness take over every time I get fully femme dressed. Sure, being a crossdresser does brings some stress into my life at times, mainly because of social non- acceptance. When I am dressed and alone, I feel true to myself, thus happy.

Crossdressing has now become a way of life for me, a very comfortable and pleasant way of life. There are certainly stresses that must be dealt with but I seem to handle them better than I did as a male.

Definitely yes! Like right now, I am planning to dress tomorrow after over four months without a special visit with Mary Priscilla. I simply feel lost without being able to become her, even if only for a few hours.

Mary Priscilla