Thanks, Breanna. I understand what you're saying. So, is it possible for someone to start cross-dressing and later become transgender? When, where and/or how does that happen? I ask that rhetorically. I don't expect you to have the answers. If you have any ideas though, feel free to respond.
Hi Hon,
To answer your question, yes, I believe someone can start x-dressing and eventually decide to transition. I believe the physical act of crossdressing may satisfy, for a period of time, deep rooted desires to be a person of the opposite gender. But as time goes by, the individual may no longer feel satisfied with only dressing, but must become that gender.
My journey, I put on my first dress when I was just 5 years old, and told my Mom that I was really a girl. I always knew deep down that I felt more female than I did male. In my teens, I got a job after school and purchased a small feminine wardrobe and I would dress up and walk around my neighborhood. In my twenties I lived as a female for about 2 years but still considered myself the only x-dresser in the world. (No internet). Next, I stopped crossdressing for 23 years and focused on being a man and this was probably the worst period in my life. Finally, at 55 y/o I began remembering my past, one year ago I found CDH and hit the stores. I went out in public almost immediately once I started crossdressing again and the idea of transitioning to a female returned to me. I knew all along, all those years, that I felt like a female in a very male body. I can remember the first successful SRS performed in America where the patient was able to have, a feel, sexual intercourse. I remember that I wanted that surgery but alcohol and heroin addiction got the best of me and I got way off track for many years.
So, if you are considering SRS, or even a partial transition, I strongly suggest you first see a good gender therapist, someone who specializes in CD/TG/TS people and first understand the surgery and what is involved and how the process works. There are some of the best SRS surgeons in Thailand, transgender surgery capital of the world, and I suggest you may want to set up a consultation with one to get the full medical picture.
And, be absolutely sure transition is what you want//need to be happy with yourself. Transitioning does not change who you are as a person, your personality does not change. HRT is not going to make you a woman although after you have been on it awhile, you may become more emotional. This is a huge step in your life so please be sure transition is what you want. And remember, you don't have to change everything!!
Hugs, Breanna
Hi Hon,
Just because you crossdress, that does not mean your transgender or you will become transgender. People have begun using the label, transgender, to include all types of sexual variations. However, according to my doctor who's doing my surgery, a crossdresser is a crossdresser, transgender people are taking steps to change/alter their gender because they feel they were born with the wrong genitals. Transexuals are people who have completed transition. I agree with my doctor's viewpoints and use these labels as stated. Good Luck!
Hugs, Breanna
I wish I was in Michigan where I was born and raised!!! I love Michigan with the four seasons unlike Arizona where it's too hot for 8 or 9 months out of the year. Good Luck meeting others!!! It can be difficult!
Thanks for the advice, Breanna. I certainly won't rush into anything.
After considering the comments here, getting other input and some serious introspection, I can say quite definitely that I am not transgender. I've never thought of myself as a woman trapped in a man's body or had any desire to live my life full-time as a woman. I'm a cross-dresser. My excursions into the feminine world are just escapes from regular grind of the real world. If anything, I may be curious about what life would be like as a woman, but I can't see myself taking any action to actually live as one. With that said, I don't think I belong here. I will keep my profile active for a few days so that I can see any more responses I get. After that, I will delete my profile, unless someone gives me some compelling reason to stay.
Thanks for the comments and the help. I wish you all Godspeed.
Hi Stephanie,
I'm very happy that you have come to terms and made a good decision based on your facts and feelings. And, there is absolutely nothing wrong with x-dressing for whatever personal reason you have. I wish you the best of luck in all you do.
Hugs, Breanna
Stephanie,
It's always good to see someone carefully and thoughtfully consider their inner self and journey wherever it leads. Please know we respect your decision on site membership. TGH is and will remain a safe place for those identifying as a crossdresser as there is still a kinship. In the transgender umbrella model crossdressers are included for this reason. It's unfortunate that in the struggle to understand our places in the space between the sex/gender binaries that even the definitions of the words we use change over time and can end up with more than one meaning. Such is our place as the world struggles to adapt. Perhaps some day the point will be moot from social normalization, but I for one would still want to keep fellowship even in such a world.
Hugs,
Cloe
