I find myself agreeing so much with PaulaQ.
The part I found most interesting was the comparison with addiction (smoking for me 28 years ago) and CDing. "The urges come back and increase in intensity over time during abstinence - this is the OPPOSITE of what happens with substance abusers. Abstinent substance abusers tend to get better as they maintain sobriety." As an ex smoker who found it hard to give up on several occasions but finally beat it aged 25, I can think of no earthly reason I would ever go back to it.
I've experienced the completely unexpected deaths of those near to me and the last thing on my mind is smokes or alcohol. On the CD front however, I had tried to avoid over the years the lure of the lingerie and silky soft materials but, after a short period of abstinence, bang! I'm back with avengeance.
Progression for me has been and is limited to being able to dress as I wish at home, which I keep restricted to a day here and there as my wife is not 100% supportive and after all, she married her man. I go to my local Trans group once a month and I don't really see much more for me than that. As for becoming TS......no way José!
Me and my currently assigned anatomy are inseparable....unless I upset the wife and her blunt scissors.
Rebecca