Could cross dressing be an Addiction

[Being Paige]

OK, I am just wondering,
A. because my mind is always trying to figure this all out! :eek: and
B. could it be possible?
My thinking on this is that Alcohol is, so is smoking and drugs ETC. Is cross dressing really any different then these? An alcoholic or gambler gets hooked and can't quit with out help or can never quit and ends up losing everything or worse!
There are people that can drink and never have it become an addiction, could it be the same for cross dressing, it starts out innocent enough but for some it becomes an addiction where you just cannot stop at just putting on panties or what ever, it just progresses along the same lines for a CD as it does for an alcoholic, starts at one drink and then it just progresses until you have lost control. Sorry if I made this long! I hope when you are reading this you kind of get what I'm trying to say! Just looking for your thoughts.
Thanks!!

[ziggie]

I guess anything can become an addiction if you are willing to accept psychological addictions as real addictions. Pleasurable actions cause endorphin release and endorphins are "natural opiates", so it isn't out of the realm of possibility. If exercise can be addiction then so, I guess, can cross dressing.

[juno]

Anything can become an addiction. Many people here feel a bit addicted at times, often referred to as the Pink Fog. An addiction is something that you prioritize much higher than makes sense, and neglect other important things in our life. If crossdressing makes you happy, and you have spent much of your life unhappy, then a little bit of addiction is not a bad thing. It needs to be a chronic problem to be an addiction in the clinical sense.

[Karren H]

The American Society of Addiction Medicine has this definition for Addiction.... Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in the individual pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors. The addiction is characterized by impairment in behavioral control, craving, inability to consistently abstain, and diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships. Like other chronic diseases, addiction involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death..

There are some similarities but addictions are typically curable and I doubt you are going to die from crossdressing.... ok... not directly by crossdressing.... depending on where you crossdress... lol

[Joanne f]

The difference with all the rest is that they are a dam site harder to hide .

[WsprsOnTheWind]

Anything that the person craves/desires to do more than they don't, and when one submerges themselves into something in order to escape reality and they do so to the point that they cannot live w/o it, it is an addiction. TV, reading, hobbies, exercise, computers, eating, shopping, video games, etc., are all considered soft addictions. Meaning that it is little things we indulge in daily that is not good for us but we use it to excess.

[kimdl93]

as KH's citation sugests, behaviors of all kinds can become addictive. If a person dresses primarily for "pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors" then a sexual fetish, that certainly could be characterized as an addiction. the question is what is the progression and the consequence of the behavior. If a behavior, like cross dressing as an expression of a sexual addiction progresses to destructive compulsiveness, one may "treat" or even cure the sexual addiction. I suspect that a minority of us here are primarily interested in CDing as a sexual thrill...and even among those who may, its not an addiction if it does no harm to your ability to live and function in society.

[mklinden2010]

Maybe not.

[Hayley 09]

Thats quite possible, when I wear something girly it just makes me want to put on something else and then something else until im fully transformed. Although I havnt gone all the way to makeup yet im dying to try it out.

[GaleWarning]

Alcohol "can" be addicting. Tobacco "can" be addicting. Gambling "can" be addicting. And, yes, depending on how it works with someone, crossdressing can be addicting. Different agents, similar possible "hooks" in the brains of some people - but not always the same people.



You need to be consistent. Your arguement loses much because you failed to write 'crossdressing "can" be addictive'.

Personally, I think you ought to have left out the quotations in your post.

[Sandy Banks]

I think crossdressing leads to a shopping addiction..................:2c:

[Charise52]

To me, crossdressing is just natural... we all go to the mall and buy clothes that appeal to us, and make us feel good to wear them... and I just happen to like women's clothes... they fit and are flattering and look good and feel good. The fashion designers for men's clothes have totally lost it... so I personally do not feel it is an addiction... just something nice...

[Xandria]

I think crossdressing leads to a shopping addiction..................:2c:


DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER!!! because of CD'ing.. i know am a cosmetic *****.. i can not go into sephoras and not come out with at least 1 or 2 items

[Kaz]

I think crossdressing leads to a shopping addiction..................:2c:

This I totally agree with! I just had two nights away (three days working away) and spent so much time shopping (not buying much, but so much to look at!)... All trhese Christmas party dresses and shoes to die for!

Seriously... I have thought about this a lot recently... i.e. is this an addiction? Are we kidding ourselves about "if you is, you is for life"? Could I be "cured"? Sadly, I then come down to "do I want to be cured"? The answer is simple... no. I want everyone else to let me just get on with it!

Most of the definitions of addiction do fit with obsessive CDing, and I must say that the more I do it the more I want to keep doing it. You see I am getting better at it! My face is fighting against my new found skills and techniques in make-up, i.e. it keeps presenting new challenges... e.g. the crevices that are appearing, not to mention the baggy eyes! But I cannot stop... I just LOVE being Kaz.

Hmmm... the jury is still out for me I am afraid...

[Cassandra Lynn]

Step #1 "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol and that our lives had become unmanageable".

When i finally checked myself into rehab, i could not be awake and not be drinking. I'll spare you all the details and wreckage. But yeah, while there is prolly somewhat of a release of dopamine in the brain when we CD, it is nothing at all like what the substance abuser feels. We know also that this thing that we are never really leaves us but we are not powerless over it.

Karren makes a good point too, I have a disease but it is truly curable/treatable, and i went and got my medicine today as most of us in the program do.
I have seen this topic discussed before and like others i think compulsion is a little better word, only this thing doesn't leave one shaking uncontrollably.

Mklinden is right in a sense, there are normies and there are alcoholics, the difference gets very scientific, but leave it at this......have you ever seen a CDer on a street corner begging for a skirt? And if you did, i hope you didn't take a picture of me!
When i have a really bad CD/TG day, i just fall back on my own personal 2nd step..."We came to believe that a pair of panties could restore us to sanity".
No offense to anyone in the program, humor is a very good medicine!

mj (Cassie)

[Kelly DeWinter]

I think crossdressing leads to a shopping addiction..................:2c:


Dang, I was going to say that !

[Lucy_Bella]

Dressing for me has become very addictive especially these past few years..Prior to my seperation I was just limited to mostly under dressing.. Since ...I have really opened the flood gates and yes it is very addictive... I may have gone too far too fast but I really think I have hit the ceiling .. I have no other urges other than the clothes and hair.. I enjoy expressing this part of me now and it has matured but it is still very addicting .. But keeps me content and out of trouble..

[docrobbysherry]

Nonsense, Paige!

I CAN'T be addicted to CDing! I've stopped 5 times THIS month alone!!!

[Aprilrain]

There is no way CDing is addicting. I can't stand male clothing! Yuck.

[WsprsOnTheWind]

I think crossdressing leads to a shopping addiction..................:2c:

Ummm....wrong honey....we GG's love to shop just as much as you girls do...so don't be thinking you own that addiction. lol


There are some similarities but addictions are typically curable and I doubt you are going to die from crossdressing.... ok... not directly by crossdressing.... depending on where you crossdress... lol

Having worked in drug rehab for a number of years now, I must disagree with this statement. Addictions are controllable...but never cured. The addict/alcoholic who has been clean for years can take one drink or snort one opiate and go right back into full blown relapse.

[Olivia2]

I think it can be an addiction for some people. One can be a functional alcoholic (one who keeps a job and home and even relationship but all are less than optimum in the person's life). If there is or was a sexual component present with regard to the crossdressing, particularly in isolation, it can have a very powerful reinforcing effect, even if the overt sexual behavior is no longer present. It may not be of concern if it is not interfering with one's occupation, relationships, emotional intimacy, etc. or causing personal distress. On the other hand, if the social/occupational areas of a person's life are in distress, it may be something to be concerned about.

[Kate Simmons]

Depends on if it's a choice or a compulsion really and how much of a compulsion it is. If it's a choice, you control it and not vice versa.:)

[jjjjohanne]

For me, I think it is an addiction. Or maybe it is the expression/symptom of something else that is an addiction. I cannot stop, and I have let it impair my life. I have been late to work, and distracted at work because of it. I have neglected spending time with my family because of it. I have taken foolish risks because of it. I enjoy crossdressing. Maybe I love it as much as an alcoholic loves alcohol.

[eluuzion]

"Advances" (for lack of a better term) in psychological research and the trend toward more “openness” in defining what behaviors now qualify for a specific “categorization” is probably a constructive sign of “progress”. But this process has not come without producing some confusing consequences…

Objective vs. Subjective

Objective
Objective data is stuff that is statistically agreed upon to apply to “everybody”. It is basically an “outsider” viewpoint.
“Addiction” is a common term or “definition” that when used, generally elicits a mental connection to psychoactive substance abuse (drugs). Although the “addictive” characteristics still leave a little “wiggle room” for debate, the general psychological research is focused on objectivity. They are looking to explain general laws (behaviors, etc.)in which everybody sees the same thing and definitions are definite. Objective data is a process of gathering cause and effect data from a large population and statistically identify generalized characteristics that accompany the drug. (I.e., heroin addiction, etc.).

Subjective
Subjective data deals with personal experiences and meaning and is different for each person. It defines meaning and terms in relation to individual circumstances. Basically, it is an “insider” viewpoint. It is also subject to a huge amount of individualized interpretation.
(FYI, this approach has the traditional honor of being labeled with a confusing name… “the hermeneutic tradition“).
“Addiction” is now becoming a term or “definition” that is being used in behavioral psychology circles, who seem to be open to the theories that suggest the definition of “addiction” may be applicable to and/or warrant expansion to include behaviors not specifically associated with psychoactive drug abuse.

So, what is my point here? My point is that this apparent “shift” from an objective approach to a more subjective viewpoint by the psychological community has substantially affected our ability to figure out which behaviors or actions qualify as being “additive” or an “addiction”.

In my opinion… much of this confusion could have been avoided or reduced if everybody would have paid more attention to defining the etiology and the differences between an addiction vs compulsive behavior.

Looking at the bright side…this “expansion in definition” opens a whole bunch of opportunities for a psychologist to expand his client base! Maybe I should go back and get my PhD in psychology…it looks like there may be some serious career potential ($$) in this area developing on the horizon! (sorry, I have a habit of twisting my view of everything into its’ potential for making money).
"Dr.Eluuzion" hmmmm, I might have to change my name...:heehee::D

But hey, that’s just my opinion…
I am just a cross dresser…what do I know? :heehee:

:love:

[Gerrijerry]

Ok after reading all your answers about CD'ing being an addiction. How do you explain that most CD / TS etc. start before there is any sexual satisfaction from it. In fact most only come out as we call it. when one feels safe doing that. Yes once out you do crossdress more and explore more. It is natural to want to see how you feel about something by exploring all parts of it. How else would you know what makes you complete as a person and makes you happy. Since we all have different levels of what makes us happy I would expect all different levels of CD ing / TS / gay / Lesbian / etc.
You could no more give up eating then change who you are. I am not talking about over eating just surviving.
Could it be possible that a number of CD's etc. are addicted of course it is. The same way some are to eating to much food.
But some food is still needed to survive. Room for thought , Just my 2 cents.

[Claire Cook]

How do you become addicted to being yourself?

[Aleca]

Yes, absolutely it can be an addiction. Once I put on women's clothes, see a woman wearing something I would like to wear, eyeball female garments when out shopping with my wife, crossdressing is all that I can think about. The catalyst though for making it more and more addicting is arousal and masturbating (which has affect on the brain as heroine, for a much shorter length of time a gender counselor told me once) once the clothing is on and can not stop or let up. Once it does that and affects all other areas of your life, keeps you from being productive then that is a good time to examine, analyze and try to cut back. Something very hard to do during this lengthy time of unemployment I have had.

[Jilmac]

If it is an addiction, then so be it, I don't ever want to stop.

[AKAMichelle]

I have often wondered the same thing. Addiction implies that their a cure, but I have heard of only a few who have gotten past it for a while only to return. I have given up cd'ing for a year and I was fine.

[Emily Ann Brown]

The answer will vary between girls.

My shrink tried to go there. He had a list of things that indicated an addiction. I points out to him that many of them could be applied to my need of food. He finally decided I was not an addict. He just didn't know where I was (since he admited he didn't belief a MAN could be born with a WOMAN'S brain).

That was went I quit wasn't my money, and let the marriage crash. She said, no go .... I go !!


Em

[Pythos]

"since he admited he didn't belief a MAN could be born with a WOMAN'S brain"

This would be a gigantic alarm bell for me. Aren't psycologists supposed to attend meetings dealing with the changes in the field?

[Lainie]

Of course the reason we all ask this is that we sometimes have regrets and wonder if we are fooling ourselves. If so, we should "man up" and kick the habit. This has been a really informative discussion. The one thing we still need to ask is "What is this doing to our relationships (SO, family, job, friends)? The answers for CDing are no different from any other activity.

By the way, a boutique owner told me that once she had spent so much money on clothes that she came out of the last store without bus fare home. Don't let it happen to you!

[Cassandra Lynn]

Having worked in drug rehab for a number of years now, I must disagree with this statement. Addictions are controllable...but never cured. The addict/alcoholic who has been clean for years can take one drink or snort one opiate and go right back into full blown relapse.
Thank you Wsprs, that is a much more accurate way of putting it. But the important part of what was being said is that if we work for it, we do get to treat our disease.
And another thing i'm seeing more replies about is how CDing can manifest itself as an addiction in that (like Step #1) the CDer can go through stages of unmanageability, hopefully for those that do experience this they realize it or someone points it out to them and it gets discussed or otherwise worked on.

I see functionality getting mentioned as well, a CDer who is at peace with their gender feelings and happy is functional, enough said. A functional alcoholic is another story altogether, i was a functional acoholic even when i was nearing a half gallon a day. What i'm getting at is that even a CDer who may not be totally at peace with it and in acceptance of it, is not a walking trainwreck waiting to happen like i was at the bottom of my bottom.

mj (Cassie)

[Petra.Briar]

As an addict and a CDer, this thread is a great discussion. How addiction and crossdressing manifests itself is so different from person to person, that you can't really put a label on where the two intersect. The best rule of thumb, and many have already mentioned it, is how you function throughout your day. If you are jeapordizing your job to go and buy and try on lingerie (not the act of buying lingerie but the fact you are spending hours do ing instead of working) ...and you are missing your kids sporting event so you can try on new sweaters (not the fact that you are trying on the latest sweaters at Macy's but spending hours doing it, after committing to your child you would be at the game)...and you are missing important appointments so you can try on a new pair of pumps (I think you get the idea)....you may have a problem. When a person is an addict you are willing to jeapordize everything to get to your "high" and it is more about the time spent without consideration for it's impact then the risk of walking outside in a skirt, lingerie and pumps. Addiction is all consuming, whether the person wants to recognize it or not.

[Stephanie Anne]

Short answer, yes.

Long answer, depends on you but yes.

[Jess6887]

I gotta say I'm addicted I have dressed in some form of way for the last 4 weeks everyday, I'm in the closest so no outings as yet, only 3 people know I crossdress, I try and stop myself one time I went 3 months with out wearing womens clothing then i was left at home alone for a week and had womens clothing on 24/7 even attempted to go out to the shops

[Sarah Doepner]

What are we getting at here? Treating crossdressing as an addiction or disease ignores the matters of choice and control. I don't know about anyone else, but I choose to crossdress and enjoy that experience. The path was opened in my early childhood before I was aware of it or participating in the process. Was I an addict before I ever tried on womans clothing? What was the point of entry into this behavior? While I know there have been times when I've allowed my crossdressing to effect other parts of my life and my relationships, the same thing could be said of my interest in photography, writing, camping or other activities I've enjoyed. We may see some similarities between drug addiction and crossdressing, but the same can be said for drug addiction and television watching or on-line gaming or eating or just about anything else we participate in and find pleasure in.

I think we may find that this is just one more activity that appeals to someone with that addictive trait in their personality. If they didn't crossdress we might find them caught up with model trains or snorting lines of cocaine. For the rest of us it just may be fun. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[Fab Karen]

There are some similarities but addictions are typically curable and I doubt you are going to die from crossdressing.... ok... not directly by crossdressing.... depending on where you crossdress... lol

Or ( in some cases ) if your wife catches you flirting ( or worse ) with men. :)

[TGMarla]

I have often felt that if it is not an addiction for me, it's bordering on it. Either way, I'm hooked.

[Being Paige]

Wow, I never could have imagined this post getting so many replies! I have read all of te replies with every ones thought and opinions and i have to agree with Petra that this has been a great discussion! It has been very informative to say the least and I would just like to say thank you too all of you that have posted a reply to this post to date. I appreciate the thought and effort that everyone has put into their replies!

Thanks Paige

[JustineFallow]

There are some similarities but addictions are typically curable and I doubt you are going to die from crossdressing.... ok... not directly by crossdressing.... depending on where you crossdress... lol

Or if the pile of clothes accumulated over the years falls on top of you.


I think crossdressing leads to a shopping addiction..................:2c:

Yep, yep, yep!

[GaleWarning]

Addiction implies that their a cure,

There is no cure for an addiction ... ask any alcoholic (or "recovering alcoholic").

So, yes, I believe CDing is an addiction ... as the urge to do so never goes away.

[Emma England]

Everyone wearing clothes is addicted, otherwise you would get done for indecent exposure.

[PretzelGirl]

How do you become addicted to being yourself?

Actually, after finally being myself, I do find I am addicted to it. (I am a late bloomer which may add to that) :daydreaming:

This is one of those subjects that comes up once in a while that I find interesting in the responses and also see the variance in opinion based on how each person perceives or defines the word addiction. Some look at it as a very negative word as the word addict sometimes has this aura like we also discuss with the word tranny.

Even though I have many family members with alcohol/drug problems, I don't view the word addiction completely negative. The key of addiction is that when you do something, the endorphins are released in the pleasure center of your brain and this gives your body its most pleasurable feelings. This makes you want to do it again to repeat the feeling. For those with drug and alcohol problems, it is a destructive path. But there are certainly good things that can be addictive and give that endorphin rush. How about sex? Running (I sure have heard of runner's high)? Mountain climbing? Skiing? The list can go on and on. So for some of us, I can certainly see dressing as being addictive. But my base belief in everything we do is no one thing applies to all of us, so this is certainly not all inclusive.

[MiamiMarie]

I've never believed the whole "addiction" comparison. I've heard of recovering alcoholics. I've never once heard of a recovering transvestite.

Addictions are bad habits gone out of control in order to hide, avoid, or block out a personal pain. Crossdressing is a fundamental need to communicate (clothes are communication) his feminine feelings, feelings that he probably won't or can't change anymore than you can.

A crossdresser is a crossdresser is a crossdresser. You cannot "cure" or "recover" a crossdresser from who they are as a person. Gay people are not addicts, crossdressers are not addicts, and the left handed are not "addicted" to writing with their left hands. They just are who they are - defined by their actions, yes, but they cannot stop or change without bad results.

[Raychel]

My wife said just the other day that I had an addiction to it. My simple reply was, "Could be worse things"

[juligirl1984]

It's addicting for me! I do it every night and still want more.

[danielletorresani]

Definitely an addiction for me, and usually not really a healthy one.