Pink Fog/Overdose?

[Shiny]

Maybe it's that time of year, the hustle, the bustle, the crowds, the scraping windshields or shoveling walks or maybe it's all those holiday movie re-runs and egg nog! But a new revelation has recently made itself known to me! Maybe some of you can relate.

As a lifelong CD'er going through all the text-book phases and now finding myself in middle+ age with the ability to dress to my hearts content it seems that this time of year just doesn't work with CDing as much and isn't as enjoyable as it used to be. I have noticed this for the past three years or so.

In owning more female than male clothes and being able to dress nearly full time now I find that it's getting to be more work, more of a hassle than the enjoyment provides!

My gosh! Is it possible that CDing has a limit? Eventually running its course? Is it time to ditch the nylon chiffon and the stiletto heels and false eyelashes? Is the "Pink Fog" the element of dressing, that euphoric sensation or is it associated with the feelings of an overdose?

I've never been the type satisfied with cotton panties and T-shirts with a floral applique and plain women's jeans with pastel tennis shoes, not my style. I've always figured that if you're going to dress you might as well do it right. Thus many of us get out the firm foundation girdles and longline brassieres, the sheer garter hose the lacy nylon slips, the high stiletto heels and an appropriate, and in my case a vintage dress. Adding the hairdo and makeup which also takes way-too-much time and the process is finally complete. Then what?

I think it may be that with all the added work of the holidays that dressing up has become more of a chore than a joy. I find myself packing things away, pushing them to the back of the closet and putting all the makeup back in the case.

The feeling of freedom ensues! Yes the holidays are still here, with all the visitors, the calls, the dinner plans and everything else but it's nice to have that choice. Where one can come in from the cold to enjoy a movie on television with his favorite drink while kicking back in his T-shirt, baggy cargo pants, well worn hush puppies slippers sipping a few beers and scratching a three day growth of whiskers under a head of unkempt hair while pondering the nature of the universe! Maybe it's "Al Bundy" syndrome, that cavilier, devil-may-care mode that signals that for at least a while everything is once again in balance.

Happy Holidays to all!

Shiny-

[Karren H]

Personally I find crossdressing day after day is just a lot of work.... And I'm a hard worker but I get lazy spells where its just not worth the hassle...

[anouk]

I haven't had an opportunity to dress up as much as I want and I have never reached the "well, that's enough" -limit. However I have found I like to dress in more simple and everyday way, even feeling "deeper feminity" in that way. That doesn't mean I don't like to dress up very lady like in certain occasions.

[Cari]

I can definately relate to your post.

"Is it possible that CD'ing has a limt ?"

IMHO - Yes and thats why I've chosen to CD and not to transition. In my experience I have personally found that I have a limit and enjoy my male side. When I CD for a long period I can experience a "Blue" fog just like the Pink ones. Its just noone notices a blue fog :-)

"Eventually running its course"

Not in my experience: My feelings may go away for a period of time but they dont dissapear. I used to think that once I dressed fully and experienced what it was like to be in public as a woman the itch would be scratched and it would run its course. I guess I learned I still get itchy just not as often.

"dressing becomes more of a chore than a joy"

I have posted before about being at conventions and just needing a break after a few days.

There are also times where I am trying new things and just get frustrated, then it will feel like work. Wigs are a great example, sometimes they just dont fall right and you need a break. I think when I push too hard or set really high expectations it starts to feel like work.

And of course nothing makes it feel more like a "chore" than looking at a pile of laundry; dirty makeup brushes and a few wigs that need washed and detangled.

[msniki48]

Shiny, maybe it is true about what they say...if you go to a support meeting, you can always tell the cross dressers, from the girls in transition, from the girls that have transitioned.

the crossdressers are typically dressed to the Nine's...approprietly or not....the girls in transition are trying to blend in a bit more....the girls that have transitioned....barely use makeup and dress in tattered jeans an T shirts. so i guess Dressing does become somewhat of a chore if you are doing it every day. LOL

[Cheryl James]

I can see how that might happen, although I haven't had a chance to over do it, yet. I do find that wearing a wig is the biggest pain for me. In fact, around the house, I prefer to skip that entirely. Make-up is kind of fun, the clothes are, of course, the most fun, but the wig is not much fun on an everyday basis.

[diannecourtney]

You know I have yet to reach such a limit. The enjoyment of rolling up the stockiings and applying the eye liner is so intriguing its totally smashing!!!

[Rianna Humble]

Hi Shiny, yes I think you're right that cross-dressing may have limits after which it becomes more of a chore. If you have reached such a limit, perhaps it's time to give yourself a break.

I don't have beer-drinking slippers myself so I don't know what that feels like :heehee: but if that's what floats your boat at the moment, why not go for a sail in it?

I think that the essential is to do what is right for you at any given time - if that means a holiday from cross-dressing that's fine, but please do not purge, as I'm sure you'll be back when cross-dressing becomes right for you again.

For me the chore is not in the dressing, but in the ironing. One of the joys of my RLE for me is waking up each morning and deciding what I'm going to wear and whether the chosen outfit goes with the colour of my nails.

[StaceyJane]

I need to work on getting more casual around the house clothes. It's not easy to spend all day dressed up.

[StacyCD]

I think I recognize the pink fog since I've bought way too many bras recently. However, since I have only been able to dress any significant amount of time only recently, I can't see the possibility of dressing too much. I dress to fulfill something inside of me that I have finally come to accept. On the other hand, dressing is only a part-time thing for me. I have no desire to live 24/7 or transition!

[Kaz]

This is why I like CDing... when the going gets a little chore-ish (is that a word?), we switch... for me 5 days is about the limit, then I just need to grow the beard, forget the make-up, etc..

Sorry for the angry avatar... another thread.

[Miranda09]

As much as I LOVE to dress and put on the makeup and see the finished product, usually I just do the minimum. If I'm going to get all dolled up, I'm going to take lots of photos, so I need to be in the right mood. Like Karen said, it is a lot of work, and with everything going on in my life, there just isn't enough time to completely indulge all the time. (With that said, don't think that gg's get dressed to the 9's everyday either.) So in that case, the "pink fog" waxes and wanes as often as the Moon, which makes it that much more fun for me. :)

[msniki48]

like you said miranda, GG's don't dress to the nines every day, the difference is that they don't have to:doh:.... if they don't wear makeup, and throw on a pair of baggy jeans and a top....they still look like girls!!!:battingeyelashes:

if we do that....well i think you know where i'm going. [ we don't look like girls at all] we need that camoflage....lol and girls like me need a little bit more....:sad:

so i can definately see how we can reach a ceiling and feel the need to back off for a while. ohhhh the agony of being a girl:eek:

i love it:battingeyelashes:

[DebsUK]

I'm just getting back into dressing after about 9 months off. Just enough to have had a baby (not that I did). There were a few reasons I think, but there has been a lot of ebb and flow in my CDing career. I never purged, though my collection did get chucked out once when we moved house a while back, but that was in the middle of a long fallow period. Once I got back I got more stuff thanks to the marvel that is eBay. Obviously as well, I needed some updated clothes anyway after a few years LOL

[docrobbysherry]

Thank u, Shiny, for giving me HOPE!
That the day may come when I WON'T spend 2 weeks organizing, planning, and shopping for my NEXT CD session! And, that those sessions WON'T find me spending the better part of a day dressing to the teeth!!

[TGMarla]

Like a whole lot of us, there are times when it just isn't worth the hassle. Most times when I dress, I don't bother with mascara, eyeliner, or fingernails. And I rather enjoy slopping it on the couch now and then, too.

[Samantha43]

Since all of the Christmas parties are past and I am off work for the rest of the year, I'll test that theory and get back with you after the New Year....:battingeyelashes:

[danielle.cd]

yup i hit that phase too about a year ago, it made me look at all the women around me and realize that there not all made up and dressed up to the nines like i am everytime i go out or get dressed, theres no glamor, or super short skirts or dresses, not every day is sunday, thats when i started looking for jeans and sweaters with little or no heels and sneakers,{wich i have yet to purches in a womens style }, you have to tone it down a little and think ok what do most women have that i really need to look and feel femenin, for me i had to have a bra that held my forms, a shirt, pants or skirt, shoes or sliper, hair, and i would do my eyes with some liner and mascara and shadow with a quick dusting of powder and wala , i look normal not extravagant, and i didnt take too much more time that i would have if i were primping in guy mode, remember that women are just like men there feet hurt in heels. they want to were sweats and tees and not get made up heck alot of them go around in pjs all day even to the store so dont think that ggs dont get tired of it either, once you see the light in that aspect it doesnt seem so bad to femm it up for a while, just get a womens wordrobe

[Teri Ray]

I guess this defines why I am a crossdresser. When I get the opportunity I dress fully and love it. I have reached the point if I am not fully dressed with make-up I find myself thinking why bother.

[kimdl93]

I dress daily, but not always to the max. I took my cue from my wife. If pressed for time, or just hanging around home, she can get made up with a minimum of fuss. Often I'll do the same thing and I have included enough casual and androgynous things in my wardrobe to be "dressed" and lazy too.

[Rachel winters]

I too have found that limit. There were times in my life were i couldn't get enough CDing. it didn't matter if it was fully dresses or just a dress and some stockings. now with limited time and lots of obligations it seems more of a bother to dress partially. Now when I dress its a full on makeover or nothing. I do miss it when iIhave gone a long time without but i guess for me its quality over quantity. I doubt I will ever totally lose the desire to dress, but the frequency has decreased (sort of). heck we all know its A LOT of work to look this good :P

[t-girlxsophie]

Nope,not found my limit I still get plenty of enjoyment from Dressing.though I wish I got out more,Some days i'll just put a little makeup on,or lounge about in casual mode,other days i dress fully,Im comfortable with my frequency of dressing and enjoy it as much now,as I did the first time

[NicoleScott]

I think it somewhat depends on what drives you to crossdress. As a pleasure dresser, I prefer the complete transformation, and the more over-the-top, the more exciting it is. Yes, it is quite a chore to do "the works": shapewear, eyelashes, heavy makeup, killer high heels, wig, nails, etc.etc, and additional work to take it of and put it all away and get back in male mode. But to me, the enjoyment starts in the preparation, even before putting on the first femme thing. And continues throughout the process of transforming.
In my early cd-ing years, when single and living alone, I could always find a few minutes to put on lipstick or put on high heels for a quick pleasure session, but I still liked to dress completely. Now, family circumstances have limited my dressup opportunities, so when I get the chance, I want to go complete and as over-the-top as I can. I still get excited, but honestly, I can feel some waning in my sexual drive at times. So as a pleasure dresser, it's possible that I'm not as driven to transform as when I was younger (there were times when I thought about it constantly).
I identify as male, so I don't dress for gender identity reasons, but I could see how identity dressers would settle into feminine but comfortable dress most of the time, and save the dressy wear for special occasions.
As in many other aspects of life, maybe we reach a point where the result is no longer worth the effort. So we adjust.