Do you want to or do you have to?

[Jaymees22]

Do you dress because you want to or because you have to? Most of the time it's because I want to, it's fun, it makes me feel good, I really enjoy it and I think I've finally found something that makes me complete. Other times I feel as though I have to dress to preserve my sanity and well being. How do you feel?? Jaymee

[xdressed]

Pretty much both. I feel like I have too, I can get moody very quickly and often even depressed if I can't dress when the feeling takes me, but I've never dressed without wanting to lol

[RADER]

Jaymee;
I agree with you on your dressing. It both feels good and because I want to.
I stay in the closet, but I under dress as much as possible.
I am looking froward to Monday, the 21 st. It is a holiday, and no mail to
go out and get, sooooooo I get totally dressed and stay that way the entire day.
Rader

[minalost]

Same here: both. It's a compulsion, but it's also just plain fun! And the older I get the less its a compulsion, and the more fun it is.

[~Joanne~]

I dress for both also. I noticed that I am a lot calmer when I am dressed. If I am feeling a bit edgy. I mostly dress though because I want to.

[Jenniferathome]

Always because I want to. If I didn't want to, it would be a chore.

[Rhonda Ann]

Good question, I never really thought much about it until now. I just want to, each day I can't wait to get home to get dressed. :battingeyelashes: In part, I have to agree it takes me away from work related stress and some of the everyday things that go on in life. It's not something I have to do even though it helps. I have laughed at myself lately thinking about how my wife would complain about having to wear a bra, panty hoes, put makeup on, shave her legs, etc. and I thrive to get home to do it all. :devil:

[ArleneRaquel]

I just love to dress, I feel I'm best as a female in all aspects of life.

[AllieSF]

Well, for me it is a fine line. I obviously dress because I enjoy doing that. However,I also know that with all the joy I get from dressing it also is disrupting my previous normal life in ways that I wish it would not. Therefore, it is probably a want/desire and a need/compulsion for me.

[Cheryl T]

For me it's because I want to...
I want to look pretty...
I want to feel pretty...
I want to be ME...

[Kelly Greene]

I am in the want to / have to category.
I want to dress up and look good.
If I find that for some reason I have to put off getting dressed up ( work, Life, ect......), I get to the point that I will go nuts if I don't do something to look pretty. The stress just builds until I feel like I am going to pop.

[Kate Simmons]

Most of the time because I want to as it's my "official uniform" for dancing and having a good time. Other times it's for encouragement of others.:)

[MsRenee]

I agree with Arlene. For me it just feels better then my male alternative side .
Renee

[sissystephanie]

I have never felt like I HAD to dress enfemme! I dress simply because I like to, and have done so for the 60+ years that I have been crossdressing. My late wife knew that and appreciated the fact that I felt that way.

[Barbara Ella]

Like most things in life, I usually never want to do something I "have" to. I always rebelled when mom or dad would tell me I had to do something (and I cussed out my high school principal, and a football coach for doing it). I have that background in my mentality, but now I admit it has a different twist. I love dressing, and have gotten such peace from int, and have found out so much new about myself. When given choices, i will opt for dressing. Is that a "have" to situation. maybe so, as my well being does suffer setbacks from long periods of denying/ But I can never associate this with being ordered, even by myself I guess. Hope this is clear as mud.

Barbara

[StacyChambers]

[Obligatory one word answer] Yes.

[Stephanie47]

Since I have the opportunity to dress Monday through Friday for at least six hours each day, I do not have any compulsion to dress because I may be denied in the near future. It depends on how my inner self feels. Somedays I just want to be my male self and go about doing male things. There are other days when I want to let Stephanie play. Today Stephanie has had a very mellow day doing little light domestic chores because dinner guests are coming, and, reading, banging on the keyboard, buying on eBay (a very lovely Velrose vintage slip), and eating a leisurely breakfast and lunch.

So, now I get en femme because I want to feel the feminine side of myself. When there was more stress in my life, it was more that I HAD to escape the male bullshit of life.

[FrozenShiela]

I feel like I have to at least underdress, but I dress for fun with the extra articles whenever I can.

[Monicamaryjay]

Hi Jaymee,

I would imagine that it would be quite distressing for someone to feel they have to dress when they don't like doing so. I think that is what is meant by problems with gender dysphoria.

As it is with others here, I liked it as a toddler and I like it even more now as I mature. I get to try on all sorts of beautiful clothes and accessories that help me look pretty and which help soothe and calm me.... jut like a woman.

It's a treat; definitely no chore for me.
Monica

[5150 Girl]

Have to.. For me it's about putting somting right that went wrond somwhere before birth////

[AllyCDTV]

For me, I really have to want to dress to do it. The thought of dragging out the make up, putting it on, finding the right outfit, getting the wig right is just drudgery if I'm not in the mood. Many times when I've had the chance, once I thought about all that goes into it, I just said, "the hell with it" and found something else to do.

[wilt575]

I think of it as a mix of both find it soothing and relaxing, alway felt like I'm female inside, there are days every four or five weeks that I really have to or go crazy and get edgy and very hard to get along with unless dressed. Like right now am thinking of getting breast implants and going fulltime female, tired of taking forms in and out, want something real with feeling and sensation. Sorry about long post and rant.

[andrea lace]

some times I get a little anxious and have had the odd attack of anxiety but never when dressed go figure

[Luna Nyx]

I want to. Its really the only time I can fully unwind and feel at ease.

[Ms. Laura]

I am in the want to / have to category.
I want to dress up and look good.
If I find that for some reason I have to put off getting dressed up ( work, Life, ect......), I get to the point that I will go nuts if I don't do something to look pretty. The stress just builds until I feel like I am going to pop.


I agree with Kelley, I want to, and if I don't, well, right now it's been over a month and I am close to Meltdown!

[Julie Denier]

I want to do it, and the more I do it, the more I want to do it -- feel like I need to do it. Jonesing right now for some Julie time, which I hope to have this weekend ... ;)

[carhill2mn]

For me it is both. A sort of "chicken and egg" thing. Do I want to because I have to?

[Newcdguy]

I do it cause I like to. I want to dress up and relieve the stress of my very masculine job.
Stephanie

[Laura912]

At this age, the answer is ...depends, but not the product for other problems. There are times of no desire, times of comfortable with underdressing but working in the shop, and times of enjoying it all. Cannot say what affects the choices nor when each may occur...maybe sort of like life in general.

[Kimberly Renee]

CD'ing is a "want to" with me. I have never felt the "need to" urge. CD is just one part of me that I like to have fun with.

[Teri Ray]

I always want to .............. sigh but I dont always get to.

[Lorileah]

I have to because there are laws about being naked in public.

I assume what you mean is getting dressed UP. I do because it is who I am, I don't want to dress dowdy or dull. I can do that as a guy. Why bother? `

[Kaz]

Oh I really really WANT to! But yeah... I need to too... when I don't for a while it hurts... but I am OK with dressing up as a guy occasionally! I do like to let him out on occasions!

[Marcia Blue]

I have to agree with part, or all, of what everyone here has posted. I wish at times, I dressed more, but my wife is great and all, but she has problems with my dressing, at times. I am trying to dress only for monthly meeting, but I may have to work out something with my great spouse. I have a lot of new pressures at work. The business I work for was just bought out. Talk about a stress nightmare.

[allesha10]

If I dress often enough, I feel that I just want to, but since I have to dress on the sly, that leads to delays which leads to a need to dress.

[aprilmaeflowers]

I need to......I wouldn't be myself otherwise. Whether or not, if I dress up totally it's for a need. But if I don't, I still feel the same, inside.

[Lady Catherine]

Mostly because I want to. Girls like to feel pretty. Right?

[Beverley Sims]

There are a couple of times I have to now because they only know Beverley.

[katlee]

I want to, sometimes I get an urge to put on some pantyhose and feel smooth. But, most of the time, nah.

[k lynn]

Have to.. For me it's about putting somting right that went wrond somwhere before birth////

Same for me if I dont I get real moody and bitchy

[Maria S]

Nobody has to dress, it is not as if someone is putting a gun to your head. It's because you want to, you enjoy it and it makes you feel good. It does become addictive especially when womens clothes look better on you than mens.

Maria

[Sharon B.]

Because I want to and enjoy it and makes me feel good, just wish I had someone to enjoy it with.

[Raychel]

I dress becuase I want to. I prefer womens clothes way more then mens clothes.
Although if it goes to long between dressing sessions, I do tend to get a bit cranky.
Then it becomes more of a necessity.

[SandraInHose]

...Most of the time it's because I want to, it's fun, it makes me feel good, I really enjoy it and I think I've finally found something that makes me complete. Other times I feel as though I have to dress to preserve my sanity and well being. How do you feel?? Jaymee

My sentiments exactly. There are those rare times when I haven't been able to dress for a while and I'll be more edgy or irritable or just down in the dumps. Whether or not the lack of dressing really makes me that way, I don't know, but it certainly contributes to those moods. A couple of times when I've been like that, the wife will tell me I need some 'alone time'. Even though we're basically DADT, she knows what an hour or two of alone time will mean, and what it can do for my overall mood.

[Charlotte Haynes]

Nobody has to dress, it is not as if someone is putting a gun to your head. It's because you want to, you enjoy it and it makes you feel good. It does become addictive especially when womens clothes look better on you than mens.

Maria
Personally, I'd have to disagree with the first sentence. The only thing I've ever stolen is tights/pantyhose...I've even picked them up off of the road, and took them home and worn them...and I'm a clean freak! None of this because I wanted to...I had to...like I wasn't in control. Other than that, I'm fairly upstanding lol...

[Foxglove]

For me it's neither one nor the other really. I dress the way I do in order to express what I am.

[Maria S]

Personally, I'd have to disagree with the first sentence. The only thing I've ever stolen is tights/pantyhose...I've even picked them up off of the road, and took them home and worn them...and I'm a clean freak! None of this because I wanted to...I had to...like I wasn't in control. Other than that, I'm fairly upstanding lol...

Sorry Charlotte, I don't understand. I never mentioned stealing???

Maria

[Frédérique]

Do you dress because you want to or because you have to?

Because I want to - I certainly don’t HAVE to. For me, dressing-up is just a pleasant exercise, no strings attached, and no gender-questioning going on. Of course, I also dress because I CAN. This is something that I “found” one fine day. Well, there was never a chance of someone telling me about crossdressing, was there (in my particular situation, I mean)? Being rather isolated as a child, I would invariably think up my own games to play – crossdressing, although not a game per se, grew out of this and developed into something more and more profound over time...
:straightface:

[Tess]

I dress because I want too. I've never felt that I had too. If I don't want to dress than I don't.

[Nichola]

I dress sometimes when I really want to & sometimes because I feel like I need to I suppose, so a mix of both really.:confused:

[becky77]

Probably a time thing, if I do it regular it's because I want to, if I haven't done it for a while it will be more like because I have the urge to, but I will still be wanting to do it! :)

[Princess Chantal]

I was gonna answer the question with that my crossdressing is definitely just a want to..... but then that would be a lie. There were several times where I just did not want to dress but had to because of commitments that I made that involved crossdressing. Usually in those cases I end up waiting to the last minute to start the transitioning processes and after the event/outing I'd be in my guy stuff virtually once I step into the house.

[Vanessa5]

I would say that I feel both. When I don't dress I don't feel like myself. I have found that I need to let Vanessa out. Very calming for my anxiety and a pick-me-up for my depression.

[famousunknown]

Do you dress because you want to or because you have to?

Nobody "has to".
Nobody holding a gun to your head.

[Charlotte Haynes]

Sorry Charlotte, I don't understand. I never mentioned stealing???

MariaMeaning I sometimes have an overwhelming urge to wear tights, and have unfortunately resorted to stealing them in the past...not because I wanted to but because I am a Transvestic Fetishist and was compelled to...not just a bit of fun for me. You didn't mention stealing, but I was trying to convey the depths I've sunk to in the past...I've got a bit more willpower nowadays...just saying how it is for me.
C

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Jaymee, Answer C. All the above.

[LaraPeterson]

Jaymee, I always dress because I want to. It's only UNdressing that I do because I have to. When I'm en femme, I feel most natural and taking off the natural is a real chore.

[PretzelGirl]

Definitely a perspective question. Have to comes down to repercussions. You could say you have to pay taxes because otherwise you can be penalized or jailed. No one (that I know of anyway) wants to pay taxes but I have met a few that chose not to.

So I say I want to dress. I think there is still some level of choice there and it depends on the individuals repercussions. If I couldn't for a long time, maybe I would change my mind.

[SandraV]

Both really. Usually because I get the urge and want to. I like to and enjoy dressing. If I don't do it for a while the urge gets to be too much and it will then be because I need to.

[STACY B]

If ya ever want to be a Lady ,, You better dress like one ! lol

[Jaymees22]

Nobody "has to".
Nobody holding a gun to your head. Of course nobody is holding a gun to my head, it's more of a have to feeling. They might have to hold a gun to my head to make me stop though...Jaymee

[jennifer24]

For me its just matching the outside with whats on the inside, its not that I have to but kinda like I need to to keep my sanity.

[sometimes_miss]

Do you dress because you want to or because you have to?
Lets be honest here, no one 'has to'. We can all survive without ever touching a piece of female clothing. We were born naked, and our ancestors stayed that way for many thousands of years.
We dress because we want to. Some for a sexual thrill, some to get the female self identification reinforcement that we want. Some to (yes, there are some of us like this) sexually attract men.
But none of us HAS to do it. It's clearly a 'want'.

[Denise1951]

I do it because I want to. I enjoy expressing my female self. I don't hurt anyone when I do it. I don't steal anything. And I have been doing it for 50 years. I don't think I will be stopping anytime soon. I know I will never "pass", but that doesn't matter to me.
It is a part of me.

[Carol A]

Just like most I want to and get out and be around people in shops and stores. I Love dressing and becomeing a women.

[anonymousinmaryland]

I under dress because I want to. When I get out of bed, I put on the bra, I slip on the panties/girdle, and I am off for the day. If there is an amount of time where I can't dress (family or in-laws visit), then when they leave, it's I have to. So I guess both choices are correct.

[wilt575]

Nobody has to dress, it is not as if someone is putting a gun to your head. It's because you want to, you enjoy it and it makes you feel good. It does become addictive especially when womens clothes look better on you than mens.

MariaNo truer words were ever spoken, they couldn't look or feel better on me if I was born female. Once thought about surgery but its the clothes not the body underneath, than would not be crossdressing.

[Charlotte Haynes]

Lets be honest here, no one 'has to'. We can all survive without ever touching a piece of female clothing. We were born naked, and our ancestors stayed that way for many thousands of years.
We dress because we want to. Some for a sexual thrill, some to get the female self identification reinforcement that we want. Some to (yes, there are some of us like this) sexually attract men.
But none of us HAS to do it. It's clearly a 'want'.I can tell you it clearly wasn't a 'want' for me. I have begun to accept what I am over the past few months, but hated what I felt compelled to do, for the thirty years before that..I felt like I had very little, or no control over what I was doing..certainly didn't want to do it..Bit better now, but still go on autopilot now and again..Don't try and tell me otherwise..I know how I feel.
C

[danielleinbr]

To me they are one and the same. When I am my girl self, I feel normal. When I am out dressed I am much more relaxed and at ease with myself. Besides guy clothes are so heavy and uncomfortable.
Danielle

[Contessa]

I want to dress and I do it every day pretty much 24/7. I like to dress so much now I have to, because when I don't I would let myself down. Since clothes are mandatory when out I will only wear girl clothes from now on. Since I am pretty much stress free I'm not ready to take the stress and depression back. Plus I am kind of cute anyway.


Tess

[Jenni Yumiko]

I feel the need to, not necessary have to, but I think it lets my softer side out, and evens out my guy side, cause my guy side is a real dick. after dressing, dick self seems to be more sedated, for a while at least.

[Megan Briana]

Lately, this is pretty much sums me up. I hadn't realized before that it would intrude of some aspects of my life. For me, it boils down to what do I desire more:dressing or the things that would keep me from wanting to dress.This past month or so has really opened my eyes to this, between spending more time with friends and family and starting to feel like I am falling back in love again, my desire to dress completely has really diminished. I still wear my underwear and some of my pajamas's, but the desire to get "all dolled up" just doesn't feel as strong as before the holidays came and went.

[darla_g]

I don't have to do anything .... but i want to

[Claire Cook]

For me it is both. A sort of "chicken and egg" thing. Do I want to because I have to?

Yes, and I have to because I want to!

[AltairaMorbius]

It feels natural for me.

[Elle1946]

I dress because I want to, until I go a spell and don't dress then, I NEED TO!!