Some comfort, perhaps, for those thinking about telling their signficant other: as they say, it does get easier over time.
I'm not a regular on this site but found it incredibly useful last year when I was questioning my feelings and trying to piece my life together again after telling my wife about my particular sartorial preferences.
It's taken time but my wife has been very understanding about the situation. I won't lie and say it's been easy; it's been horrendous. I hit rock bottom before things turned around and at one point I wasn't sure if there was a way out. The cross dressing was only part of a much wider range of issues.
Things are much better now, although it has taken time. Initially it was just getting through each day, one at a time.
I'm not going to say that my wife is now fine with everything. She's understandably deeply hurt by a number of years of lying and no matter how much I reassure her about how far I want/don't want to go, I don't think she believes what I tell her. Whilst accepting, she still doesn't understand why I want to do what I want to do but will often poke fun at what I do or will joke about me simply giving it up.
However, I now have a drawer that has my things in; items get washed and put back without much being said.
I choose when I want to wear something. Most of the time, I don't feel the need. But having freedom rather than feeling that I have to make the most of opportunities (in the house by myself etc) is just so much nicer. She wondered if part of it was the illicit thrill of not getting caught. It isn't and I'm so happy not to be worried about when she walks in the house and having to rush to the toilet to make excuses.
Yet I'm still not comfortable at putting things on in front of her - I still tend to do it when she's out of room out of respect and also my embarrasment - but she doesn't recoil when she realises I'm underdressing.
I'm in a really good place at the moment so really the purpose of this post is to say thanks to everyone on here with kind words of advice (whether directly or indirectly).
Also, for those thinking about coming out, hopefully my situation will give your some confidence that it will be better and all you have to do is hang on in there ....