There is a different mind set between " I am a woman psychologically/emotionally/mentally in a male body" and "I want to be a woman" to experience how the other half lives and as a temporary escape from the rigors of manhood, I'm really amazed that so many men actually like being men.

The first is not a choice and the second is except that it is not.

Both seek escape but for entirely different reasons.
Both feel exhausted but for entirely different reasons.
Both have experienced emotional/mental abuse but for entirely different reasons.
Both have rejected the strict dehumanizing role of being a "man" but for entirely different reasons.

For me the greatest problem was trying to untangle the effects of abuse (past tense) with the affects (always, past,present and future) of gender dysporia. Once I did this it became very clear something else was at work.

Only someone who is in incredible pain would take the risks necessary to offer the hope of escape otherwise you must escape into addiction and or violence, the pain is to great to ignore forever, eventually it breaks you.

Think of the penis and the vagina as symbols of two opposite forms of energy.
The penis when erect is a sword that penetrates, on some level it is an act of aggression but this aggression is not automatically immoral, it depends on how you use it's psychological power but the power is born in the mind and flows through the body.It is a symbol for a form of psychological power.

The vagina is it's opposite, it receives this aggression and absorbs and transforms it, and it is also a symbol and form of psychological power.

These two energies are perfectly matched, the strength of each is also it's weakness and there strengths and weaknesses are opposite. This energy is innate and we are born with it but it's power is different in each person and also over the course of their life. Imagine a man whose mind holds the power of the vagina but has a penis between his legs, this is gender dysporia for me. My energy is opposite the vast majority of men. I relate very well with women but prefer men in what I call my inner circle because I complement their energy and they mine, for close relationships with women I do not give them what they need psychologically. I cannot be their other psychological half.

Hope my words help. I personally think those in my circumstances make up a small percentage of those that crossdress. Thank God because I would not wish the experience on my worst enemy. Anyone who survives and thrives can consider themselves very fortunate.