Many years ago psychological research led to the discovery that there is a spectrum, regarding sexuality, with completely heterosexual at one end and completely homosexual at the other with an infinite number of stops along the way. Similarly, we could apply this to the transgender spectrum; crossdressers at one end and post-op transsexuals at the other. There would still be an infinite number of stops along the way.
While all of us have gender disphoria to some extent, for crossdressers it is satisfied by underdressing or being completely en femme and going out in public or somewhere in between. However, at the other end of the spectrum, there is a severe psychological/physical mismatch that MUST be corrected. Mere crossdressing will not satisfy this need.
In most places, the process of transitioning requires considerable time, reflection and evaluation. For some it is obvious as to what needs to happen. For others, going through the process helps to clarify and crystalize what living as, and being, the opposite sex would do for them.
Anyway, this is what all of us probably face at some point. Are we comfortable as we are, or do we need to align the person we are with how we present? There is no shortcut to this answer and everyone's situation is just a bit different so it is hard to generalize.
