There is
a thread on the crossdreamer/transgender journey over at Crossdream Life that may be of help too many people who struggle with their gender identity.
Gender variant people go through a process of self-discovery when interacting with others. Their understanding of themselves changes as they get new words to describe themselves, and as they start exploring the hidden side of their psyche.
Thrilledwfrills writes this about the journey:
"1. We experience existential conflict with physiology or social role associated with assigned gender. We feel a more satisfying sense of identity with some or all parameters of the other gender, We naturally seek expression of our individual gender variation in the context of our daily life.
2. In a non-supportive environment, we suffer from the suppression of our transgender nature with psychological pain [confusion, depression, dysphoria, and other distress]. We continue to seek expression via crossdreaming, crossdressing, seeking community, individual therapy, etc.
3. We work to increase our understanding of ourselves, and validate the legitimacy of our experience.
4. We seek integration of our transgender nature into daily life, conditioned by perceived risks and benefits.
5. We attempt to achieve a stable personal equilibrium by: