Autogynephilia & Coping with Gender Dysphoria Through Crossdressing by Dr. Z

A viewer asked: "What's your professional opinion on autogynephilia when someone experiences gender dysphoria and copes with it by crossdressing?"

Let me be clear upfront: I don't align with Ray Blanchard's autogynephilia theory the way he conceptualized it. But if that framework resonates strongly with how you experience yourself and your relationship to gender—if it connects the dots for you—then who's to say that's wrong? Theories evolve. We're still scratching the surface of understanding gender dysphoria and transgender identity formation.

On sexual arousal from feminizing: There's nothing inherently wrong with it. Society has cast massive taboo shadows over many sexual practices. If feminizing or wearing feminine clothing creates sexual pleasure, that's not pathological. What becomes problematic is the shame and guilt cycle that prevents people from exploring their identity.

Can you cope with dysphoria through crossdressing/feminizing alone? In my opinion—yes, absolutely. If feminizing alleviates your distress, reduces your pain points around gender dysphoria, then it's a constructive coping mechanism. It definitely beats maladaptive options like substance abuse or displacing anger onto loved ones.

The caveats: If you're in a relationship, disclosure and honesty are non-negotiable. And there's no guarantee this coping strategy will be sustainable long-term. I've worked with clients who feminized into their 70s and 80s and felt completely satisfied. I've also worked with people who started this way, then realized they needed more as dysphoria intensified.

Whether it's sustainable depends on your dysphoria type (physical vs. social), intensity, psychological makeup, and coping structure. If it stops working, you'll need other options.