We all need support
Let’s consider the subject of support today. No, not the kind of support you get from wearing a bra. I’m talking about how we get support from individuals, groups and the internet that help us present our best feminine self. Support that also helps our mental well-being.
I start from the position that everybody needs support. It doesn’t matter if you are male or female. It doesn’t matter if you are CD/Trans/Whatever, everybody needs some kind of support. Sadly, some people don’t think they need support or, worse, providing support is enabling weakness.
I was corresponding with a GG reader of Stuff and she mentioned that when out with friends they always take the time to compliment each other on some aspect of their outfit. They do it even when they don’t know if the friend needs it. It is just something that women do.
As far as CDs like myself go, I’m lucky enough to get support from several sources. Broadly categorized as individuals, local groups and the internet. And yes, dear readers, that includes you that provide me with support.
Individual Support
I’ve developed a level of trust and support with a few individuals both GG and CD. I can exchange thoughts about being out en femme with them and get good feedback. That support helps me present better and more importantly, helps me gain confidence in myself. Even those of us who have developed confidence still need support to maintain it.
I also try to reciprocate with other CDs. Sometimes the occasion is such that the individual is going through a rough stretch and just needs to vent. Sometimes everything is fine, but a compliment is always welcome. I’m making an effort to offer support for others and I hope you do as well.
Group Support
Belonging to a local CD group is a huge level of support. You get to see and converse in person with others in similar situations. You also get an excuse to get out of the house and be yourself in the outside world rather than being trapped in your house.
Our group meets monthly and some meetings are in a private clubhouse while others are a Girls’ Night Out at friendly restaurants. The group also has special events like a clothing swap and a beauty pageant. All of them provide our members with needed support.
Meetings of local support groups are a golden opportunity to get support. They are also a great place for you to provide that support for others. Those of you who are novices might wonder how they can be supportive to those who have been dressing for a long time. It’s easy, just compliment them on their outfit and ask their opinion about something. That gets the ball rolling and establishes support mechanisms for both of you. Yes, the line between individual support and group support is a bit blurry.
Internet Support
It seems to me that you can broadly consider the various Internet sites as a support group. Some sites are more one-way than others. For example, Femulate is more about Stana and a few contributors sharing their thoughts, although there is some feedback from the readers. Yes, there is a comment section where you can post your opinion, but in my experience few of us actually do that. As an aside, I’d like to thank those who do comment on my Stuff, it is appreciated!
Beyond those sites, there are also discussion boards, like Crossdressers.com, where individuals post about their experiences and others chime in with their opinions. This gives close to the individual support I wrote about above. The difference is that those commenting don’t really know you and might not understand all the ramifications of your situation. Still, these provide a good way of getting support and providing support for others.
I’ll be back
I’d like to close with my thanks for Stana providing this platform for me to express myself and for the folks that comment. It is a great source of support for me. As always, comments are welcome either here on the blog or by email to Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com. JJ is always looking for more stuff so if there is something you would like to read about please let me know!
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| Wearing ModCloth |
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| Tracy Morgan femulating Maya Angelou on television’s Saturday Night Live. |
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