Hormones Question

[Shanan]

I'm somewhat newish to estrogen meds.
There are few times I havent been on my meds for a week or two.
When I finally start taking them again, it's reliving and ect...
My question is:
Is it just me, or is estrogen addictive?
I tend to have an experience that I can only describe as an addiction to estrogen.
I assume it's not, and this is just a physical confirmation of things.

Thanks in advance for any input or advice

[Sephirah]

Maybe you're addicted to being yourself?

[Colleen Ireland]

Why do you go off it?  Are you self-medicating?  I hope not.

[Shanan]

Maybe you're addicted to being yourself?

Maybe. The self imprisonment walls seem to be less and less.

Why do you go off it?

Fundings are tight, I'm uninsured and have a few extra responsibilities

[Kim 526]

Hi Shanan, I agree with Colleen. Self-medication is dangerous.  Be good to yourself.
Hugs,
Kim

[Muffins]

I disagree self-medicating isn't dangerous per se, but it can be if you go too fast and not have regular blood work.

I'd say a possible reason why you feel the way you do is because it takes longer for estrogen to build up than it does for it to fall. It takes around six months for it to reach a normal level from day one when taking it daily at the correct dosages and dosage increases. But only days/weeks to drop back down which is more noticeable. I wouldn't recommend stopping and starting, save some money and create a monetary safety net to avoid having to stop and start. ^_^

[girl_ashley]

I think instead of chastising her for doing DIY, we should offer some support.  Some people do what they have to do in order to be themselves.  Sometimes, it's via methods we don't always agree with but it isn't something to be judged and chastised over.

Estrogen has not been shown to be an addictive substance (if it was, trans men wouldn't exist).  However, when people on HRT don't take the meds for a little while, their hormone levels will trough and once you are back on, you feel relieved.  This is a perfectly natural feeling when one is one hormones and the levels drop and rise.  Estrogen is also responsible for production of serotonin which is the "happy hormone"  that helps make you feel good.  When post-op women halve their dose of E do to having gotten surgery, it is more likely that post-op depression will occur because your level of serotonin will drop as well.  This is why post-op trans women should not halve their dose of E until at least 6 months after surgery.  The same thing happens when you stop taking hormones for a little while, you fall into a trough then when you're back on, you feel the rise.  There is also a psychological aspect too, the feeling of being more calm because you know you are back on E.

[A]

Estrogen somewhat initiates a "new" way of functioning in your body. It changes, in some aspects, your mental environment. And for most females (both cis and trans),
this is a positive, even necessary thing. So of course, when you take it, you will feel much better, and when the contrary, testosterone, takes over, you will feel bad.

[Janet_Girl]

No hormone is addictive. The body manufactures it naturally.  Even when we over ride the natural process, via Spriolactone and Estrogen, the body will accept it.  There are receptors in the cells that will accept the hormones.  The body needs them to function.

The addiction comes from the serotonin.  The natural high.  The addiction is that we enjoy this "high", as Ashley said.  Especially after SRS or Orchiectomy, the hot flashes are what can be hard to handle.   And Once you begin to run on premium, it is hard to go back to regular.

I can not promote DIY HRT, because of the TOS.  However, be very careful and see your doctor.