Does everyone get seriously mad on T?

[Tysilio]

Overall, I'm calmer on T -- I'm carrying less anger around, and I'm just happier and more open. But my doc warned me that "You'll likely be more even-tempered and slower to get angry, but when you do -- BAM!"

That's happened a couple of times in the past few weeks: I've just blown up over something. It seems to be partly that I'm more in touch with what I'm feeling, expressing it and not sitting on it all the time, and partly, I guess, directly T-related.

I get over it fast, though, apologize if necessary and move on. My doc also said, "This is basically puberty, and part of the process is learning to handle it."

[aleon515]

Initially I got angrier, but I think for me it was more getting used to how my emotions were different on T. I get a little more irritated on T, but nothing extreme. When I learned to handle my feelings more, I got more even keeled. T-rage is a myth (well related to extreme steroid abuse most likely).

--Jay

[blink]

I used to get quite angry, often over things that didn't deserve much response. I also had a problem with walking away from something that was making me angry. Post top surgery and over 4 months on T, I haven't been that mad once. Not even close. And now when something is starting to annoy me I catch it easily and take a moment to chill.

[Felix]

Not to derail from the topic, but I'm kind of irritated by the implication that testosterone = raging monsters. I know a lady friend who was assaulted by women and beaten so badly her ribs cracked.

A huge amount of the violence I've experienced has come from a female child, and most of the yelling rage I've witnessed has come from women. Most of the fear and actual damage I've experienced has been due to the actions of males, but I think a lot of that has to do with physical and social power. A transperson tends to occupy a physical and social space that is more complicated and intentional than that of the average abuser.

I think T has definite effects on temperament, but like others have said, it doesn't change what a person really is. And it can't ever be an excuse.

[NathanielM]

I feel like I'm less likely to push away my anger and not say anything. I'll speak up for myself sooner and I'm more in touch with my anger. I'm also less likely to constantly decide it's just my fault anyway. But I don't think I'm more angry or a raging monster :p

[devention]

Definitely didn't turn into a rage beast. I've actually gotten a lot calmer and more level headed since getting on T.
I was a rage beast prior to T. I would fly off the handle about every little thing, even (perhaps especially) if it was my own fault. There were a lot of factors going into this, and I'm sure one of them was hormones. I'd get terrible PMS. My parents always knew when the red wave was approaching.
I'm still a very passionate person, but I've found I'm much slower to anger now than I was before T, and I'm on a biweekly injection.
Bodybuilders experience roid rage because they're effectively OD'ing on T and throwing their whole endocrine system out of whack which produces sick muscles, but also terrible mood swings and anger. If you're within average levels, you'll be fine.