Personality Changes on HRT

[fae_reborn]

Hi ladies and 'gents,

I'm curious to know what kind of personality changes happened once you began HRT.  I've been on HRT for about 16 months and I've changed quite a bit.  I used to be a really angry with the world, and depressed about everything.  I was obsessed with the military and was a huge introvert.  I listened to a lot of rock & roll and heavy metal music. 

I don't know who that guy is anymore, he scares me. 

Now, I'm not angry or depressed (sometimes I get sad but not nearly as bad as before), instead I'm really happy and bubbly!  I hate the military and now I'm a huge extrovert.  I can't get enough of socializing with people and I have a ton of friends.  It's really easy for me to meet and chat with new people, unlike before.  I can't stand heavy music and listen to what I'd consider "femme" music: Michelle Branch, Sarah McLachlan, etc. (anything that's really soft and has a good melody, generally about love and relationships, or with a feminist undertone).

It's like night and day for me and I love it!  The sun finally rose on my life and lighted the path for me.  What about you?

Hugs,

Jenn

[mickie88]

hi, Jenn i'm like that but didn't need hormones from a doc to be that way...lol, hopefully they don't do the opposite??? lol


Warrior Princess Mickie

[fae_reborn]

Jenn, would you be "bubbly" now without the meds?

Not sure, but I honestly don't want to imagine life without estrogen...although after surgery I'll probably be just as "bubbly" with or without estrogen. 

[MaggieB]

Hi Jenn,
I have a very similar experience on HRT. Gone are the  war movies and violent first person shooter video games. I sold my sports car and drive on old van when I need to go shopping. I read romantic novels like those written by Rosamund Pilcher. I really love "chick flicks" and always end up crying at the end even if I have seen the movie a dozen times. I can't imagine I ever liked those former things. I don't know if it is a personality change but I can say for sure that I am world's happier. So much so that my family is getting irritated that I am so UP all the time. They really didn't like the sour old man here but bubbly Maggie is getting on their nerves. Go figure.

Maggie

[fae_reborn]

They really didn't like the sour old man here but bubbly Maggie is getting on their nerves. Go figure.

Maggie

Glad to hear it Maggie.  At least you're you now. 

Jenn

[soleil]

Hi Jenn,

I know that you said you've been on HRT for 16 months, but when did you first start to notice your personality changes? I'm just curious because someone I know is going on HRT in a few months, and she's quite depressed and anxiety-ridden right now. Thanks.

[sarahb]

I can definitely say that a part of me has changed since starting HRT.

Like a lot of others I talk to, I used to play video games and since taking hormones I slowly noticed that my liking for it has diminished...and then completely vanished. I do still *occasionally* pick up a controller and play (mostly when my friends beg me to get online with them) but I rarely get the urge to play anymore. I'm not really bothered by this though, since I've replaced it with reading books, which I think stimulates my mind a heck of a lot better that the games ever did.

I've also noticed that where before I would be able to sit through most any gruesome or scary movie and not flinch, nowadays it's just a natural reaction. I don't know what it is, but things scare me way more now. I used to think that most girls *acted* scared in movies to get close to their date or something (and this is probably a part of it ), but at least for me now it's just because I'm truly scared or grossed out. I can't really judge my change in crying at sad movies since I did that anyways, lol. I've always loved *chick flicks* and would cry at anything.

On the other hand though, I still love to do some of the the stereotypical *male* things that I used to do. Overall, I would say I've gained a healthy balance between things changing and things staying the same. I didn't completely change, but some things here and there got...feminized...I guess you could say. I'm happy with everything so far.

Sarah

[mickie88]

We can't all be a "Supergirl" 100% naturally Mickie  or can we?

Kiera, sure why not, every Warrior Princess needs an army.... and somebody's gotta be able to lead it.


Warrior Princess Mickie

[Kate]

I don't think HRT itself changed anything with me, *except* that the process of starting it... and being released from the "how do I do this?" agonizing... gave me a wonderful sense of relief and freedom.

~Kate~

[Mnemosyne]

I was more outgoing due to being a bit more comfortable in my skin.

[NicholeW.]

I was more outgoing due to being a bit more comfortable in my skin.

Ditto, it's been more a matter of feeling totally comfortable with who and what I present as myself. Before not much, now, well, what you see tends to be what you get. O, that's right, we haven't actually met!!

Nichole

[Jaycie]

Hmm...   Newp.

Still the same old misanthropic loner that loves gaming and classical guitar.  ^^

[Hypatia]

I can't stand heavy music and listen to what I'd consider "femme" music: Michelle Branch, Sarah McLachlan, etc. (anything that's really soft and has a good melody, generally about love and relationships, or with a feminist undertone).

I used to like classic '70s prog rock (Yes, Genesis, Crimson) the best-- but now have turned to Lilith-Fair-type artists and the like: Indigo Girls, Joan Osborne, Melissa Etheridge, Dixie Chicks, Cris Williamson, Joni Mitchell, Sheryl Crowe, Joan Baez, etc. These women make music that goes directly to the heart of real feelings and real people.

[NicholeW.]

I can't stand heavy music and listen to what I'd consider "femme" music: Michelle Branch, Sarah McLachlan, etc. (anything that's really soft and has a good melody, generally about love and relationships, or with a feminist undertone).

I used to like classic '70s prog rock (Yes, Genesis, Crimson) the best-- but now have turned to Lilith-Fair-type artists and the like: Indigo Girls, Joan Osborne, Melissa Etheridge, Dixie Chicks, Cris Williamson, Joni Mitchell, Sheryl Crowe, Joan Baez, etc. These women make music that goes directly to the heart of real feelings and real people.

Funny, I had done that before transition began. Honestly, I find woman singers easier to hear and I don't think it was hormonal. In some ways a segue of the sort that Hypatia mentioned.

Yes, Moody Blues, Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt, late Beatles, King Crimson and Jethro Tull as well as Carole King, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, Melanie, Tom Waits ... hummmm, I'm thinking I haven't changed music taste much at all since the late 70s. I did go through a The Clash & Sex Pistols period then. But they all broke up reasonably quickly.

Then on to Sarah, Lorena, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Faith Hill, Cowboy Junkies, Rickie Lee Jones, Dixie Chicks, REM, Indigo Girls, Dido, Madonna, Celine, Evanescence, Sheryl Crowe, Sinead, Ani DeFranco (whose cousin I had for 6 months in a group once! neat coinkidink) Tori Amos .... well, you get the idea.

Nichole

[le_joli_papillon]

ummm
i'm bitchier, i like babies more, i'm like always two steps away from crying all the time, i eat alot more

[Hypatia]

I like being able to cry so much more easily--to let my feelings out-- after having to hide my feelings all those years. It's a tremendous relief. I like being able to really feel my feelings.

My biggest psychological change came through my body. The first thing I noticed was how soft my skin became. Then that sensuously soft feeling extended all through my whole body; when I walked I began to feel slinky, graceful, and sensuous through and through, and then my mind got in the habit of feeling that way since my body was feeling that way. Absolute bliss-- I would not trade this for anything.

[Melissa]

I actually haven't had that much in the way of changes, except that I'm more how I always felt inside.  I've been on HRT for about 2 1/2 years now.  I never worked really hard to suppress myself too much, so I guess that's to be expected.  I do tend to be more social, but I think I always wanted to be more that way anyhow.

[Elwood]

Well, I spoke to a wonderful transman (who will remain anonymous) who said he used to be very angry and that T actually calmed him down... That HRT can really take a transgendered person and put them at a mental and even chemical ease.

I am worried that T could do some weird things to me. I am also a pretty angry person. I'm hoping it has the same effect on me.

It seems that HRT makes most people happier. That is, if your dose is correct.

Doctor says if you feel bad AT ALL-- weird, sad, depressed, angry, or just "wrong," to tell them right away. They'll check your blood to see if the dose is appropriate for you. Then they'll adjust accordingly.

Posted on: July 11, 2008, 07:38:08 PMAs for activities, I know I'm not on T yet, but the more I've accepted my masculinity, the less masculine things I've done.

I used to play video games all the time. Now I want to dance and sing. I guess I'm pretty flamboyant and outgoing... accepting myself for who I am has made expression a lot easier. Maybe T will suck all the artistic talent out of me and I'll become a grunting Neanderthal. I'm sure you ladies know what I'm talking about. 

[Imadique]

Maybe T will suck all the artistic talent out of me and I'll become a grunting Neanderthal. I'm sure you ladies know what I'm talking about. 

Heh, conversely I've been wondering if Estrogen is doing the same to me!! Haven't written a song or even had any ideas in the month since starting...but to be fair I have been just a little bit preoccupied 


And in response to the topic in general it's too early to say full effects yet but I've generally just been much, much happier. Maybe that's why I'm not writing ;P