Calming Effect of estrogen.. is it real?

[mtfbuckeye]

One of the things that REALLY makes me want to start HRT is that so many MTF women who are on estrogen report that it brings a "calming effect."

I'd love that.. My mind is always agitated.. Like a cacophony on fire. I don't really know what it's like to relax or truly feel peace... I'd like to.

So, is it a real phenomenon? I'd love to pick the brains of people already on HRT when it comes to this.. 

[Renate]

You'll probably get as many answers on this one as there are people.

Yes, I find the calming effect to be very real. My calmness and patience has gone up 1000%.

On the other hand, I find that in some ways my mind is more active.
Thoughts are constantly flitting through my brain.
These thoughts don't make me anxious or nervous.
If you'll excuse a stereotype, I think that I am more "ditzy" than I used to be.

[Janet_Girl]

Calming.   Yes very much so.  But also more emotional.  Cry at the drop of a hat over nothing.  Become a raging B***h for nothing.  Act more like a 'Blondie', sorry for the insult to all my blond brothers and sisters.

But I would not have it any other way.

Janet

[imaz]

Calming I would say yes, although after many years on it one doesn't really notice the effect anymore.

Certainly not calming in the tranquiliser manner but in a far more subtle way. More peaceful than knock out.

[Stephanie]

Oestrogen makes your teeth look more feminine after a while.

[paulault55]

The calming effect was within a week or so for me, don't know if was so much the hrt or the relief of finally being on my way. A few months in my emotions were like i was on a roller coaster, one minute happy and the next minute after reading something moving i would be in tears. I know you are not on hrt yet but these are just a couple of the changes that happen when you are.

Stephanie, how long do i need to be on hrt to get those pearly whites 

Paula.

[MMarieN]

I have no idea if the calming effect is psychosomatic or not. The reality is that it doesn't matter.

I know that since starting estradiol, I'm much happier and healthier. I've grown closer to my family and friends. And in general, my life is much more stable.

It works for me. And that's what matters to me.

[Luc]

Makes your teeth more feminine? Are you f'ing kidding me?

[aubrey]

It's probably due as much to reduced T as increased E. T made me a basket case, consider what it's absence does. I took E for a few months before adding spiro and yes it made me giddy sometimes, but more noticably in the first few days, and this would happen each time dosage was increased. There would be a few days of giddyness then a sort of one or two day crash into raging beligerent feelings toward everything, then a levelling off. E has more of an active, energetic effect, it adds rather than taking away. But after a few weeks on Spiro is when the calm, peaceful feeling came. Of course I don't need to say it but this is all subjective YMMV.

[shannonts]

Makes your teeth more feminine? Are you f'ing kidding me?

It also makes you grow shorter, get smaller appendages, and  be born female. It has something to do with time-space and antimatter. Also something about a wizard......

[imaz]

Oestrogen makes your teeth look more feminine after a while.

Hahaha!

[sd]

It also makes you grow shorter, get smaller appendages, and  be born female. It has something to do with time-space and antimatter. Also something about a wizard......

There is some evidence to shrinking. Usually 1-2 inches at most, but some reporting 3.

[Luc]

Thanks, Kelsi... you gave me a nice long laugh with that one. Good to know some folks still have a sense of humor. 

SD

[Hannah]

Oestrogen makes your teeth look more feminine after a while.

As her face changed maybe theyre percieved more feminine.

I once met someone who wanted to have her teeth all pulled and get female sized dentures, but couldn't find anyone willing to do it for her.

Whatever floats your boat honey.

Calming....I did have a calming effect from spiro, which I started a month prior to introducing Estrogens. It's only been a short while on Estrogen and I have to admit it's the darndest thing to be sure. The best comparison I can come up with so far is like when there's a loud fan in the window and you tune it out..but when you turn it off and the silence hits and you realise how loud it actually was. Hm, comparing testosterone to a fan. Well I tried.

You know, it wasn't hard to get Spironolactone out of my doctor, they use it for all sorts of fun things and are pretty comfortable with it...maybe you can talk your doctor into letting you sort of try before you buy. It won't change anything externally right away but you could get an idea of how your brain will feel without boyjuice.

[shannonts]

Thanks, Kelsi... you gave me a nice long laugh with that one. Good to know some folks still have a sense of humor. 

SD

You are welcome. I figured you might like that!

[helenr13]

Personally I wouldn't rely on estrogen to reduce your anxiety, it's a problem you need to deal with separately in my opinion. From my own experience (some years ago I went through a phase of clinical depression and anxiety) I found that reducing anxiety without drugs was easier than I ever thought it could be just by doing a daily relaxation routine using a 'self-help' tape - that and an hour-long hypnosis session with the specialist recommended by my doctor. (I had been suffering with the most appalling panic attacks that had left me feeling like I could not leave the house. Initially I had been put on diazepam for a long period and that had made me worse in the long run. It was the relaxation excersises that enabled me to cope with the anxiety).
To get back to your case, my advice would be to use your estrogen to develop the physical female characteristics that you need, but get specialist help for your anxiety if it is causing you serious problems.

[Laura823]

I my case it had a dramatic calming effect.  My wife noticed it within two days of beginning HRT.  Within a week, relatives were making comments about the change. 

My only regret is that I waited so long in life to make the change