Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Has your ability to think changed when on HRT?

No.

I don't think so.

Wait, maaayyyybbeee...no. Well, then there's the time...yeah, maybe.

I'm more decisive, I think. Don't hold me to it, but...yeah. More decisive. Sometimes.

;)

But, no more intelligent. No less, either.

Hi Dana,

In answer to your question, I don't think my ability to think has changed at all since starting HRT.

However; what has changed dramatically, is what I think about.  A major part of my moral fibre has changed from a quasi masculine perspective to a feminine perspective. In other words I see and sense the world in terms of how I perceive a woman to sense it.

I say quasi masculine as there were some parts of my attitude and behaviour that had to identify with the the masculine presentation I once had. (I'm now full time)

So if you are about to go on HRT, be aware that not only body modifications are effected, but there can be considerable psychological changes as well.

Be safe, well and happy
Lotsa huggs
Catherine

QuoteA major part of my moral fibre has changed from a quasi masculine perspective to a feminine perspective. In other words I see and sense the world in terms of how I perceive a woman to sense it.

I second this. I used to act the way I thought a man should act--certain hobbies (cars, guns)--and specific behaviors (such as striding into a room, presenting an authority-type "air"), etc.

I don't do any of those things now. So, no change in intelligence, but behaviors and interests have changed to be more...natural, not feigned.

I'm coming up on six months, and I've had psychological changes, but they've all been positive. I really don't think taking HRT can have any impact on intelligence. HRT has made me more open emotionally, but I have the same capability to think rationally. I do feel that my imagination is becoming more open, which I feel had been closed off to some degree from my having shut myself off from a lot of my feelings while living with repression.

Well I can say in some ways I've been able to think more clearly, but part of that could be letting go of the male persona and second guessing EVERY instance on weather or not it was the correct gender.  In some ways I'm able to focus but then there are others when I kinda drift off ... wait what was I talking about.. lol.. but seriously there have been some changes on how I think, and what I think about.  And there have been the odd occurrences of just really random thoughts popping into my head.. but I've always been a bit random anyway.   :)

Several years ago prior to HRT I was big on hunting, fishing, backpacking, shooting at the local range. Reloaded my own ammo, casting my own lead bullets. Over the last several years all of that is gathering a lot of dust in my unused shop behind my home. My interests have changed dramatically, I will say that I do have a lot more girlfriends now and very few male friends as a result. Seems as if they don't think I'm the kind of individual they want to hang out with anymore. My thoughts come from both sides of my brain now, and though there was a time when the Mall was a place I'd rather avoid, it seems that an entire day shopping with another woman can be loads of fun. I'd say the brain is definitely affected by HRT and the swing can be rather huge!

I work in a very technical field and was curious if the brain changes affected what some might see as strengths of male thinking style (eg logic, math, programming). Not that the new brain wont be great or anything. :)

So maybe this is related but one of my biggest worries was if i'd still be able to photograph the way that I do.. and if when I create if it would be the same.  I have to say that since I have started HRT I think my painting skill has gone up and can now.. if pressed turn around a rather detailed piece much faster..

Nothing much but I seem to converse more and also prefer the company of females.

Quote from: dana510 on August 21, 2012, 12:33:32 PM
I work in a very technical field and was curious if the brain changes affected what some might see as strengths of male thinking style (eg logic, math, programming). Not that the new brain wont be great or anything. :)

Interesting point Dana.

I too am in a technical capacity when involved in a television programme. As a TD (Technical Director) my role is to ensure broadcast specs and technical continuity happens. (ie all cameras produce the identical colour, no break ups in transmission etc)

Last New Years Eve, while forming part of the New Year celebrations from the Sydney Opera House, I couldn't get my eyes off the women compares outfit. Absolutely gorgeous red gown she was wearing. And her make up; impeccable. Shoes to match. Jewellery fine....... What's that? we've lost the link on camera 5? Hair style to die for. Stockings; OK no runs at all. And that lip gloss. I wonder what make up are using? ....... Oh yes ..... camera 5 (What the hell do I do now?).

The worse part of that particular discrepenancy was the woman compare wasn't even emminating from our truck. I was watching the preview feed from another van, which meant I had no idea of what was happening in our van.

In years gone by, I would have been so observant to technical waveforms etc, I would have predicted the link loss on camera 5 and switched to a back up long before the prime link failed.

And it keeps getting worse. I've been caught out so many times since then. I've been more attuned to the girls outfits, (and the guys  ;D ) than the technicalities of a multi camera broadcast.

Huggs
Catherine

Not the intelligence
But the way you look and see things
You will be noticing color in a brighter way
Notice if there is a match or not
You will be able to feel the beauty in things as jewellry and cloth
It seems like your senses will be sharper

I have no idea, I wasn't all that bright to begin with.

 My intelligence does not appear to have changed, and neither has the subject matter for which I devote my intelligence to. For a while, I was very happy, but disappointment delivered me back to the state I was in pre-HRT - and other than that happiness, I can't really say much has changed.

Aside from being infatuated with anime boys. That's new.

I feel like my memory has improved. For example, I used to be horrific about remembering names, but I'm actually pretty good at it now. It's improved other short term memory tasks as well.

This is pretty unscientific though since I went full time shortly before starting hormones and that reduced my stress level significantly which might also effect memory.

I work in IT and i find that my once sharply focused mind has gone scatter brained. I can still talk the talk and walk the walk but it takes more concentration than it used to, and - oh look, bright shiny things!

Yeah, lots of that occurring these days.

One other change that i've noticed is that my ability to think on different planes at the same time seems to be enhanced. I can pop a problem into the back of my mind and an answer will come bubbling to the surface later without me consciously thinking much about it.

Quote from: crazy old bat on September 06, 2012, 07:09:56 PM
I have no idea, I wasn't all that bright to begin with.

Hey Crazy Girl,
          Anyone that can rebuild a carburetor isn't so dumb, the dumb blonde stuff isn't going work with this old girl!
         

I am a Telecommunications Engineer, and have not noticed any changes in the way I perform at work. However, outside of work I am a little more...flitty. My thoughts tend to jump from one topic to another quite quickly. I have noticed if I am talking with a woman the conversation goes well, but men seem to just get lost. So I have noticed a bit of a change in the way I think.

On the "my hobbies/interests changed" thing, that happened to a certain extent to me when I went full time, which was years before starting HRT. It could be the fact people are "starting to get serious" when they start HRT is causing the changes people report on this? Things like working on the lawn mower, shooting guns etc doesn't feel very feminine so is something to avoid if you want to feel feminine.  Like I said, this "interests" thing changed for me when I starting living full time and I was living full time for several years before starting HRT.

I can say after being on spiro for a while I was less aggressive. I'm still very competitive but I don't get pissed as easily as I did before and if I do it doesn't last very long. I can say after being on estriol for about 6 months I do feel a bit dingy but in a fun sort of way :P Any changes that have happened have been welcome ones.

You become softer as a result of not having the rage hormone being so high.  Calmer, cooler, able to make more guided decisions.

You loose the random sexual urges, it just doesn't happen unless you want it to happen.  Which means you can focus on work even longer.

Everything else is a result of being yourself, you will become the girl you are because estrogen will make you feel more confident about yourself and your body.  Certain feelings that may of been repressed before will flower more and you will smile.. smile.. and smile some more and smile a little more.  Life becomes better, but it also becomes harder.

Estrogen removes certain emotional barriers, when someone scolds you at work you might cry.  When someone says something that is really cute you might yelp a little.


But has it made me a smarter person? Not exactly, but is being a more thoughtful person aid in my ability to solve problems and seem smarter? Definitely.

Quote from: Shantel on September 07, 2012, 01:25:19 PM
Hey Crazy Girl,
          Anyone that can rebuild a carburetor isn't so dumb, the dumb blonde stuff isn't going work with this old girl!
       

being able to fix stuff was something that just came naturally to me. A lot of people have thought that I wasted a lot of talent because I don't do much of that stuff anymore. They don't get that it bothers me in a way to do some of it anymore, not to mention the damage it does to my hands and nails.

Quote from: crazy old bat on September 07, 2012, 06:19:12 PM
being able to fix stuff was something that just came naturally to me. A lot of people have thought that I wasted a lot of talent because I don't do much of that stuff anymore. They don't get that it bothers me in a way to do some of it anymore, not to mention the damage it does to my hands and nails.

Amen to that sister, I don't even lift the hood of my car anymore for that same reason!

Quote from: Shantel on September 07, 2012, 06:24:18 PM
Amen to that sister, I don't even lift the hood of my car anymore for that same reason!

Oh, I'll still work on my own things, but only because I can't afford to do otherwise and I don't really trust many mechanics.

Quote from: crazy old bat on September 07, 2012, 06:35:25 PM
Oh, I'll still work on my own things, but only because I can't afford to do otherwise and I don't really trust many mechanics.

Me either! One of the eleven different career hats I had worn during my working life was foreign car mechanic. It was filthy work, my hands were always a mess. I do make a point to look over single women's shoulders when they are going for automotive work because they are routinely taken advantage of by unscrupulous people who think that because they are women they are ignorant about mechanical things and take advantage of them. Not when I am with them!

I don't really believe my ability to think or processing speed has changed at all.