Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hey all,

This may be a weird topic and I don't know how many people experience this, but I've noticed that my emotions have been changing pretty substantially the past few weeks.  While I have been going through a lot of stuff in my personal life, I feel like the hormones may be playing a big role.  Even though that may seem normal or typical, I'm already few months in at this point (estradiol started in June and an increase in both July and October), so I'm wondering why it's changed so much at this point.   Does this sound weird or is it normal?  Do you think it could be hormonal at this point?  I don't know how to explain it, but my emotions feel like they've been heavily intensified and I've always been a very emotional and sensitive person.  Before this, I never really noticed huge shifts in my emotions other than the occasional moodswing, but now I definitely notice a change and it's been a bit hard to adapt.  I'm just extra sensitive than what I used to be. Does this sound normal for where I am?  Did anyone else go through something similar a little latter in the hrt game?  Just want to make sure that this is normal.  Thanks.  :)

I've been more emotional. It's a challenge to get through a sad news article.

I am more emotional than I was pre hrt.

After 3years of hrt cry easier

I was watching old extreme makeover home edition re runs and I am tears during every episode. I never did that pre hrt.

When I first started therapy, even before HRT, it was easy to see how emotionally locked up I was after living in a role for which I was ill-suited.  A term that was used was "emotionally calloused," and in the male role, I had no, or was allowed no, outlets.  I have a natural empathy.  At times it showed.  But never outwardly.  And that was a huge internal conflict.

After starting estradiol patches, at a very low dose, those callouses began to break up.  I am not sure if it was because I was having a mental reckoning with myself, or was more open to my own buried emotions, or that the estrogen opened a "spigot" and the emotions could flow, but there were days when I just sat by myself and cried about the silliest things - when I had not had a good cry in decades.

In retrospect, I think maybe all three things were at work.  And another thing that played a role was that I had people here who understood what I was (and am still) going through.  I became particularly close to three or four people who I learned to trust - not an easy thing for me.  And I could open up, ask questions, share experiences - especially those experiences I found most troubling.

I don't fool myself - I am still an emotional cripple.  At times I am all over the place.  But to feel is joyous - feeling something, anything, is better than where I was.  And that part of me is still evolving.  I am coming up on three years when I really started to deeply investigate my gender and emotional issues.

Hi Jamie, I know exactly what you're going through.  3 1/2 years now of HRT patches & I love my emotions, my feelings - to know that I am, at last, alive.  My wife used to tell me I was acting "too feminine" at times.  I realized I was dying inside.  I had to choose life for myself - hardest decision ever.  Best decision ever.

Every day I feel - I am alive - I am me!

14 months full time, every day I am so very grateful to be my true self.  My girlfriends say - so much courage - I say my life is full of blessings.

We all need to be courageous - to be strong - to be our best.

Love & hugs - Bobbi

Quote from: Jamie D on January 12, 2014, 02:14:22 PM
But to feel is joyous - feeling something, anything, is better than where I was.  And that part of me is still evolving. 

LTL,

Having emotions is by far the biggest change HRT has brought to me.  And perhaps the best changes.  The changes at first resembled a woman in menopause with swings up and down.  Off course, early on in HRT, most people have some level of hormone swings so that may be part of it.  However, now that hormones have stabilized as more or less female normal, yea, big changes. 

Our minds may be female but there were some effects of testosterone on the brain.  The brain just takes some time to adjust.

Hugs,

Jen     

I'm no so long on HRT, but since the last weeks my emotions are getting terribly crazy.

I mean, I am laughing at virtually everything, and my laughs are not as they used to be...I start laughing and I just can't stop! I even end getting tears on my eyes!

Also I am not exactly feeling calmer...actually I am feeling quite more explosive. I had a terrible argument with my family these last days and I could not hold it. I got so angry and I ended saying terrible things to them...After the discussion I just couldn't stop crying!

It is so easy now to make me cry...it was already easy before, but now...I cry when I am sad and I cry when I am happy! Tears of joy!

It is a crazy thing to be on E...

Yeah, I know that hrt can cause emotional changes or increases, but it seems weird that it's happening for me at such a late stage.  I'm a bit concerned as though there may be a hormonal issue or my levels are off.  I'm seeing my endo soon, but I just want to be sure.  I've just been so emotional and tearing up about everything.  And I can't even handle stress like I once I could.  I feel like I totally shutdown and just start crying.  It's been a tough time for me in general, but I don't know if being so sensitive to everything and easily crying (usually at least once a day) is normal at this stage.  And for what it's worth, I've been accused by family members to be hormonal.   Why would I feel this now and not early on?  I'm sure certain stresses in my everyday life and some general depression are playing a role, but it really feels hormonal if that makes sense.  I don't know.

I feel very hormonal, but I enjoy it. It's a lot better than having rage all the time.

I was fairly emotional pre hrt, I would cry fairly easy. Even cried watching the animated movie "Up" though not the only one to do so!

Now forget it!! though I do have certain days that I am as strong as a rock...but those are few and far between. I have never liked that I was or am this way and I certainly never thought it made me appear more female....all it does is make me appear more weak. I can tell you....no one will take you seriously at a job if you appear weak!!

This doesn't mean someone can't cry for no reason...just don't let it be seen at times. Sometimes it does work in your favor if your pulled over by a male cop! :)

My children have witnessed me cry quite often even pre hrt...I do try to hide it if I am but it is hard too.....it has not given them much confidence in me...even though I tell them everything is ok when I do cry.

Get used to it! The highs can be higher and the lows can definitely be bad at times!

I have a theory:

Starting transition is for most, an emotional process and it may take a while for those early transitional emotions to fade. When they do, a transitioner may discover that their emotional responses have already been rewired without them noticing.

At two months in, I have noticed some differences but nothing earth shattering... all differences have been in a feminine direction.

The funny thing about emotions is, since YOU feel them, they may not seem out of place or different. They may just feel like an appropriate response to a situation. Things may have to change a lot before we really notice anything different.

i have a wide thing of emotions now (mostly happy) but i can go from one mood to the other. i was unhappy and self conscious about being in public, whereas now i am happy and outgoing because of hormones, they do change your emotions though. they did for me and it was for the best i think

Quote from: learningtolive on January 12, 2014, 05:16:47 PM
Yeah, I know that hrt can cause emotional changes or increases, but it seems weird that it's happening for me at such a late stage.  I'm a bit concerned as though there may be a hormonal issue or my levels are off.  I'm seeing my endo soon, but I just want to be sure.  I've just been so emotional and tearing up about everything.  And I can't even handle stress like I once I could.  I feel like I totally shutdown and just start crying.  It's been a tough time for me in general, but I don't know if being so sensitive to everything and easily crying (usually at least once a day) is normal at this stage.  And for what it's worth, I've been accused by family members to be hormonal.   Why would I feel this now and not early on?  I'm sure certain stresses in my everyday life and some general depression are playing a role, but it really feels hormonal if that makes sense.  I don't know.

Late stage? As has been mentioned in other threads, mental effects from HRT are ongoing for a while, as per physical changes. You're at the start of this wild ride still comparatively :).

Otherwise from what you've said, it seems pretty normal. I cry on a regular basis for a variety of reasons ( happy / sad / stressed / funny ). And I don't deal with direct stress well... I just about fell to pieces yesterday with a bumper nudge of another car, though managed to hold myself together until I got home.