Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Did anyone else experience an odd euphoria and sense of "rightness" when starting HRT?
It's weird, it feels subtle but intense. I feel like the world snapped into focus. There are subtle
personality changes. As a boy I always tried to be organized but being a bit busy I never quite
get there. Now, it was do or die -- cleaning binge. Different. Things feel right tho. Hard to describe
but just a sense of -- *aahhhh.*

How early?

I'm sure that you feel what you feel.  I'm dubious that it came from hormonal changes if it came anywhere in the first couple of months.  If you are that early, or earlier than that, consider the possibility that it is psychologically clarifying to have made a plan, to be following that plan and to be observing oneself for the results of that plan.  The snap to focus may simply be the result of having something specific to do that you feel good about.

Absolutely!  I tell people that I had to check and make sure they didn't accidentally prescribe me oxycodone or morphine or something instead of estradiol.  Because I definitely got this mild euphoric feeling, which I still get to this day, after being on HRT for 6 and a half months.  About 2 hours after I take the estradiol, I feel this really nice, warm, happy feeling come over my body.  Originally I thought surely it had to be a placebo effect.  But after this much time of it still happening every time I take it, at about the same amount of time after taking it, I know it is for sure a real thing and is most definitely the HRT. 

  That's as for actual physical affects of it.  As for emotional affects........that is absolutely there as well.  Just an overwhelming feeling of rightness and good, and happiness knowing that every time I take that pill, I am closer and closer to being the girl I always knew I was inside.

I didn't feel euphoric but felt an absence of stress and anxiousness immediately (i.e. 24-48 hrs after 1st application), which is more than enough for me. It made me feel content and an absence of negativity, and is still doing exactly that after over a year.

It isn't a placebo effect in my case as originally I was dreading taking it, suspecting it would have complications or would do nothing, the last thing I was expecting was for it to act like a powerful anti-depressant (minus the side effect of anti depressants).

Quote from: Claire Grey on January 29, 2018, 12:14:36 PM
Did anyone else experience an odd euphoria and sense of "rightness" when starting HRT?
It's weird, it feels subtle but intense. I feel like the world snapped into focus. There are subtle
personality changes. As a boy I always tried to be organized but being a bit busy I never quite
get there. Now, it was do or die -- cleaning binge. Different. Things feel right tho. Hard to describe
but just a sense of -- *aahhhh.*

I have found that my reaction to music has changed and I tend to get more into the music.  It's a good thing I'm not into head banging music or I'd be wiped out.

Yes, and it is not imaginary nor placebo effect.

It is a quite real neurological effect of altered brain chemistry.

Some can feel the difference right away, and some don't.  That's why "YMMV" is always the caveat with this stuff.

Just enjoy being one of the lucky ones who can feel the difference immediately, and don't worry about it.

I can't wait to get on estrogen. From hearing all the experiences other girls have had I know almost for certain that it will do nothing but good things for me. I'm happy for all of you and can't wait to be myself either.

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Quote from: Rfisher0175 on January 29, 2018, 04:20:05 PM
I can't wait to get on estrogen. From hearing all the experiences other girls have had I know almost for certain that it will do nothing but good things for me. I'm happy for all of you and can't wait to be myself either.

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Good for you!  The only downer is that nothing happens over night so one must learn to be patience.

Quote from: Nikita on January 29, 2018, 03:33:41 PM
Yes, and it is not imaginary nor placebo effect.

It is a quite real neurological effect of altered brain chemistry.

Some can feel the difference right away, and some don't.  That's why "YMMV" is always the caveat with this stuff.

Just enjoy being one of the lucky ones who can feel the difference immediately, and don't worry about it.

The placebo effect isn't "imaginary" and none of us can tell, biochemically, why we feel better.  There is no information we have that would verify this. 

I'm all for HRT.  I'm just against disinformation.

Quote from: Cassi on January 29, 2018, 04:22:51 PM
Good for you!  The only downer is that nothing happens over night so one must learn to be patience.

Patience? What's that? Lol it's definitely something I'm learning.

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Quote from: Rfisher0175 on January 29, 2018, 04:28:02 PM
Patience? What's that? Lol it's definitely something I'm learning.

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Kinda like the serenity prayer; "God, please grant me patience, and I want it RIGHT NOW!

Also, the lack of things happening "Fast" let's the male demon out to play mind tricks, at least for me.

Quote from: Cassi on January 29, 2018, 04:38:21 PM
Kinda like the serenity prayer; "God, please grant me patience, and I want it RIGHT NOW!

Also, the lack of things happening "Fast" let's the male demon out to play mind tricks, at least for me.

OMG I wish that bastard would go away.

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Quote from: Rfisher0175 on January 29, 2018, 04:46:12 PM
OMG I wish that bastard would go away.

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Totally understand and wish mine would go away too but have to use his body suite until the HRT works some more.

Quote from: Cassi on January 29, 2018, 05:03:05 PM
Totally understand and wish mine would go away too but have to use his body suite until the HRT works some more.

Too true

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About 30 minutes to an hour after taking my morning HRT I always feel so much better. Yes, there is a component of "I'm working towards a goal" but, after deliberately NOT taking a dose or two I'm convinced its a real effect and one I'm quite happy to enjoy.

I had the euphoric feeling after each side for about a week.  It probably lasted about an hour.  Now I'm on pellets, and after I get new implants it probably lasts a day.  No way is it llacebo.  I also get super pink lips and flushed skin, and perky boobies during this tine:)

Bari Jo

Ladies,

I too, feel the same as you do. Many of us mtf transgenders report the same thing. This causes me to believe that this is not a placebo effect, but a real phenomenon. There is little documentation in the medical literature describing this, possibly because there are so few of us in comparison to the population as a whole. 

So then, why do so many of us report the same feelings? I think that we finally feel the way we should have been all along and it is so wonderful, that several of us also, report complete personality changes. We never want to go back, because we feel so good. This is not some intoxicated high feeling, but  rather a release of all the wrong feelings.

Does this make sense? I think it does after you have been forced to live under the influence of Testosterone most of your life with a mindset like mine.

Quote from: Dani on January 29, 2018, 11:21:37 PM
Ladies,

I too, feel the same as you do. Many of us mtf transgenders report the same thing. This causes me to believe that this is not a placebo effect, but a real phenomenon. There is little documentation in the medical literature describing this, possibly because there are so few of us in comparison to the population as a whole. 

So then, why do so many of us report the same feelings? I think that we finally feel the way we should have been all along and it is so wonderful, that several of us also, report complete personality changes. We never want to go back, because we feel so good. This is not some intoxicated high feeling, but  rather a release of all the wrong feelings.

Does this make sense? I think it does after you have been forced to live under the influence of Testosterone most of your life with a mindset like mine.

At the risk of picking nits, the placebo effect is a real phenomenon.  We don't always know why we feel better.  We should enjoy it.

It's real and perhaps part of placebo, perhaps part of psychological and part of real fysiological effect.

I remember when I had my prescription in my hand, even that made me super happy and excited and when I had the hormone packages in my hand I would have liked to yell in the street, that hey, look what I got!  ;D

And to me, taking the estradiol pills 3 times a day, is the happiest moment in a day and I savor it and sometimes save it for some special moment, like taking the pill and going to sofa to take a nap and the tablet slowly melts in my mouth while I slowly fell into sleep  :)

I really don't want to go to gel, implants, patches or injection. I want to keep my "happy pills" :)

My weekly injections seem to have replaced communion for me in my dilapidated spiritual life:

Take, inject, remember and believe.

I don't get too worried about why HRT is right for me.  I'm just quite sure that it is.  It matters not a bit why this is the case.

This is fascinating. Thanks all for the replies! Placebo it may be -- or real, or a combination, as some have said. I'll take this happy feeling. I wish there was more science about us -- it is fascinating.