For those of you on HRT have you noticed in HRT has had an effect on your mood and habits? Eg: as a MTF has it made you a calmer, less aggressive, less speedy driver? Of if you're F2M has it had the opposite effect?
I haven't noticed any difference. FWIW, at my highest T levels I always drove slower than my CIS wife who is always telling me to go faster. So I don't think this is connected to hormones.
It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
André Gide, Autumn Leaves
No change. I drove like a jerk before, and I still drive like a jerk now.
I still like to floor it on the empty roads
Alright Ladies,
Am I the only one who does not see a need to drive as fast as I used to? My previous cars were Porsche, BMW, and a series of Corvettes. Now I drive a Ford Focus and I am very happy with my new econobox.
Yes, estradiol has really decreased my aggressive driving habits.
Not sure if the speed of my driving has changed much, I've always liked going fast, but I don't get angry at other drivers anymore...just annoyed. Exasperated sighs instead of cursing. Especially when I see someone just totally clueless on the road, I want to do that Top Gun thing where he brings the guy who's freaking out in for a carrier landing...it's like, it will be okay, we'll do this together!
Or if I see a girl get out and walk behind her car to look at the lines in a parking spot...I know that feel, I swear those things move.
I'm a Brit so... that "British Drivers Swearing" YouTube compilation gives you some idea what we contend with and how we react :P That hasn't changed at all. Probably never will.
Not sure if this counts but since starting HRT I have been disparagingly called a "woman driver."
I have always been a fast driver and my taste in cars hasn't changed either. My wife is very happy about this as she drives like I do. No effect here with HRT. >:-)
Once a maniac always a maniac. Lol
Over time, I have noticed that I am no longer competitively spirited. I ride sport MC's, set up for track on the street. They are some of the quickest vehicles on the road, but the last year has found me just wanting to cruise and leave the racing to others. I know they are every bit as fast as they were, but the drive to use the power just is not there. I still LOOOOOVE to ride.
Within a few weeks, the din of T based aggression subsided to a point where I felt an empty quiet left behind. Nothing was required to back fill this, but it was obvious once I realized what it was.
Everyone around me, new acquaintances or old friends all see my happiness. I have heard that there is a sparkle in my eye that is an outward sign of happiness that even I can see in photos now.
As with all things transition...YMMV and that variance can be huge.
I am not only a great grandma to some darling little boys but I have been driving more like one too. Honestly tho I don't want to further the stereotypes about "women drivers". I cannot know if my HRT and surgery in transition have a direct impact on aggressive driving or if this is simply old age or an overall new comfort level with my life. Life seems far richer now and I want to savor rather than race to the end.
I do know that my aggressive driving is significantly diminished. What's the hurry to be the first one at the next red light anyway? I still ask questions of other drivers but rarely offer unsolicited advice out loud to assist them anymore. No doubt some drivers would like to offer me a lesson too ;)
For over thirty years I hurried through four and one half hours of LA traffic to drive the 90 miles from my home to work. I think I earned the right to sloooow dooooown, By the way I have never had an accident nor a claim and only three tickets mostly from revenue enhancement motor officers. Over a million and a half miles. So slowing down has nothing to do with hormones. It's realizing all that time on the freeway cost me time with my family.
Get out of my way before HRT and get out of my way now! :angel:
I've always been a fast aggressive driver and that did not change. On every other front though I am calm and very patient.
Pre HRT I never bought a car with a bulbar deliberately.
This is a bulbar http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f76/best-off-road-lighting-68954/index3.html (http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f76/best-off-road-lighting-68954/index3.html)
My anger levels were such that I would have run someone over or simply imploded within the cab of my vehicle.
Since starting HRT I have calmed considerably even more than with just low T. I am so careful now but I still "lose it" occasionally but normally for a very short period and it never bothers me for long. Where Pre HRT I would have probably cursed the other motorist for as long as they were in my site and then all the way home and probably for awhile at home
There are other things about driving and my behaviour that I have noticed but maybe that's for another thread mainly around concentration.
Liz
I've always been a calm, defensive driver. After HRT, it's still the same. :) The last time I had a speeding ticket was almost 20 years ago.
I haven't been on hrt long but I don't think it will have an effect on my driving demeanor. I never really understood this "need for speed" thing. My last speeding ticket was- never. I prefer to enjoy the drive and if I'm in a hurry I take a shorter route or less breaks. I have never been very aggressive or competitive. Perhaps my pre-hrt testosterone level was an indication of why. It was only 370 , kind of low in the male scale. I am all for slowing down onto the roads less traveled to see the sights and stopping along the way to smell the roses.
Prior to HRT, I rode motorcycles, often at maximum velocity, and on winding mountain roads. I think it had more to do with hating myself, than it did the hormones. These days, my rides have 4 wheels, and I drive at the speed limit. I have also been able to avoid ever getting a ticket in all my 50 years.
If my wife driving is any indication: It would be the opposite... 8) ;D
At some point years ago, I finally realized how much money I'd given the local police department. After doing that math I found the cruise control and haven't turned it off since.
I think the OP is looking for a difference from physiology? It is quite possible though that any observed differences are from mood: if angry with life there is a tendency to drive aggressively; if relaxed then one's driving may be calmer.
I feared after I started HRT, I wouldn't remember how to back up anymore, but I still can....so there's that positive note :laugh:
The only thing I noticed is, that I don't go pedal to the metal anymore when on the german autobahn.
Still I like to drive fast and others annoy me when I have the feeling the are not on the road with their thoughts and aware of their surrounding.
Ive always been a bad driver, still am. Is that a men thing?
As far as other beahvioral traits go, not much is changed. Im just more confident and less stressed.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gannett-cdn.com%2F-mm-%2F7dec5870d3f632bb12a5a82c56b289668456e434%2Fc%3D299-124-3155-3932%26amp%3Br%3D537%26amp%3Bc%3D0-0-534-712%2Flocal%2F-%2Fmedia%2F2015%2F11%2F03%2FUSATODAY%2FUSATODAY%2F635821553689982973-USP-NASCAR--Goody-s-Headache-Relief-Shot-500-Quali.jpg&hash=2bb1ab037f5d5eeb3471122e00fe014984d2a078)
Estrogen hasn't affected this womans skilz...at all.
She appears to have ample quantities of both
I've definitely felt calmer/way less aggressive behind the wheel. No tickets since I transitioned and I had two before. I still like to drive fast but have talked myself out of two tickets recently. Probably helps I'm married to a cop though ;)
I have always been an Alpha driver. As my cars have gotten better, I can now do it even better.
I have a 2016 Mustang with 300+ HP and a standard (stick) transmission. Have a friend who has a Dodge Hellcat, and we talk cars a lot.
Saw my new car a 2017 red with black striping Mustang GT350, 500+ HP, all I need is 60000.