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Does HRT Improve your ability to reason?

Started by Chantal185, October 15, 2012, 10:51:24 PM

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Chantal185

I know this is kind of a stereotype but girls are often known as being more emotional mature than men, and better negotiators. I feel that my bodys natural production of T makes me feel kind of like a raging bull inside, and I have all these contradictory feelings because of it. I am probably one of the less aggressive people around by my actions but I feel this deep aggression/ anger inside of me which I am completely unable to use for any actual purpose. In fact if I was on E my bet is that I would probably be more assertive from no longer feeling this contradiction of aggression and ego. I feel as though I am going to explode and it is horrible. I was just curious if E calmed things for you. Also there is the issue of libido lol I hate it and the tension it causes me to feel as well as the need to masturbate.

Do you get along better with people now? feel more connected. What about aggressiveness/ level of assertiveness has it changed? I am a shut in right now and know I cannot become any less aggressive nor would I want to be. But I do not want to have these contradictory male feelings. I want to be able to be "one of the girls" and socialize.
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Rena-san

I'll tackle your question. I started HRT 63 days ago so keep it in mind that I'm young in the process. I however lack the male hormone DHT completely, a genitic thing from birth, though not in the womb sadly. I've always been feminine in my thought style and never realized it till an ex-friend said, "Do you realize how girly you are? I  mean you just cried at an Abraham Lincoln exhibit." (In my defense, it was a very emotional exhibit!) 

So to answer your actual question: In short no, HRT has not directly affected my reasoning abilities. On a scale of 1-10 I would say the following about HRT pre and post so far:

Emotional:  an 8 before hrt, a 10 after (I really enjoy crying and being emotional. So it actually makes me happy)
Compassion/understanding: a 7 now an 8 (I can't understand men though. I was never able to and sure can't now)
Connectedness to people: a 2 before, a 7 now. (I do get along better with people, but that's just because I'm happy and semi-outgoing now)
Aggression: a 4 before now a 2
Assertiveness: hahaha. yeah like 0 no matter what.
Tension/dysphoria: a 7-10 on somedays, now a 5. Its nice to know you have more estrogen than testosterone in your body. And you can feel it.
Reasoning ability: a 5 to start and still a 5 (I'm not a reasonable person. I live in my imagination most of the time and often question reality. I suck at reasoning and making a decision especially when others are involved.)

The major thing that HRT did for me on a mental level was that it allowed me to get on with my life trusting that I'm finally going through with being myself. So all the fear and anxiety and pain I carried along with me for the past 12 years, while it sucks I waited that long to figure this out, is finally released in the knowledge that I'm doing something to move on . . . growing boobies helps as well. LOL!
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Misato

I'm just on a T squisher right now.  Been a week, and in that short time I've come to I think that the T was driving me on a path toward self destruction.

Assertive, I've been more thoughtful about when I should be assertive, and how I act in that regard.  Before I-- created lot of regrets for myself by stepping on people.

My anger and short temper have been pretty well eased.  Oh patience!  That's been hugely affected in a good way.

But my ability to reason, I'm an engineer, I have to reason about systems all the time.  I can't say that's changed in any measureable way.  I'm just more effective because I'm not so self destructive.

I did not expect these BIG of changes given I don't even get to start my full strength prescription until tomorrow.  But I started to feel different in the first hour from taking my first dose.

Oh, I should add, my Tekken playing ability has gone through the roof!  I'm not great, but I can flow with the game a lot easier.  I think this speaks to an overall decrease in anxiety.
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Joann

I was taking T  to help with my MS symptoms and had to stop due to aggression issues.
But during my brief exposure to E i felt like a dark cloud lifted. I felt cheerful, optimistic, in control. Also my visual perception changed. Things like the sun shining in the window were "Prettier"
I'm also hoping that a formal E regime will quell the raging bull in my head.
I'm also tired of battling with a "tent pole" in the middle of the night. ::)
♪♫ You dont look different but you have changed...
I'm looking through you,. Your not the same ♪♫ :)
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helen2010

In my case the answer has been no and yes.  I have been on hrt this time around for 9 months. This time I have a very supportive endo and I am taking baby steps because while, like hippo lover, the benefits of E have been immense I found that being more sensate or connected felt like I was in information or emotional overload.  When I also had to deal with very stressful work and relationship issues I found that I just couldn't work my way through it. 

My endo suggested that I reduce the spiro and the E - voila, I was back in control and all was good. Later I resumed my earlier hrt dose but the next time I was severely stressed I found that I was ok, and I still felt in control.   My endo said that every person has a slightly different experience and he thinks that my earlier over reaction was due to the fact that my body was still adjusting or re-wiring because of the new hormone regime.  He says that my body has now adjusted so varying the dosage is unlikely to be necessary
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justmeinoz

In my case it helped end the Depression that had been dogging me for 40 years, along with going FT, so I would have to say a definite yes.
"Don't ask me, it was on fire when I lay down on it"
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