I've been on hormones for 7 weeks and living fulltime as Katherine for 4 weeks.  I'm still the same person I always was but am incredibly happier.  

It seems a little nutty to me.   I figured it was just because I'm finally living as who I always wanted to be, but I wonder if the hormones have an effect, too.

Has anyone done one without the other?  Is this a chemical high (hormones) or psychological high (fulltime)?

Just curious,
Kate

Just a guess here, but my thoughts are that the stress of the indecision are gone.  Its kinda like stressing out before going on a vacation.  You worry that everything is packed, and the dog will be OK, and that you didnt leave the iron on.  But then you get there, and you have a great time, because those worries are gone.

Enjoy your vacation!

I wouldn't call it a high, because a high is transitory.

For me, I've found that taking hormones is like finally having your brain running on the right grade of gasoline.
Some others do not report major changes.

Your mileage may vary.

Quote from: Renate on May 18, 2009, 06:50:28 PM

For me, I've found that taking hormones is like finally having your brain running on the right grade of gasoline.

Yep. that's exactly how it feels for me so far. I don't really feel any different. If anything, I just feel more normal, more right. The estrogen was what 'felt' like something major going on.

To be honest, at first I felt like I was getting high. I mean, I am flooding my system with a foreign hormone and artificially elevating my estrogen level every 2 weeks.

There were definitely feelings of euphoria and sublime contentment. Those went away after my body got used to the drugs... I mean hormones and hormone blockers.

I noticed the same feeling when the dosage went up but it didn't last as long.

Oh well, the point was not to get "high" but, it's not something to complain about. I wouldn't recommend it to my friends as a party drug or a quick "fix".
No reason to worry.

Quote from: Renate on May 18, 2009, 06:50:28 PM
For me, I've found that taking hormones is like finally having your brain running on the right grade of gasoline.

Renate, I really love the way you think and express what we are going through. This was just so simply beautiful!

On topic, lots of us are on hormones without living full time. However, I've found they definitely take the edge off living as a boy, though it could just be that there is finally an end in sight, I haven't explored that line of thought fully.

Kate, i been on hormones almost a year and am only part time, about 80% of the time as Paula and won't go full time till early next year. I self medicated 7 months before seeing a therapist but after the first visit it seemed like i got the world off my shoulders and like overnight i was a different person, what i mean by that is i used to be shy, introverted and not talkative and now I'm just the opposite and allot of people tell me I'm so much happier and fun so i guess what Feever said about "the stress of the indecision are gone" is true. but basically i feel the same except more emotional.

And like Renate said "For me, I've found that taking hormones is like finally having your brain running on the right grade of gasoline." 

Paula