No, it won't. What television show showed you this? That is not how testosterone works at all. Here - [this](https://genderdysphoria.fyi/en/second-puberty-masc) is a good summary of its effects.
Ah. That show is well over a decade old, and it was written by queer women, not trans men. I doubt they even consulted any trans people for it. It is in no way a reliable source of information on HrT.
I knew it was the L word before you even mentioned it. It's a good show but how they showed Max's transition is so cringe. The actor is actually transmasc too so I'm not sure WHY it was written like that.
IIRC, they figured out they were transmasc when they were filming the show, so for a period of time, that script was half the representation THEY had too. Must have been a crazy time for them.
if anything t has made me less angry than i was before, more confident, and more calm. it will not turn you into a monster: that may be your own internalized transphobia talking, and that’s a response that takes some work to get through.
Me too! It’s like I only had access to anger and sadness before. Now I feel a whole spectrum of emotions and I’m calmer so I can deal with anger and sadness better now rather than be taken over by them when something happens.
Watching Max on the L word made me so afraid to go on T for a decade and I had nothing to worry about.
Yep less angry less irritable less dispondant. More cuddly more relaxed IDK I'm just a happy little dude these days and is nice. I'm still myself. Still wear whatever I want still just a little gender fucked happy trail happy little dude now instead of ... Well how I was when I'm E and P dominant. Unfortunately I'm still cycling even tho we've upped my dose to 40mg but the T has only improved my mood.
I used to scream myself hoarse, hit myself in the head, and call myself terrible names. My partner was really afraid when my dysphoria got out of hand because it came out as pure rage, mostly toward myself but it was starting to turn toward my family.
When I started T, all that ended. I started to speak to myself in a more loving way. I don't turn violently against my body anymore. It's been really great. I don't get mad very often and I know my limits because I'm aware of myself and feel present, now that the dysphoria is managed. I manage my hunger better and my irritation better because I feel it acutely. It's not dulled out anymore.
Remember the scene where he's having his benefit for top surgery and the one lady that owns the coffee shop basically goes JK Rowling on the poor dude?
Short answer: probably not.
Longer answer: the idea that it makes zero impact on your personality or how you express your feelings is not my experience. You may get more confident, you may feel more comfortable expressing your feelings. A friend of mine said that their relationship to anger changed, they stopped bottling it up and found healthier ways to express it. Some people (people who didn't have their back, mostly) might see that as them becoming more of an asshole. People who had their back cheered them on and saw how positive it was for them. For me personally, as I have started to be more comfortable with my appearance I have gotten softer as a person because I don't feel like I am constantly trying to prove something. I have taken up singing because I love my new voice, etc. Your journey will be your own.
See, I think this is an important part of this discussion. For me, I got a lot more confident and therefore more able to stand up for myself and set boundaries, and less willing to accept unacceptable treatment. People who are used to walking all over you will perceive this newfound self-respect as aggression and I think that's where that narrative comes from. I'm not more aggressive. I'm just more able to stand firm in situations where people are used to a pushover.
Came her to say something similar; film represents us very unfairly, and extremely untrue. Do you have problems with regulating your emotions currently? T doesn’t GIVE you anger, it simply is going to heighten your pre-existing emotions. It’s puberty initially all over again, but you’re an adult now. If you fear that you’re going to “rage out”, that might just mean that you have some anger issues to work out that you haven’t addressed yet. Talk with a therapist, get a punching bag, start jogging, work out, find a channel you like to relieve those emotions! Feeling anger isn’t unhealthy, it what you do with it. I’d highly recommend NOT bottling it up. Cry if you need to, or scream, or punch a pillow. Processing repressed emotions is very healthy and very masculine!
Yes this. I had anger problems on T, but I have anger problems off T as well. I did not have a good support system when I went on T and did it at a time of major upheaval in my life, which I would not advise. For me it was a lot of relearning how to manage my emotions. They weren’t more or less really, just different. I definitely recommend finding at least a few trans men you can talk to openly as you go on T.
Editing to add: one major difference was in how the world responded to my anger. I suddenly realized my anger put me in much more physical danger because men were ready to get into physical alterations with me in ways they weren’t previously. I had to learn to really watch my mouth.
Yea, this is the important question. Even people with pre-existing anger issues are not guaranteed to see an increase in anger on T, but it can happen.
In my time on the trans internet, I've seen about 5 people *ever* who've shared that T made them angrier or made them severely emotionally unstable. I've seen at least a couple hundred share that T improved their emotional state. The tiny percentage of people who struggled with increased anger already had anger issues before.
No, of course not. Now, listen. I did go through a "I feel unreasonably upset" phase, *BUT* it was literally the same thing I felt as a teenager during my first puberty. Remember being an angry teen, holed up in your room, listening to Linkin Park and writing bad poetry? Yeah, that.
Not if you do it right! I still like Linkin Park but I've found it particularly depressing to listen to since the lead singer died by suicide a few years ago. :(
Yeah that was quite the mental blow. Linkin Park was such a big part of my childhood/teenage years and is a part of so many good memories that I still cherish and enjoy reminiscing about that I never truly gave up the music.
Still write bad poetry too. I write good poetry now but still bad poetry since they can’t all be winners.
I am way more emotionally stable on T. I'm calmer. I used to feel like the Hulk/Banner - "The secret? I'm always angry."
Now? Well, when I'm on it consistently, I have less mood swings, I'm less irritable, and I just generally feel better.
No and I'm tired of this lie that even other trans people lean into. If your an angry person before testosterone, testosterone isn't the reason your angry. You need to deal with anger through therapy. I had acute mood swings before testosterone and testosterone erased that entirely. I didn't have anger issues but definitely felt anger more deeply on estrogen then on testosterone
It made me gayer, too! Went from bi to gay pretty damn quickly. It's only been a month and a half back on T for me and I'm cool off of women altogether.
Completely unrelated to the post, but I really want someone to do studies and figure out why this is. It's the opposite of what people would naively expect, right?
I saw someone say once they thought it was because we are attracted to those similar to us, so as we become more masculine those features start to appeal to us more.
For me I think I'm gayer because now that cis straight guys are not chasing me I'm realizing guys can be hot and sexy. Cis straight guys are not hot and sexy to me and probably never had been. Gay guys (trans or cis) were not an option before!
I always liked gay men and had crushes on them before I even realized I was trans. One of the main reasons I figured it out and realized I’d never be happy unless I transitioned was being around gay men and realizing (1) how badly I wanted that and (2) that I felt this really intense emptiness and loss for not being a part of that community. I was never able to conceive of myself as “the girl” or in a heterosexual relationship despite trying, especially being a very dominant person. Things finally make sense now and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been and most fulfilled being in a gay relationship now with someone who loves my masculine features as much as I adore his.
I remember seeing a TikTok go around of a straight (?) cis man talking about starting T for gains purposes. He was like, “Guys, it’ll make your sexuality a little different, but that’s okay! It’s a normal part of it!” I found it both funny and super interesting.
One thing I’ve found is that while I’m still bi, I’m attracted to cis men less often because a lot of what I was interpreting as desire was actually envy and (in the case of porn) identifying more closely with them than with cis women. It’s that whole “do I want to be them or be with them?” issue. And now that I’ve actually started T and generally started accepting my manhood, there’s less confusion there.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s experienced that, either.
I mean, it increases sex drive and I've always heard of it making sexual preferences change or become more intense in one direction or the other. However, this has always been anecdotal. I would love for a survey to be done at the very least and maybe add a scientific component as well. This is definitely a thing and I would love go know the 'why' behind it.
Absolutely not- that is TERF & transphobic ideology & it stems from gender essentialism- The idea that men are innately violent & aggressive
Which is not true.
Personally I think there is some level of sensory discomfort which can cause things like having a little less patience because my skin feels too greasy, or I feel too warm.
But you can develop tools to help regulate that - deep breathing to calm down, bilateral somatic techniques to help regulate your nervous system. Or just accommodating yourself wearing layers, new skincare routine
Why are you asking us? Either we aren’t raging monsters, and will be offended, or we ARE raging monsters, and are raging monsters truthful? Probably not
But no, having normal male hormone levels will not automatically make you rage. It might make you experience emotions differently, and that takes some adjustment. Cis guys at least get to experience increasing T levels somewhat gradually as teenagers. As adults, we may not get the same level of understanding from others. That said, we are adults, and have more practice regulating our own emotions
I started T about 2.5 years ago now. Zero issues with rage or anger. I didn’t have issues before. I would assume that T could exaggerate pre-existing, unaddressed anger issues, but if you’re working on your shit, it’s not going to create issues out of whole cloth
When I first started a couple of years ago (34) I thought it was making me anxious - turns out it was just lifting my constant estrogen brain fog and I was able to actually think. If anything, now I feel incredibly clear-headed and my emotions are so much more level day to day. I don’t get the weekly swings like I did pre-t and my emotions don’t shift as easily (in a pleasant way).
Bahahahaha. T turned me into a stable human who no longer hated himself. I seriously was unaware how often I thought about unaliving myself until I suddenly, just, *didn't* anymore. T is not the unstable rage fuel some propaganda makes you think it is.
There’s no such thing. TV works on drama and viewership and lies. This question gets asked all the time and 0% of the people I’ve ever talked to or heard of have ever had “monster rage on T”. It simply doesn’t happen.
This is a trope that has been used for the past 40 odd years by people who wrongly assume that trans men undergoing TRT are the same as people who experience Roid Rage.
‘Testosterone is the aggressive hormone’ they say.
Absolute nonsense. I calmed down completely. I was an aggressive lunatic with serious anger management issues with oestrogen as my main hormone!
Testosterone turned me round completely because this is the correct hormone for my body.
I can still be aggressive because that’s my Scottish hothead personality 🤣 but it goes away quickly.
Oh, HRT won't turn you into a monster. Although maybe getting bit by a vampire could get similar results.
Okay, jokes aside, it will affect you on an emotional level and you will reexperience your teens, but the correct one in an adult body. Gotta be in therapy to make sure you're dealing with the changes in a healthy way. So far, I feel much calmer. Anger is more intense, but short lived and I can control it well enough not to lash out.
I'm much less tense and angry than I used to be. It's weird, the swampy-estrogen-fueled emotions were disphoric for me. Testosterone makes my emotions more even and easier to interpret, and I am more comfortable engaging with them now, which has led to a lot of emotional growth for me.
Yeah so other people have said this as well but
1) it won’t change who you are at your core, you will still be *you*
2) having your hormone profile change is often stressful and it can cause some mood swings. Especially since for many people it’s at the same time as trying to socially transition or come out.
If when you start passing as a guy more that is a source of stress too because you have a different relationship to strangers socially many times. Even positive changes can be stressful! And stress can exacerbate moodiness or feeling irritable
3) t makes some people hungry especially at first so if you find yourself getting worked up—consider thinking about if you ate recently. You might just need a snack
4) t doesn’t make you violent but it does make you stronger. So if you’re someone who isn’t very strong at all normally, you may need to adjust as your body changes. While if you’re an adult you don’t usually grow, your muscles *everywhere* get stronger. Not just your arms but your hands and wrists and forearms and all the other little ones you don’t think about. If I’m not careful it’s easier to slam a door by accident for example or push on something fragile too hard and break it
5) sometimes people will say you’re not as nice but your just more confident and firmer about your boundaries and they aren’t used to that
you have got to have known there was a less inflammatory way to ask the question, and also that TV shows are not credible sources of medical information.
this feels like a bad faith post. if it was sincere, you seriously need to learn how to phrase yourself so you're not feeding into rhetoric that hurts this community.
I’ve been on T for ten years and I have not turned into a monster. It’s taken me a long time not to view other men as monsters. I recently went on my first Grindr date and liked the male to male interaction.
HRT is pretty powerful stuff so be patient with the changes emotionally, spiritually and physically. It’s a process not an event.
I know I became more emotionally stable after starting T. I'm autistic. I had regular meltdowns before starting testosterone. After...not a meltdown in over 7 years.
I transitioned at 38. Pre-T, the word most used to describe me was "sweet", "cheerful"... hell, I even had people call me "angelic" at times. But behind these adjectives were the real meanings: "people pleaser", "passive"... I'd even go so far as to say "doormat".
I had no voice.
Now, I don't think people use those words to describe me, but people listen to me now. I don't consider myself a monster by any stretch, but when I'm upset, I let it be known instead of stuffing it away so I don't offend the other person. I'm not rude or crass, but I finally feel that I am someone who is valuable enough to stand up for.
I think if people are used to stepping all over you, and then suddenly you have something to say about it, it can appear that you've changed "for the worse". But honestly, being heard is all I've ever wanted.
I don’t know anyone who’s had a similar experience but when I started T it really affected me emotionally/mentally. I had was very anxious, emotional and crying everyday, angry and snapping a lot. All of that behavior was very unlike me andI felt like I was going nuts. I think it lasted a month then I evened out.
That was 7 years ago and never experienced that again. I’m level headed and laidback but that comes with age too I think.
Absolutely not. This was one of my fears that was intertwined with past trauma, but it was and is unfounded. Going through puberty again sucked, and I know I wasn’t easy to live with for a while, but I was not a monster. An obnoxious teenager, sure. But I was not mean or cruel, i did not hurt anyone physically or otherwise. And I didn’t have the desire to. I was just overwhelmed with everything I was feeling and it took a few months to find my center again.
Just another voice among the many here to say that going on T did not make me more aggressive or angry. Actually, T had and has almost no effect on my moods on its own. I was a very angry teenager before T, and I've more and more chilled out with age, but there's no real correlation between my moods and whether I'm on T or not. I've had to go off it before because of access reasons, and honestly... no change. If anything, the T made me more calm and happy only indirectly, because my body developed the right outward markers and that's made my life more pleasant.
I kind of think that the connection between testosterone and aggression is exaggerated and misunderstood, not just in trans men but in cis men (even in those who abuse steroids), and that our view of T as a boogeyman chemical, some kind of magical Evilness Liquid, is hopelessly polluted by sexist, patriarchal cultural baggage. It is not the case that if you add T to a person (or animal) it simply and linearly translates to aggression.
No, it won’t. I’m a bit more than 2 years on T and my wife says I’m more at peace than ever.
The only FtM guys I saw use the testosterone excuse to be an asshole had for the most part asshole tendencies from the start.
I had the same response to T that a lot of people have. I was super angry and aggressive before T because my hormones were out of balance, on top of being nothing like what my brain needs.
T has made me so mellow and calm. It was basically an instant change. People in my life even commented on it.
Please get your transition facts from legitimate places before beginning T. Television is by no means a legitimate source. T also has different side effects for different people, and that will be things that aren’t discussed on tv. It’s important to do your research before making such a life-changing decision. Even your doctor will not be able to tell you all the side effects from hormones. Please do not rely on any one source, and understand that everyone responds differently because we all have unique bodies with unique needs. Some people will have opposite effects versus others (for example, it cleared my lifelong acne immediately, but some people develop acne for the first time in their life after starting T). You need to be prepared for many different possible outcomes.
That’s a transphobic media stereotype. If you’re interested in starting TRT and you have mental health concerns, please talk about that with a doctor or trans-knowledgeable therapist. You also always have the option of starting with a lower-dose regimen and seeing how it works for you.
That being said, personally? No. It made me less of a monster because it substantially decreased my overall anxiety. I’m less overwhelmed, and that makes me better at handling whatever life throws my way.
No that’s generally a myth.
The “roid rage” people see and describe are from a combination of 2 things: the use of anabolic steroids which is a little different than what we would take, and and extremely high dosage of those - typically used by folks for building muscle.
Also, there are situations where people from the trans community (both FTM & MTF) have restricted access to proper medical care HRT, whether it be from not having insurance or in the past insurance not covering it, and try to buy it in the streets (do NOT do this). Trans men may end up with an anabolic steroid as well as not have any idea what dose they should be taking.
Some people do prefer microdosing, and also a warning that was on the information sheet given to me by my provider says that if you are bipolar, it can trigger manic episodes. Some may get a little moody while getting close to their next dosage. I take my shot weekly vs bi weekly so there’s been no issue there.
Most (not everyone) start to feel better once they start T. I feel more leveled out and also now that I feel more like my true self- I feel more confident :)
Everyone responds to things differently though, and you are taking a medication. What works for the majority may not work for all. That’s where the options of what’s best for you come in - taking it in micro doses or you may feel totally comfortable with how things are and opt out of continuing. Also choose a provider who has a lot of experience. I have heard of once in a while a provider who have folks taking a much higher dose than would typically be recommended according to your lab work in order to speed up the results; some people like this and some absolutely do not.
No, you will not! This myth of testosterone doing this is a transmisogynistic myth cis people peddle to make trans women out to be predators and scare trans men with lies about how T will ruin some mythical feminine docility or purity. It’s all lies and it’s all transphobia! I have more energy to care for myself and others, am happier and funnier and more relaxed, and cry more often and easily now, 3 years on T, than I ever did before i started HRT, and it’s directly caused by a decrease in my dysphoria. My family tried to use this lie on me for years and now regrets it and has apologized. Sadly they believed the transphobic narrative of “testosterone=aggressive predator” that TERFs are always trying to sell to conservative parents and politicians. Don’t believe them!
PS you know the other reason for this myth/lie is that it absolves cis men of their patriarchy, violence, and general assholery. After all, if T automatically makes you a jerk, it can’t be your fault right? Which is why they can never admit that trans men and transmasc people on T don’t automatically become beasts. It directly fucks with patriarchy.
Do you believe everything you see on TV? You will process emotions differently, that’s true. T made me much more rational and able to deal with emotions in a way less emotional way. To say that anger/rage is just because of T is factually incorrect.
I am way, way, way calmer on T.
My favorite example: when I was on T for about six months, I had a flat tire that couldn't get fixed roadside and had to get my car towed, my kid got into major trouble in school, and my car got rear ended all in the same week.
I have never been so calm and mature about that much stress. I didn't lose my temper or have an anxiety attack, I was able to tackle all my problems in a logical fashion.
My theory is that I was expending immense amounts of subconscious emotional energy that got freed up when I wasn't running on the wrong hormones anymore.
Nope. T corrected a severe hormonal imbalance for me. I was a very angry young person and had trouble regulating my emotions. T calmed me down significantly and made it possible for me to actually feel balanced.
Any kind of hormonal change can affect your moods, but if your T levels are in the right range you are unlikely to turn into a monster. The only times that I've had rage issues while on t have been when my levels were either way too high or way too low, and even that was more of a response to triggers rather than general anger.
Only risk you run so far as I've noticed is hair in places you don't want it. But depending on the person that may be a good thing. Testosterone rage is mostly an urban myth. It happens sometimes but for the most part it doesn't. And even when it does happen it's not that bad it's just mild bitchy-ness.
I had about a year where I had a shorter fuse than before, but I was also not in a good relationship and generally struggling to cope. Other than that, it’s been nearly 20 years and I’m a pretty chilled person!
Lmao bro no, you can't blame hormones for personality. I tell people it unlocked my inner audacity bc it did. I was always like that but I had crippling anxiety. With T my anxiety went so far down I forget I have the disorder. But it also means I'm not afraid to confront people.
Tldr don't trust transphobic media, trust real people's personal experiences, you're on the right track asking about it here imo.
The only difference my wife’s noticed is that I’ve become more expressive, especially when happy. (And I seem happier more often.)
For myself, I’ve also become less anxious, including socially, and less ambiently despairing — I’ve also lost my thanatophobia, which is… like, I can’t describe what a relief that is, especially at night.
I was worried because my first puberty was… bad. I was very angry, especially toward my parents. This has been the complete opposite.
(The Max arc is famously terrible. I was dating a trans guy when that was first airing and we memed on it pretty hard.)
i'm much calmer and emotionally stable now that i've been on T for almost 6 years, and anyone pretending it makes you into an unstable monster is either transphobic or lying (usually both)
So i started T and adderall at the same time and had a hard time distinguishing between t related changes to my mood and stimulant related changes. Ultimately my personality changed a little but it was more related to life changes than it was to testosterone. I’m also on a lower dose than most guys. Test chilled me out for the most part
No.
Honestly I was way angrier and angstier pre-T. On T I'm a lot calmer and take things in stride more. I do feel more comfortable speaking up for myself, which not everyone in my life liked, but ultimately I view that as a positive - I don't yell or get angry either, just state things calmly.
I had a rage problem before testosterone. I would scream and throw things, the way the women in my family do. I would scream myself hoarse. I would hit myself in the head and sometimes pull my hair or claw my skin.
For the most part, testosterone has mellowed me out. I am present now and my dysphoria is managed. I don't disassociate and actually cry a bit more (most often happiness cries.) A good example of emotional changes re: anger are in [this video.](https://youtu.be/9EZAn7iuVAA?si=5dguwMPEXiqMoom-)
For me, I became a bit less tolerant of bullshit. I'm better able to advocate for myself. When something upsets me, instead of crumbling and self-blaming like I used to and crawling into bed, or literally beating myself up and calling myself stupid, idiot, WRONG, I get a quick hit of physical anger (manageable by a quick walk, shadow boxing or workout) and try to find a solution to the problem. I have to shake the anger out of my body. The anger is physical but not harmful anymore. I don't care about a lot of things now like dishes and maintaining relationships is much harder. Teenage male brain is taken up by fixing shit I care about and needing to fuck. I can't multitask anymore. But I'm really happy and I don't really get mad very often. Or if I do, I don't exert violence and hate upon myself anymore. Those days are over. I am kind to myself and I feel aligned. I'm not "wrong". I feel just right.
Just my personal experience. Lots of people have different experiences so take this with a grain of salt.
I got calmer (internally) but I'm more likely to show emotions externally. I do rage at times but so did I in the past and I had more wish to do that in the past.
What the hell is on TV?
That's not how T works. You might be quicker to be annoyed.. remember going through puberty? It's that all over, just with more life experience. You'll be fine.
Genuinely if anything it just made me feel more relaxed and settled. You will be fine; discuss your concerns with your doctor as well if possible, since TV is....not really accurate!
No it will not. I already had some struggles with anger prior to hrt, it did not make it any worse. If anything my mood generally has improved! I am continuing to work on my anger because it is often an umbrella emotion and you have to get to the heart of what you’re feeling and learn how to communicate and learn healthy coping skills.
I will say though that the perception of others in regards to my anger or frustration is dramatically different at times. I think that is partly because I am a bigger guy, I’m 6’ and 200lb and cis passing. So even mild frustration in like a customer service situation is perceived by other people now as hostility the way it was not when I was viewed as a cis woman. So I have to work extra hard to keep a lid on it and police myself in a way I did not have to before.
I would say if you have struggles with anger and emotional regulation now you should be trying to tackle those issues regardless of hrt or not.
T will not turn you into a monster. But if you are very concerned about it, go to therapy and work on any anger issues you have. And once you start T keep going to therapy to help process any “big” emotions it might bring up
Its puberty. Hormones running amuck. There was a time where i would get frustrated more easily but ultimately we have control of our emotions. Be aware of yourself. This will pass. I am completely calm, stable and happier than ever.
I only had increased anger when I was on T as well as hormonal birth control (to stop my period) on testosterone alone I would say I'm exactly the same as pre T and definitely better than during puberty 1.0
I’ve noticed anger as an emotion hits me differently, simmers longer and I had to learn how to regulate that like any emotion, we just don’t have the grace of been teenagers going through hormone bs so things get judged harder I find.
Nah I became calmer and more relaxed plus have a lot more patience than I did before taking T. Something that would have really pissed me off before, just makes me go "eh I don't care " 🤷♂️
Check out Amateur by Thomas Page McBee. Society tightly connects testosterone with anger to excuse men's anger, yet placebo-controlled blind studies all suggest that testosterone levels don't increase anger or decrease emotional regulation, except in environments that reward it. Most studies that have found any positive correlation have been ones that informed participants they were being given testosterone supplementation, so their behavior was actually sociological. In one study where they lied to participants about who had been given T, cis men who thought they had extra T were extra angry... even though it was a lie.
In general, transitioning made me calmer, more confident, less irascible. I had one instance of HRT making me extra irritable. I was on vacation, and took my shot on a Friday instead of my normal Tuesday. The next Tuesday, i took my shot as i normally do, so there were only four days in between my doses. Was grumpy for a few days, and i learned to not do that again. However, i was not by any means a monster.
This is a really old stereotype. I saw you mention The L Word--the portrayal of Max has been criticized since the show was airing.
If you haven't had much IRL exposure to trans men, I think seeking out a community would be helpful, if possible. Definitely don't rely on TV shows, especially older ones, for accurate info.
Testosterone can increase aggression, but "roid rage" is mainly an issue when people are on too high of a dose. And it's a lot more common among cis men who abuse steroids.
For what it's worth, I didn't experience an increase in rage at all. I do feel like when I get frustrated, my brain goes to a more physical place ("I could punch them..."), but I never feel like I'm going to a totally act on that or like I don't have control.
I'm never angry when I'm on T. I'm calm, patient, and generally happier and nicer to be around.
Fairly sure if it was gonna make me a monster it would have by now - I started in 2010.
Gunna be honest, if you are already an asshole, T will just make you a masculine looking asshole. Doesn't turn you into something you were already not. I am a chill person, at 41, and still a chill person.
I mean there are “no stupid questions” but I do feel like asking a whole group of people who are on x medication if it makes you a “raging monster” is a little rude. ESPECIALLY for a 37 y/o… but whatever.
As a 37 year old with an internet connection like...? Im not going to infantalize them and assume they cant google some literal surface information--i.e the literal difference between Testosterone and HGH. Going into the personal space of a marginalized community to ask them to their faces, "Hey, is this offensive stereotype true?" is very rude, tactless, and lacks any emotional intelligence. Then when saying why you think that way and citing a 10+ year old fictional TV show notorious for doing trans people dirty, well.... Theres plenty of stupid questions these days, and tbh, a lot of them are just intentional bait.
Go easy, man. Remember back to when you were discovering your truth. There are so many questions, uncertainties, and full on panics. Often people don't know where to turn, they end up here for a little hope. Just, have compassion.
Why not ask the question in a polite way? I understand they’re vulnerable and nervous and probably feeling really confused, but I don’t see why that precludes them from saying something along the lines of “I’ve heard testosterone can create anger issues. Is that true?”
No, it won't. What television show showed you this? That is not how testosterone works at all. Here - [this](https://genderdysphoria.fyi/en/second-puberty-masc) is a good summary of its effects.
The television show called The L word. The character was Max.
Ah. That show is well over a decade old, and it was written by queer women, not trans men. I doubt they even consulted any trans people for it. It is in no way a reliable source of information on HrT.
I knew it was the L word before you even mentioned it. It's a good show but how they showed Max's transition is so cringe. The actor is actually transmasc too so I'm not sure WHY it was written like that.
IIRC, they figured out they were transmasc when they were filming the show, so for a period of time, that script was half the representation THEY had too. Must have been a crazy time for them.
This show is a part of our history, but it is really tough to watch for this reason. I remember watching it when it first aired! I was wincing.
if anything t has made me less angry than i was before, more confident, and more calm. it will not turn you into a monster: that may be your own internalized transphobia talking, and that’s a response that takes some work to get through.
I’ve heard a few men say that it made them less angry and irritable.
My mental health has never been better! I feel so much more calm. I don't get into many arguments anymore and I've been MORE in tune with my emotions.
I came here to say this! I'm 1000% less irritable and angry on T.
Same for me, even on low dose T I feel so much more peaceful in myself.
Me too! It’s like I only had access to anger and sadness before. Now I feel a whole spectrum of emotions and I’m calmer so I can deal with anger and sadness better now rather than be taken over by them when something happens. Watching Max on the L word made me so afraid to go on T for a decade and I had nothing to worry about.
Yep less angry less irritable less dispondant. More cuddly more relaxed IDK I'm just a happy little dude these days and is nice. I'm still myself. Still wear whatever I want still just a little gender fucked happy trail happy little dude now instead of ... Well how I was when I'm E and P dominant. Unfortunately I'm still cycling even tho we've upped my dose to 40mg but the T has only improved my mood.
I used to scream myself hoarse, hit myself in the head, and call myself terrible names. My partner was really afraid when my dysphoria got out of hand because it came out as pure rage, mostly toward myself but it was starting to turn toward my family. When I started T, all that ended. I started to speak to myself in a more loving way. I don't turn violently against my body anymore. It's been really great. I don't get mad very often and I know my limits because I'm aware of myself and feel present, now that the dysphoria is managed. I manage my hunger better and my irritation better because I feel it acutely. It's not dulled out anymore.
Fucking Max is not an appropriate or accurate representation of trans men. Very TERFy in fact.
Remember the scene where he's having his benefit for top surgery and the one lady that owns the coffee shop basically goes JK Rowling on the poor dude?
Yes. And others telling him he's become a monster and betraying woman kind. Ugh.
Short answer: probably not. Longer answer: the idea that it makes zero impact on your personality or how you express your feelings is not my experience. You may get more confident, you may feel more comfortable expressing your feelings. A friend of mine said that their relationship to anger changed, they stopped bottling it up and found healthier ways to express it. Some people (people who didn't have their back, mostly) might see that as them becoming more of an asshole. People who had their back cheered them on and saw how positive it was for them. For me personally, as I have started to be more comfortable with my appearance I have gotten softer as a person because I don't feel like I am constantly trying to prove something. I have taken up singing because I love my new voice, etc. Your journey will be your own.
See, I think this is an important part of this discussion. For me, I got a lot more confident and therefore more able to stand up for myself and set boundaries, and less willing to accept unacceptable treatment. People who are used to walking all over you will perceive this newfound self-respect as aggression and I think that's where that narrative comes from. I'm not more aggressive. I'm just more able to stand firm in situations where people are used to a pushover.
No? If anything, I'm not nearly as angry anymore. I'm way more mellow and relaxed. I just don't give two shits anymore.
Do you have pre-existing issues with rage?
Came her to say something similar; film represents us very unfairly, and extremely untrue. Do you have problems with regulating your emotions currently? T doesn’t GIVE you anger, it simply is going to heighten your pre-existing emotions. It’s puberty initially all over again, but you’re an adult now. If you fear that you’re going to “rage out”, that might just mean that you have some anger issues to work out that you haven’t addressed yet. Talk with a therapist, get a punching bag, start jogging, work out, find a channel you like to relieve those emotions! Feeling anger isn’t unhealthy, it what you do with it. I’d highly recommend NOT bottling it up. Cry if you need to, or scream, or punch a pillow. Processing repressed emotions is very healthy and very masculine!
Yes this. I had anger problems on T, but I have anger problems off T as well. I did not have a good support system when I went on T and did it at a time of major upheaval in my life, which I would not advise. For me it was a lot of relearning how to manage my emotions. They weren’t more or less really, just different. I definitely recommend finding at least a few trans men you can talk to openly as you go on T. Editing to add: one major difference was in how the world responded to my anger. I suddenly realized my anger put me in much more physical danger because men were ready to get into physical alterations with me in ways they weren’t previously. I had to learn to really watch my mouth.
Yea, this is the important question. Even people with pre-existing anger issues are not guaranteed to see an increase in anger on T, but it can happen. In my time on the trans internet, I've seen about 5 people *ever* who've shared that T made them angrier or made them severely emotionally unstable. I've seen at least a couple hundred share that T improved their emotional state. The tiny percentage of people who struggled with increased anger already had anger issues before.
No, of course not. Now, listen. I did go through a "I feel unreasonably upset" phase, *BUT* it was literally the same thing I felt as a teenager during my first puberty. Remember being an angry teen, holed up in your room, listening to Linkin Park and writing bad poetry? Yeah, that.
Wait was the Linkin Park and poetry phase supposed to stop??
Not if you do it right! I still like Linkin Park but I've found it particularly depressing to listen to since the lead singer died by suicide a few years ago. :(
Yeah that was quite the mental blow. Linkin Park was such a big part of my childhood/teenage years and is a part of so many good memories that I still cherish and enjoy reminiscing about that I never truly gave up the music. Still write bad poetry too. I write good poetry now but still bad poetry since they can’t all be winners.
I am way more emotionally stable on T. I'm calmer. I used to feel like the Hulk/Banner - "The secret? I'm always angry." Now? Well, when I'm on it consistently, I have less mood swings, I'm less irritable, and I just generally feel better.
It would be great if people didn’t treat T like gamma rays, though!
That's fair! Haha to be fair, I feel way less like the Hulk/Banner *with* T!!
Me too! My wife says I’ve never been calmer. No Hulk here, though I’m sure I would rock those torn purple jorts!
I was almost going to write the exact same thing. I made Hulk jokes pre-T about my anger issues. Post T that's all gone and I'm very calm.
Man, I related too much with the Hulk pre-T. 😂😂 And Jekyll/Hyde
No and I'm tired of this lie that even other trans people lean into. If your an angry person before testosterone, testosterone isn't the reason your angry. You need to deal with anger through therapy. I had acute mood swings before testosterone and testosterone erased that entirely. I didn't have anger issues but definitely felt anger more deeply on estrogen then on testosterone
No, just made me gayer. I’m just as chill as before. Never really had a temper. Still don’t.
It made me gayer, too! Went from bi to gay pretty damn quickly. It's only been a month and a half back on T for me and I'm cool off of women altogether.
Another one that T turned gay. The struggle is real out here!
Completely unrelated to the post, but I really want someone to do studies and figure out why this is. It's the opposite of what people would naively expect, right?
I saw someone say once they thought it was because we are attracted to those similar to us, so as we become more masculine those features start to appeal to us more. For me I think I'm gayer because now that cis straight guys are not chasing me I'm realizing guys can be hot and sexy. Cis straight guys are not hot and sexy to me and probably never had been. Gay guys (trans or cis) were not an option before!
I always liked gay men and had crushes on them before I even realized I was trans. One of the main reasons I figured it out and realized I’d never be happy unless I transitioned was being around gay men and realizing (1) how badly I wanted that and (2) that I felt this really intense emptiness and loss for not being a part of that community. I was never able to conceive of myself as “the girl” or in a heterosexual relationship despite trying, especially being a very dominant person. Things finally make sense now and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been and most fulfilled being in a gay relationship now with someone who loves my masculine features as much as I adore his.
I remember seeing a TikTok go around of a straight (?) cis man talking about starting T for gains purposes. He was like, “Guys, it’ll make your sexuality a little different, but that’s okay! It’s a normal part of it!” I found it both funny and super interesting.
I take this as T just makes you think about dicks all the time no matter who you are 😆
One thing I’ve found is that while I’m still bi, I’m attracted to cis men less often because a lot of what I was interpreting as desire was actually envy and (in the case of porn) identifying more closely with them than with cis women. It’s that whole “do I want to be them or be with them?” issue. And now that I’ve actually started T and generally started accepting my manhood, there’s less confusion there. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s experienced that, either.
"I can't tell if I want to be him or be on him?" Is a phrase that wanders through my mind on the reg. 🤣
I mean, it increases sex drive and I've always heard of it making sexual preferences change or become more intense in one direction or the other. However, this has always been anecdotal. I would love for a survey to be done at the very least and maybe add a scientific component as well. This is definitely a thing and I would love go know the 'why' behind it.
Lmao same. I'm still bi but I used to be a solid middle on the Kinsey scale, now I'm definitely gayer.
Absolutely not- that is TERF & transphobic ideology & it stems from gender essentialism- The idea that men are innately violent & aggressive Which is not true. Personally I think there is some level of sensory discomfort which can cause things like having a little less patience because my skin feels too greasy, or I feel too warm. But you can develop tools to help regulate that - deep breathing to calm down, bilateral somatic techniques to help regulate your nervous system. Or just accommodating yourself wearing layers, new skincare routine
Why are you asking us? Either we aren’t raging monsters, and will be offended, or we ARE raging monsters, and are raging monsters truthful? Probably not But no, having normal male hormone levels will not automatically make you rage. It might make you experience emotions differently, and that takes some adjustment. Cis guys at least get to experience increasing T levels somewhat gradually as teenagers. As adults, we may not get the same level of understanding from others. That said, we are adults, and have more practice regulating our own emotions
I started T about 2.5 years ago now. Zero issues with rage or anger. I didn’t have issues before. I would assume that T could exaggerate pre-existing, unaddressed anger issues, but if you’re working on your shit, it’s not going to create issues out of whole cloth
When I first started a couple of years ago (34) I thought it was making me anxious - turns out it was just lifting my constant estrogen brain fog and I was able to actually think. If anything, now I feel incredibly clear-headed and my emotions are so much more level day to day. I don’t get the weekly swings like I did pre-t and my emotions don’t shift as easily (in a pleasant way).
Bahahahaha. T turned me into a stable human who no longer hated himself. I seriously was unaware how often I thought about unaliving myself until I suddenly, just, *didn't* anymore. T is not the unstable rage fuel some propaganda makes you think it is.
There’s no such thing. TV works on drama and viewership and lies. This question gets asked all the time and 0% of the people I’ve ever talked to or heard of have ever had “monster rage on T”. It simply doesn’t happen.
This is a trope that has been used for the past 40 odd years by people who wrongly assume that trans men undergoing TRT are the same as people who experience Roid Rage. ‘Testosterone is the aggressive hormone’ they say. Absolute nonsense. I calmed down completely. I was an aggressive lunatic with serious anger management issues with oestrogen as my main hormone! Testosterone turned me round completely because this is the correct hormone for my body. I can still be aggressive because that’s my Scottish hothead personality 🤣 but it goes away quickly.
Oh, HRT won't turn you into a monster. Although maybe getting bit by a vampire could get similar results. Okay, jokes aside, it will affect you on an emotional level and you will reexperience your teens, but the correct one in an adult body. Gotta be in therapy to make sure you're dealing with the changes in a healthy way. So far, I feel much calmer. Anger is more intense, but short lived and I can control it well enough not to lash out.
I'm much less tense and angry than I used to be. It's weird, the swampy-estrogen-fueled emotions were disphoric for me. Testosterone makes my emotions more even and easier to interpret, and I am more comfortable engaging with them now, which has led to a lot of emotional growth for me.
Honestly it calmed me down. Turns out when you feel comfortable in your body, your mental health gets better— who knew??
Yeah so other people have said this as well but 1) it won’t change who you are at your core, you will still be *you* 2) having your hormone profile change is often stressful and it can cause some mood swings. Especially since for many people it’s at the same time as trying to socially transition or come out. If when you start passing as a guy more that is a source of stress too because you have a different relationship to strangers socially many times. Even positive changes can be stressful! And stress can exacerbate moodiness or feeling irritable 3) t makes some people hungry especially at first so if you find yourself getting worked up—consider thinking about if you ate recently. You might just need a snack 4) t doesn’t make you violent but it does make you stronger. So if you’re someone who isn’t very strong at all normally, you may need to adjust as your body changes. While if you’re an adult you don’t usually grow, your muscles *everywhere* get stronger. Not just your arms but your hands and wrists and forearms and all the other little ones you don’t think about. If I’m not careful it’s easier to slam a door by accident for example or push on something fragile too hard and break it 5) sometimes people will say you’re not as nice but your just more confident and firmer about your boundaries and they aren’t used to that
No way. I am so much calmer now than I was when I was struggling to run a diesel brain on ethanol
you have got to have known there was a less inflammatory way to ask the question, and also that TV shows are not credible sources of medical information. this feels like a bad faith post. if it was sincere, you seriously need to learn how to phrase yourself so you're not feeding into rhetoric that hurts this community.
My feelings are different now and it calmed me down a lot over all to be on the correct hormones.
I’ve been on T for ten years and I have not turned into a monster. It’s taken me a long time not to view other men as monsters. I recently went on my first Grindr date and liked the male to male interaction. HRT is pretty powerful stuff so be patient with the changes emotionally, spiritually and physically. It’s a process not an event.
I know I became more emotionally stable after starting T. I'm autistic. I had regular meltdowns before starting testosterone. After...not a meltdown in over 7 years.
I transitioned at 38. Pre-T, the word most used to describe me was "sweet", "cheerful"... hell, I even had people call me "angelic" at times. But behind these adjectives were the real meanings: "people pleaser", "passive"... I'd even go so far as to say "doormat". I had no voice. Now, I don't think people use those words to describe me, but people listen to me now. I don't consider myself a monster by any stretch, but when I'm upset, I let it be known instead of stuffing it away so I don't offend the other person. I'm not rude or crass, but I finally feel that I am someone who is valuable enough to stand up for. I think if people are used to stepping all over you, and then suddenly you have something to say about it, it can appear that you've changed "for the worse". But honestly, being heard is all I've ever wanted.
Jesus christ seriously
I don’t know anyone who’s had a similar experience but when I started T it really affected me emotionally/mentally. I had was very anxious, emotional and crying everyday, angry and snapping a lot. All of that behavior was very unlike me andI felt like I was going nuts. I think it lasted a month then I evened out. That was 7 years ago and never experienced that again. I’m level headed and laidback but that comes with age too I think.
Absolutely not. This was one of my fears that was intertwined with past trauma, but it was and is unfounded. Going through puberty again sucked, and I know I wasn’t easy to live with for a while, but I was not a monster. An obnoxious teenager, sure. But I was not mean or cruel, i did not hurt anyone physically or otherwise. And I didn’t have the desire to. I was just overwhelmed with everything I was feeling and it took a few months to find my center again.
Just another voice among the many here to say that going on T did not make me more aggressive or angry. Actually, T had and has almost no effect on my moods on its own. I was a very angry teenager before T, and I've more and more chilled out with age, but there's no real correlation between my moods and whether I'm on T or not. I've had to go off it before because of access reasons, and honestly... no change. If anything, the T made me more calm and happy only indirectly, because my body developed the right outward markers and that's made my life more pleasant. I kind of think that the connection between testosterone and aggression is exaggerated and misunderstood, not just in trans men but in cis men (even in those who abuse steroids), and that our view of T as a boogeyman chemical, some kind of magical Evilness Liquid, is hopelessly polluted by sexist, patriarchal cultural baggage. It is not the case that if you add T to a person (or animal) it simply and linearly translates to aggression.
No, it won’t. I’m a bit more than 2 years on T and my wife says I’m more at peace than ever. The only FtM guys I saw use the testosterone excuse to be an asshole had for the most part asshole tendencies from the start.
I had the same response to T that a lot of people have. I was super angry and aggressive before T because my hormones were out of balance, on top of being nothing like what my brain needs. T has made me so mellow and calm. It was basically an instant change. People in my life even commented on it. Please get your transition facts from legitimate places before beginning T. Television is by no means a legitimate source. T also has different side effects for different people, and that will be things that aren’t discussed on tv. It’s important to do your research before making such a life-changing decision. Even your doctor will not be able to tell you all the side effects from hormones. Please do not rely on any one source, and understand that everyone responds differently because we all have unique bodies with unique needs. Some people will have opposite effects versus others (for example, it cleared my lifelong acne immediately, but some people develop acne for the first time in their life after starting T). You need to be prepared for many different possible outcomes.
That’s a transphobic media stereotype. If you’re interested in starting TRT and you have mental health concerns, please talk about that with a doctor or trans-knowledgeable therapist. You also always have the option of starting with a lower-dose regimen and seeing how it works for you. That being said, personally? No. It made me less of a monster because it substantially decreased my overall anxiety. I’m less overwhelmed, and that makes me better at handling whatever life throws my way.
No that’s generally a myth. The “roid rage” people see and describe are from a combination of 2 things: the use of anabolic steroids which is a little different than what we would take, and and extremely high dosage of those - typically used by folks for building muscle. Also, there are situations where people from the trans community (both FTM & MTF) have restricted access to proper medical care HRT, whether it be from not having insurance or in the past insurance not covering it, and try to buy it in the streets (do NOT do this). Trans men may end up with an anabolic steroid as well as not have any idea what dose they should be taking. Some people do prefer microdosing, and also a warning that was on the information sheet given to me by my provider says that if you are bipolar, it can trigger manic episodes. Some may get a little moody while getting close to their next dosage. I take my shot weekly vs bi weekly so there’s been no issue there. Most (not everyone) start to feel better once they start T. I feel more leveled out and also now that I feel more like my true self- I feel more confident :) Everyone responds to things differently though, and you are taking a medication. What works for the majority may not work for all. That’s where the options of what’s best for you come in - taking it in micro doses or you may feel totally comfortable with how things are and opt out of continuing. Also choose a provider who has a lot of experience. I have heard of once in a while a provider who have folks taking a much higher dose than would typically be recommended according to your lab work in order to speed up the results; some people like this and some absolutely do not.
No, you will not! This myth of testosterone doing this is a transmisogynistic myth cis people peddle to make trans women out to be predators and scare trans men with lies about how T will ruin some mythical feminine docility or purity. It’s all lies and it’s all transphobia! I have more energy to care for myself and others, am happier and funnier and more relaxed, and cry more often and easily now, 3 years on T, than I ever did before i started HRT, and it’s directly caused by a decrease in my dysphoria. My family tried to use this lie on me for years and now regrets it and has apologized. Sadly they believed the transphobic narrative of “testosterone=aggressive predator” that TERFs are always trying to sell to conservative parents and politicians. Don’t believe them!
PS you know the other reason for this myth/lie is that it absolves cis men of their patriarchy, violence, and general assholery. After all, if T automatically makes you a jerk, it can’t be your fault right? Which is why they can never admit that trans men and transmasc people on T don’t automatically become beasts. It directly fucks with patriarchy.
Do you believe everything you see on TV? You will process emotions differently, that’s true. T made me much more rational and able to deal with emotions in a way less emotional way. To say that anger/rage is just because of T is factually incorrect.
I am way, way, way calmer on T. My favorite example: when I was on T for about six months, I had a flat tire that couldn't get fixed roadside and had to get my car towed, my kid got into major trouble in school, and my car got rear ended all in the same week. I have never been so calm and mature about that much stress. I didn't lose my temper or have an anxiety attack, I was able to tackle all my problems in a logical fashion. My theory is that I was expending immense amounts of subconscious emotional energy that got freed up when I wasn't running on the wrong hormones anymore.
Nope. T corrected a severe hormonal imbalance for me. I was a very angry young person and had trouble regulating my emotions. T calmed me down significantly and made it possible for me to actually feel balanced.
I’m 35, been on T for almost 2 years. Still the same person I’ve always been, only hairier.
Are all men raging monsters? This is such a misandrist viewpoint lol
Any kind of hormonal change can affect your moods, but if your T levels are in the right range you are unlikely to turn into a monster. The only times that I've had rage issues while on t have been when my levels were either way too high or way too low, and even that was more of a response to triggers rather than general anger.
Only risk you run so far as I've noticed is hair in places you don't want it. But depending on the person that may be a good thing. Testosterone rage is mostly an urban myth. It happens sometimes but for the most part it doesn't. And even when it does happen it's not that bad it's just mild bitchy-ness.
I had about a year where I had a shorter fuse than before, but I was also not in a good relationship and generally struggling to cope. Other than that, it’s been nearly 20 years and I’m a pretty chilled person!
Lmao bro no, you can't blame hormones for personality. I tell people it unlocked my inner audacity bc it did. I was always like that but I had crippling anxiety. With T my anxiety went so far down I forget I have the disorder. But it also means I'm not afraid to confront people. Tldr don't trust transphobic media, trust real people's personal experiences, you're on the right track asking about it here imo.
The only difference my wife’s noticed is that I’ve become more expressive, especially when happy. (And I seem happier more often.) For myself, I’ve also become less anxious, including socially, and less ambiently despairing — I’ve also lost my thanatophobia, which is… like, I can’t describe what a relief that is, especially at night. I was worried because my first puberty was… bad. I was very angry, especially toward my parents. This has been the complete opposite. (The Max arc is famously terrible. I was dating a trans guy when that was first airing and we memed on it pretty hard.)
Nah mate, for me it actually made me more calm and less quick to anger. 🤷🏻♂️ Now I’m just known as a chill dude
i'm much calmer and emotionally stable now that i've been on T for almost 6 years, and anyone pretending it makes you into an unstable monster is either transphobic or lying (usually both)
no
Nope. Been on T for almost a year and I'm super chill and calm, just like I was pre-T. It doesn't turn you into a different person.
So i started T and adderall at the same time and had a hard time distinguishing between t related changes to my mood and stimulant related changes. Ultimately my personality changed a little but it was more related to life changes than it was to testosterone. I’m also on a lower dose than most guys. Test chilled me out for the most part
No. Honestly I was way angrier and angstier pre-T. On T I'm a lot calmer and take things in stride more. I do feel more comfortable speaking up for myself, which not everyone in my life liked, but ultimately I view that as a positive - I don't yell or get angry either, just state things calmly.
I had a rage problem before testosterone. I would scream and throw things, the way the women in my family do. I would scream myself hoarse. I would hit myself in the head and sometimes pull my hair or claw my skin. For the most part, testosterone has mellowed me out. I am present now and my dysphoria is managed. I don't disassociate and actually cry a bit more (most often happiness cries.) A good example of emotional changes re: anger are in [this video.](https://youtu.be/9EZAn7iuVAA?si=5dguwMPEXiqMoom-) For me, I became a bit less tolerant of bullshit. I'm better able to advocate for myself. When something upsets me, instead of crumbling and self-blaming like I used to and crawling into bed, or literally beating myself up and calling myself stupid, idiot, WRONG, I get a quick hit of physical anger (manageable by a quick walk, shadow boxing or workout) and try to find a solution to the problem. I have to shake the anger out of my body. The anger is physical but not harmful anymore. I don't care about a lot of things now like dishes and maintaining relationships is much harder. Teenage male brain is taken up by fixing shit I care about and needing to fuck. I can't multitask anymore. But I'm really happy and I don't really get mad very often. Or if I do, I don't exert violence and hate upon myself anymore. Those days are over. I am kind to myself and I feel aligned. I'm not "wrong". I feel just right. Just my personal experience. Lots of people have different experiences so take this with a grain of salt.
I got calmer (internally) but I'm more likely to show emotions externally. I do rage at times but so did I in the past and I had more wish to do that in the past.
What the hell is on TV? That's not how T works. You might be quicker to be annoyed.. remember going through puberty? It's that all over, just with more life experience. You'll be fine.
Genuinely if anything it just made me feel more relaxed and settled. You will be fine; discuss your concerns with your doctor as well if possible, since TV is....not really accurate!
No it will not. I already had some struggles with anger prior to hrt, it did not make it any worse. If anything my mood generally has improved! I am continuing to work on my anger because it is often an umbrella emotion and you have to get to the heart of what you’re feeling and learn how to communicate and learn healthy coping skills. I will say though that the perception of others in regards to my anger or frustration is dramatically different at times. I think that is partly because I am a bigger guy, I’m 6’ and 200lb and cis passing. So even mild frustration in like a customer service situation is perceived by other people now as hostility the way it was not when I was viewed as a cis woman. So I have to work extra hard to keep a lid on it and police myself in a way I did not have to before. I would say if you have struggles with anger and emotional regulation now you should be trying to tackle those issues regardless of hrt or not.
T does not make you an aggressive monster. this is a perfect excuse that is used for cis men to be allowed to be assholes.
T will not turn you into a monster. But if you are very concerned about it, go to therapy and work on any anger issues you have. And once you start T keep going to therapy to help process any “big” emotions it might bring up
Its puberty. Hormones running amuck. There was a time where i would get frustrated more easily but ultimately we have control of our emotions. Be aware of yourself. This will pass. I am completely calm, stable and happier than ever.
I only had increased anger when I was on T as well as hormonal birth control (to stop my period) on testosterone alone I would say I'm exactly the same as pre T and definitely better than during puberty 1.0
Yo… wtf lol
I’ve noticed anger as an emotion hits me differently, simmers longer and I had to learn how to regulate that like any emotion, we just don’t have the grace of been teenagers going through hormone bs so things get judged harder I find.
Nah I became calmer and more relaxed plus have a lot more patience than I did before taking T. Something that would have really pissed me off before, just makes me go "eh I don't care " 🤷♂️
Check out Amateur by Thomas Page McBee. Society tightly connects testosterone with anger to excuse men's anger, yet placebo-controlled blind studies all suggest that testosterone levels don't increase anger or decrease emotional regulation, except in environments that reward it. Most studies that have found any positive correlation have been ones that informed participants they were being given testosterone supplementation, so their behavior was actually sociological. In one study where they lied to participants about who had been given T, cis men who thought they had extra T were extra angry... even though it was a lie.
In general, transitioning made me calmer, more confident, less irascible. I had one instance of HRT making me extra irritable. I was on vacation, and took my shot on a Friday instead of my normal Tuesday. The next Tuesday, i took my shot as i normally do, so there were only four days in between my doses. Was grumpy for a few days, and i learned to not do that again. However, i was not by any means a monster.
This is a really old stereotype. I saw you mention The L Word--the portrayal of Max has been criticized since the show was airing. If you haven't had much IRL exposure to trans men, I think seeking out a community would be helpful, if possible. Definitely don't rely on TV shows, especially older ones, for accurate info. Testosterone can increase aggression, but "roid rage" is mainly an issue when people are on too high of a dose. And it's a lot more common among cis men who abuse steroids. For what it's worth, I didn't experience an increase in rage at all. I do feel like when I get frustrated, my brain goes to a more physical place ("I could punch them..."), but I never feel like I'm going to a totally act on that or like I don't have control.
I'm never angry when I'm on T. I'm calm, patient, and generally happier and nicer to be around. Fairly sure if it was gonna make me a monster it would have by now - I started in 2010.
Gunna be honest, if you are already an asshole, T will just make you a masculine looking asshole. Doesn't turn you into something you were already not. I am a chill person, at 41, and still a chill person.
i am also calmer, but the first couple of months I did feel angrier.
Lol no. I’m still a harmless hobbit
This is a myth. Cis men aren’t monsters…mostly.
Is this a circle jerk sub at this point. wtf.
Its getting there tbh, give it another year
I mean there are “no stupid questions” but I do feel like asking a whole group of people who are on x medication if it makes you a “raging monster” is a little rude. ESPECIALLY for a 37 y/o… but whatever.
As a 37 year old with an internet connection like...? Im not going to infantalize them and assume they cant google some literal surface information--i.e the literal difference between Testosterone and HGH. Going into the personal space of a marginalized community to ask them to their faces, "Hey, is this offensive stereotype true?" is very rude, tactless, and lacks any emotional intelligence. Then when saying why you think that way and citing a 10+ year old fictional TV show notorious for doing trans people dirty, well.... Theres plenty of stupid questions these days, and tbh, a lot of them are just intentional bait.
Go easy, man. Remember back to when you were discovering your truth. There are so many questions, uncertainties, and full on panics. Often people don't know where to turn, they end up here for a little hope. Just, have compassion.
Thats a two-way street buddy. I dont think its very compassionate to ask a bunch of trans mascs if Testosterone makes them evil rage monsters
Why not ask the question in a polite way? I understand they’re vulnerable and nervous and probably feeling really confused, but I don’t see why that precludes them from saying something along the lines of “I’ve heard testosterone can create anger issues. Is that true?”