Does Lack of Testosterone Cause Personality Changes?

[iwantnoballs (imported)]

Thank you to all who responded... and who will continue to respond!! Rather than type it out again, painstakingly through my phone, I just copied and pasted part of a post I made to another thread a couple days ago ("depo provera") that might give more insight... if it matters to anyone see below, then I will continue my thoughts.

" I guess the only true way to get answers is to just take the plunge, so to speak. I think one of my biggest concerns that keeps me already thinking this may not be for me is the lower energy everyone seems to experience, or the reduced motivation. I already have somewhat of an issue with motivation for certain things I think I want to do more of, as I like to stay active... or at least try. The calm some people say they experience is intriguing but I am already an extremely calm person. I have no sex drive so nothing can change in that department, but the reason I am doing this is to eliminate my perpetual erections, and rid myself of the need/desire to tend to them. I guess that is kind of like a sex drive? Or maybe my lack of sex is making my penis feel the need to get excited over non sexual things... like I just got a new shower head and when I took it for a test run, I got a raging boner?! Same happens when I wear new underwear, or get naked in public places... gyms, dressing rooms, doctors office... I can't stand it... why do I have to deal with this thing that I don't even want to use for what it wants to be used for?! When will this madness end?! Lol. Enough of the rant, I shall post my experiences in a future breath, though I am a little apprehensive to begin when I get my supply as I am realizing how demanding my new job is. Anyone agree I should wait for a while after I am done with the extensive training and other 'stresses' that go with a new job (I am not stressed at all by the way), or might it be better to be castratafied and perhaps experience a new level of focus? Note: I am an extremely focused person... so maybe lowering my testosterone may make me super ultra focused, or backfire and make me a letharigisized unproductive expendable employee . Seriously though, I am wondering if this is a good idea to jump into chem castration right THIS now, or if anyone feels I should wait... or should it not matter either way. I am probably gonna do it anyway cuz that's the type of person I am, but just humor me with some feedback... thanks"

I probably have a better handle on my situation than I think, but these responses really helped me a lot... seriously. The company I used to work for got bought out and now I am suddenly in charge of a lot of people... people I have worked with for a long time. I am very confident in my position and handle it with ease, but being on the spot I do not want to make any bold moves in other areas of my life that might alter the momentum I have in my career. Half of me thinks that since I work with mostly women that I would be better off with less testosterone. I like the responses suggesting excuses as I have already come up with one myself; I have Crohn's disease and I could just say that my diseased intestine is not absorbing enough nutrients to keep my energy levels up... who could argue with that??! LOL The other thing I do take into consideration is my activities and how they may change. I do a lot of biking, kayaking and golfing and am wondering if my 'activity partners' would notice I am not keeping up like I normally do, or not hitting the ball as far. Lol... this probably sounds really stupid and lame to some people who are reading this, but it is just how my mind works. I will make do and deal with whatever the outcome cuz I always do, but hearing the experiences of others sure does help me not feel alone

[iBorg317 (imported)]

Hmmm...... I'm the unhappy eunuch. I'd much rather have testosterone production than getting it through injections. That said, when I'm more than a couple of days off schedule I become a not so nice person, truly a Mr. Hyde. I'm not loving, don't care about normal sex (much higher BDSM interest), emotional and a bit angry at the world.

Guess you can tell my wife encourages me to stay on schedule. Your results hopefully will be closer to the "eunuch calm" versus my SOB.

[transward (imported)]

We need to distinguish between two different situations. The first is the effects of abrupt changes in hormone levels. When there is a sudden change in hormone supply, your blood hormones don't smoothly change to a new equilibrium. Rather your hormone levels oscillate wildly for a while, resulting in something like super PMS. For this reason TSs are told to change their hormone doses gradually. I have seen people who disregarded this advice end up in the local psych ward. These kind of wild behaviors may well be noticed.

The second situation is the effects on personality after your hormones have settled into a new equilibrium. While there may well be subtle changes in your behavior, few except your most intimate friends will notice.

As for business skill, I know several brilliant trans software and computer types who, without testosterone, continue to function at a very high level in that very competitive field .

Transward

[iwantnoballs (imported)]

We need to distinguish between two different situations. The first is the effects of abrupt changes in hormone levels. When there is a sudden change in hormone supply, your blood hormones don't smoothly change to a new equilibrium. Rather your hormone levels oscillate wildly for a while, resulting in something like super PMS. For this reason TSs are told to change their hormone doses gradually. I have seen people who disregarded this advice end up in the local psych ward. These kind of wild behaviors may well be noticed.

The second situation is the effects on personality after your hormones have settled into a new equilibrium. While there may well be subtle changes in your behavior, few except your most intimate friends will notice.

As for business skill, I know several brilliant trans software and computer types who, without testosterone, continue to function at a very high level in that very competitive field .

Transward

Good point to differentiate the two transward, but has it been known for chem castration, which seems like a gradual process, to show signs of this near psychotic behavior? And I wouldnt compare my situation to that of a techy... I have seen how many of them operate, and although some may appear to be 'successfull', they do tend to have a rather undue smug approach to their "higher levels of functioning". LOL, I am HALF kidding by the way, as I probably offend a bunch of people reading this. My old roommate and very good friend is a techy and one of the best in his field... but he is a lazy bastard when he feels like it and somehow can get away with it when he starts throwing around his techie lingo that he THINKS no one else understands to justify or explain away his laziness. LOL just telling it like it is.

[Hash (imported)]

From Wasserug: "

personality shifts with the drop in testosterone.

" I think this is what I've experienced or what people have said to me who've known me for a long time. Since my castration, even while using a low regiment of compounded testosterone, several people have said, "there's something different about you, you're not as angry, you've mellowed, you've got a different outlook on life." Things like that, but now, since it's been several years since my castration, know one says these things anymore. I believe castration lowers aggression, you might lose some of your competitive edge if you're in a highly competitive business climate, but I like the more contemplative personally that's become me. A lot of things used to bother me, but not anymore, I just take things as they come.

[nullorchis (imported)]

I've only been a constant low T person for a short time. I did a lot of fluctuating up and down in years past as a result of various test runs. Now, following permanent reduction in testosterone production I can comment.

I use to feel intense, tense, stressed, anxious, and was quick to anger, defensive. These are now history. I am relaxed, calm, at ease, live and let live, taking it one day at a time. Even the wackos in politics and religion don't get me riled up anymore.

But I am early into the process. No one has told me I seem different. But I do feel different. Of course, we all change over time. And this change has not happened overnight, and is still probably ongoing.

If anything, I feel more in a position to have personal control over my thoughts and behavior and actions than I did before. This is very empowering. It gives me great hope for whatever is left of my life.

[gjvr2001 (imported)]

Altho I still have my testes, they are not functioning, T=32, and believe I have experienced the so called "Eunuch calm" however, I didn't like it very much. My mind still wants sex but my body doesn't so there is a sense of constant frustration. I was a nice and considerate person before and still am but found that it is very easy to experience a "give a shit" attitude about life in general with extremely low physical drive, no motivation, poor memory and little ability to get anything done. I have been on TRT since Feb 14 and my last T levels were up to 777 and I feel much more energetic and my memory is still not as good as it once was but I'm making progress. My body still has not regained it's previous levels of function but hope it will gradually come back. My general feeling of wellness has increased a bit but I still have a way to go. I would encourage you to not act hastily and do nothing drastic and irreversible as it is a life changing matter and it is quite expensive to be on TRT for the rest of your life. I have recently switched to testosterone Cyp shots which are less expensive than the gels but it still is not as good as having real home grown T. I would encourage you to go with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" path. Be extremely careful!

[JesusA (imported)]

As for business skill, I know several brilliant trans software and computer types who, without testosterone, continue to function at a very high level in that very competitive field.

While individuals certainly differ from any statistical norm, this is exactly what we would expect to find. The "information" about angels is most likely derived from the eunuchs who were much more common in ancient society than is generally acknowledged. We have information about eunuchs in more recent times (Byzantine, Ottoman, Chinese, the castrati, etc.). We have data about those EA members who completed the survey.

What we would expect, based on all of this information, is less ability to multi-task, but much greater ability to concentrate on the completion of a single project. Both self-discipline and planning ability should be enhanced.

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[gjvr2001 (imported)]

I really find it hard to believe that one would be able to concentrate more on any given task as my short term memory went completely AWOL. I found that it was almost impossible to concentrate on anything with low T. my wife had to remind me again and again on almost everything. If I didn't take care of what she wanted immediately there was little possibility of accomplishing it. I just felt worthless and completely inadequate.

my strength and endurance was non-existant. Also, low libido was a big problem when I still wanted to have sex, I found it not worth the effort. It was no way to live a life. I still have a long way to go to be what I was years ago but it all starts with one small step.

[feedback (imported)]

I feel very much like Nullorchis, however after 2 years I found I was losing interest in doing anything and was sitting around getting fat. I have since started using 2.5 grams of Androgel a day and find I have much more energy and my interests in my hobbies etc are coming back. I think everyone has to find a level they feel comfortable with and that takes time and experimentation. It did cause personality changes for me and I did not mind them at all. I just look at things differently and am much easier going and easy to get along with.