When I was male, I had low testosterone and high estrogen, but I was still reasonably unafraid. I'm not saying I was an unpenetrable fortress of fearlessness, but things didn't bother me as much as they do now. For instance. When I was in the Army, I did parachute jumps from aircraft, and fast roped from helicopters. I HATE HEIGHTS, but I still did it with a reasonable amount of confidence. It was my job.

Heights now? Forget about it!!! Also, now I am deathly afraid of ALL insects (used to only be spiders/roaches). Small, inconsequential things frighten me. A person used to be able to swing a rifle at my face, and I would respond in a defensive/offensive way. The rifle did not frighten me. Now I find myself cringing from being pelted with nerf balls. lol...

When I was younger... I had these reactions, but once I was given meds to start male puberty, this went away to some extent. Now that I am a girl, I find I react as I did when I was in my early to mid teens. Timid, dont react well to danger. I wonder, is this horomonally induced perhaps??? A couple of ants should NOT send a former Ranger screaming. You see whole COLONIES of ants eat dead bodies... you just kinda avert your eyes and keep walking.

I also find a proliferance of nightmares, similar to those in my teenage years. I find myself waking up screaming, crying, or curled in the fetal position. This very rarely happened in the Army.

Have any of you experienced a change in your fear level since you started horomones? It's been kinda bothering me recently, and I would love some thoughts on it...

I can relate. Since starting hormones, I have had more nightmares and have become more afraid of many more things. More anxious also. But I think part of the reason is because I'm finally confronting my fears and not hiding. But I do believe hormones have made me somewhat more fragile and less aggressive.

Erika28 (imported) wrote: Wed Sep 14, 2005 10:39 am I can relate. Since starting hormones, I have had more nightmares and have become more afraid of many more things. More anxious also. But I think part of the reason is because I'm finally confronting my fears and not hiding. But I do believe hormones have made me somewhat more fragile and less aggressive.

I am FAR less agressive, but I can't describe how the terror has increased. I used to be able to lie beside a rotting corpse, and not be the least bit phased. Now I see roadkill, and I get all squeemish. Perhaps it is irrational fear, or maybe the necessity of having thick skin is gone. Horror movies scare me, loud noises frighten me. I just find that more often than not, I am MUCH more easily terrified. I'm not sure I like it either. I am happy being female, but I don't want to be a sissy priss either. I'm just thinking maybe horomones change something in your brain, that make it respond poorly to environmental factors in the way of fear.

Jessica,

Thanks for bringing this topic up. I've been wondering whether I was going to revert to my childhood fear of insects and spiders. At five months after castration (no HRT), my fear response has only gone up a wee bit.

Open Question: Who can tell us whether the increased fear response is due to lack of T or introduction of estrogen?

This topic gives meaning to the expression, "It takes balls to do [whatever]." Testosterone definitely helps teenage boys do reckless things.

bryan (imported) wrote: Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:36 pm This topic gives meaning to the expression, "It takes balls to do [whatever]." Testosterone definitely helps teenage boys do reckless things.

Like I have always said...

"It takes balls to lose them. Literally and metaphorically"

LOL!!!

Apparently I always had normal T levels prior to castration, and I've always been a sissy

Ever since I was a little boy and even through puberty I have always been scared by all kinds of insects and definitely loud noises. I won't even light sparklers on the 4th of July because I'm too afraid of fire

That hasn't changed since I started hormones. I'm still just as much of a sissy as ever before.

But one thing I have noticed is my increasing fear of rape and rape-related acts. Anytime I see a man get violent with a woman, I feel waves of fear go through my body.

I've also noticed an increased fear of loneliness. I find that I'm starting to lose my desires to be so isolated all the time, when before it really wasn't much of a problem.

transgirl23ny (imported) wrote: Wed Sep 14, 2005 11:51 am I am FAR less agressive, but I can't describe how the terror has increased. . . . . I'm just thinking maybe horomones change something in your brain, that make it respond poorly to environmental factors in the way of fear.

Thank you for posting both your before and after pictures. You look so much better (actually great) as a girl.

Mac (imported) wrote: Thu Sep 15, 2005 1:29 pm Thank you for posting both your before and after pictures. You look so much better (actually great) as a girl.

I totally agree, you're a great girl.

PS, The gorilla's found the Wilkinson Sword.

HairyHarry (imported) wrote: Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:28 pm I totally agree, you're a great girl.

PS, The gorilla's found the Wilkinson Sword.

HairyHarry,

Love the avatar! Is that Ken or Barbie? Just kidding!

Remember, practicing safe shaving...

Since being on DP for over 3 years now I haven't noticed any changes in attitude like that but then I have always been a little brave (stupid, reckless), adventurous, whatever. I suppose a lack of hormones could make one revert back to "childhood", though.