Hormones and the mental health of crazy people

[Violet]

Question at the bottom. It's in bold, you can't miss it, unless you're blind... but brokenquill has a cool program that reads stuff to her so it shouldn't matter anyway, she'll just have to deal with the ramble until it gets to that point. Yay! Lucky her, amiright?

There I was, for months... lonely. Miserable. In my little world where everything is godawful.

But then, being the wise Violet I am, I increased the dosage on my hormone medication, just to see how it felt. And after about a week (~July) I was then remarkably happy, considering the conditions. Waking up chipper, all sorts of physical and real and generally amazing to be around. Working hard and not at all minding it and catching that fishing fever and stuff.

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But it all changed when the fire nation attacked. There I was, taking lots of happy pills that made me happy, able to focus my ball of fun into *exactly* what I wanted (usually: quiet)... when it hit me. Increase dosage + not many meds remaining = I needed to buy meds again, and soon... but fishing season being what it is, and working attitude being what it was, I didn't really feel I HAD to go up to the house for the internet with which to buy my meds.

So, when I recognized I had 1 week left at my current dosage (which I was LOVING), I finally requested a quick jaunt up to the house, where I found the place that gives me my happiness.

And it was all "you haz to haz persquiptongz!" and I was all "what? But why?!"

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Now I am on 1/4th of my preferred dosage, and it's all coming back.
Nightmares? Check.
Paranoia? Check.
Intense apprehensions? Like... fear, dude.
Deflation of self-value? Check.
Encompassing apathy? Check and check again.
Loss of control over it? You can guess.
Anger streak? Woah.
"On edge" with stress? But who isn't.

Not quite as bad as it gets (read: has gotten), and I rather am inclined to believe that when I run out completely, it'll go full tilt (as it did for some 6 horrible months of my life).

Question: am I crazy to believe that testosterone has the ability to so badly screw up someone's mind, or do hormones have any impact at all upon the FUN side of the mental equation?

[Zidneya]

Hahaha I like this girl.


As for answering your question. No I don't think you are crazy for thinking that. Neurological speaking it makes sense.

[Minimalist]

Seems as if a chat with your prescribing physician may be in order.

[Ravenshire]

I'm with Min.

[Nine]

Hormones really do affect the mind especially with emotions. It's certainly worth doing what Min said.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

That's cray.

[Rayaan]

Question: am I crazy to believe that testosterone has the ability to so badly screw up someone's mind,

I don't think so. Nonetheless, remember that too much meds can screw up your mind too.

or do hormones have any impact at all upon the FUN side of the mental equation?

Most likely, yes, or maybe to some extent at least.

But the answer to that also depends on what hormone you're talking about.

[Little lunch]

I have been in a similar position years ago when I was remote and ran out of pot and cigarettes. My suggestion is to read a lot, keep busy and stay away from annoying people.
Good luck. :-)

[JuliaL]

Our lack of understanding of the complex interactions in the network of neurochemistry which results in consciousness makes any simplistic statement such as: "an imbalance in chemical X causes insanity" effectively meaningless.
Sure, sufficient doses of methamphetamine or cocaine will make one feel really good temporarily, but the long term damage done by chronic use makes taking them a bad idea.
The association between testosterone and violent aggressive behavior is documented, but the mechanism needs much more study before detailed causation can be explained and the side effects accurately predicted. Personally, I wonder what the subjective experience is but I'm not willing to pull the trigger on that gun to find out for myself.

[StealthySkeptic]

See, this is why I don't take stock in the idea of a "soul." If our personality was so wrapped up in something immaterial, how could it possibly be affected by chemical imbalances in our brain, brain damage, etc.?

Slight tangent aside, I definitely would see your psychiatrist and/or physician.