So a question about emotional regulation and hrt...

[MayBea]

So this might be a weird question but I'll do my best to phrase this well. I have CPTSD and generalized anxiety. And I was wondering. With estrogen I heard it can cause more emotions to surface. And I certainly "feel" my emotions better. But I was wondering, if you have mental health issues that affect emotions(CPTSD, anxiety, bipolar, etc.) can the added emotional affects of estrogen cause more extreme emotional reactions? Personally, I find that I handle myself better because I "feel" my emotions more and address them better. And while its also helped me deal with my trauma(because I can better understand triggers) I do notice they "hurt" more. Has anyone else dealt with this?

[VickySGV]

Without the burden of those other conditions, what you are describing as hormone effects on your emotions is very common and a wonderful part of recognizing our True Selves with the HRT. I have a genetic foible that keeps me from experiencing male emotional benefits of Testosterone that the E is handing me on a platter so to speak.  You do have to keep tabs on your care team for the other issues and let them know of the good as well as the not so good is anything happens.

[stveee]

Usually on these topics it's very YMMV, but I can also say that emotions seem more intense and pronounced, but I think a lot of it is also our perceptions of our feelings. It seems like there is no more filter, and with interpersonal relations, others can quickly intuit my emotional state.

As far as it's effects with depression, it is akin to having emotions that are often bottled up rather than exposed. I believe it simply takes time to adjust, but it's important you have some kind of support or therapy because processing things through trauma may take a little more effort.

In my case, it seems like emotions that were frozen for many years are thawing out and they feel very raw at times.

[Betty K]

Hi @MayBea, nice to meet you. Omg my emotions are SO amplified on estrogen, and I was always a crybaby. I have some PTSD; no-one has diagnosed it as complex, but I'd say it's likely. But really, PTSD is such a broad umbrella I don't think that tells you much. Let's just say I had a traumatic childhood and suffered from depression all my life, but never to the point that I required medication. Speaking for myself, my impression is that estrogen helps in processing formerly buried emotions, but the sheer volume of emotion can sometimes be debilitating. For instance, it's not at all uncommon for me to feel like crying as soon as I leave work, then race home barely holding myself together and throw myself on the bed and bawl. I'm beginning to think there may be a time limit on how much of this I can tolerate -- say another year? -- after which maybe I lessen the estrogen if the waterworks just keep coming. But I feel as if surely all the tears are helping in some way. Lastly, to put this in context, I also frequently feel intense euphoria.