Originally published in Comfort Zone Newsletter: May 2008.
During a course I was recently teaching for HSPs we were discussing whether we are more sensitive to our own hormones. While I have no empirical data on that, it has always seemed to be the case with sensitive women–that they are very affected by natural monthly shifts, oral contraceptives, changes at menopause, and hormone replacement medications.
Then a man brought up his own experience of “male menopause,” and how depressed, fatigued, and ill at ease he had become in the last year–something unfamiliar in himself. He saw a doctor wise enough to check his testosterone level, which was low. Taking additional testosterone, beyond what he was producing in his own body, made him feel tremendously better.
I am not advising that you take testosterone, certainly not without a doctor’s advice. HSPs have an intuitive sense about “tampering with nature,” and there is very good reason for caution. Further, we should each research and study a question like this before making a personal decision. But if you are truly suffering due to reduced hormone production, as this man was, or if you think you might be, then I’ll say something for the pro side.
We have already tampered with nature by increasing our life expectancy through all sorts of unnatural measures such as vaccinations and dietary refinements that humans in the past could not have made. If we are going to live longer, we will want everything to function well as long as possible. A natural level of hormones has been keeping you healthy all of your adult life. Yes, you can manage with lower levels. You can also manage being fatigued and depressed. But maintaining that natural level (with an eye to any new studies about hormone supplementation) seems worth considering as a way to be strong at eighty, ninety, or a hundred.
Dolly Parton in Steel Magnolias said to a roomful of women in a beauty parlor, “There’s nothing natural about beauty after twenty.” I have my own version of this: “There’s nothing natural about health after forty.” Around forty we may have to begin adding to our body what it no longer produces for itself or takes from the food we eat. It seems reasonable that HSPs would be more affected by drops in natural levels of anything and to anything that would restore those levels.
Of course beauty, like health, needs to imitate nature as much as possible. But there is an art to learning from nature what makes for health rather than simply ignoring the negative effects of the passage of time. So think twice about only doing what is natural–like aging and dying.
If you want to know more about “male menopause” search for the term on the internet and choose a reliable website to find the specific information you need.
I guess age does play a role and there are many other things that may lead to decrease in testosterone levels. My friend has been using Himalayan Shilajit to overcome that.
Hi,
I recently learned that estrogen makes you more sensitive.
Do male HSPs have a greater amount of estrogen in their system than male non-HSPs?
I am very low in testosterone naturally, female— am very self conscious and overly aware of any feeling in my body. Testosterone injections were suggested for me by my endocrinologist to help with my thyroid function. Cystic acne took over my face and back— never had acne before in my life and I’m 36. Positively speaking, I noticed I wasn’t as self conscious or self reflective on the injections. I didn’t overthink nearly as much as I usually do. My executive functioning def improved. Testosterone may be responsible for why men aren’t always in their heads the way women are— Rational and steadfast in decision making— which may look like a lack of empathy. Who knows, not a doctor— but this is my experience and it makes sense to me.