By the same token, some women are very influenced by their cycles - or at least like to blame a bad attitude on such - which is often used to play up the “unpredictable/emotional narrative”.
Downplaying or excusing bad behaviour as “just that time of month” also puts women in a bag light overall. For a semi-predictable event, knowing how to manage the influence of ones own biochemical factors should be part of personal responsibility, not an excuse.
From the side of male partners in that equation, providing some comfort - whether it be prepping a hot water bottle, picking up stuff to help regulate cycle pain - and maybe expecting to pick up a bit of extra slack on chores a few days a month can also be part of a healthy relationship, but walking on eggshells for several days a months is not.
It’s not so much managing the influence of one’s own biochemical factors, but their consequences.
We absolutley have no control over these hormones releasing in our body, and by what amount (unless prescribed as an Rx).
All we can do is tolerate the feelings we get from them, and eventually, through exposure, understand that we’re being controlled by them.
The example you provided is valid, but I would debate the conclusion you are drawing from it.
Woman absolutley have an increase in certain sex hormones hitting them once a month, but they have no control over the amount or frequency. All they can do is bear with it, including cramps, and grow to understand their behaviour is being influenced by the chemically enhanced emotions they’re now experiencing.
I’m not a fan of being in constant pain, so having to experience intense amounts of it in my lower abdomen once a month would certainly make me irratable at that time. Hormones or otherwise.
The ability one has to identify WHEN their emotions are being influenced by these chemicals is what gives us any power over them. Regardless of sex, our worst behaviors often happen when we haven’t realized we’re currently emotionally compromised by these chemicals.
I’ve seen a man get pissed off at a small rock he stumbled over, then kick it, break his toe, and proceed to harrass the strangers trying to help him. All because he was hungry, which can trigger the release of testosterone.
He didn’t know he was emotionally compromised. And lacked the ability to recognize it in time before breaking his toe.
Very similar anecdotes certainly exist between both sexes.
Which to me implies a universal struggle for us to understand our bodies well enough to know when we’re being emotionally influenced by them regardless of our sex.
I’ve never heard of the hungry=testosterone thing before but that’s really interesting. It kinda puts a new spin on those old “you’re not yourself when you’re hungry full of triggering hormones” commercials.
Also, totally agree that it’s not about “controlling” the chemicals as recognising and mitigating their influence over decisions (easier said than done, I know) or possibly preparing for them ahead of time to the extent that’s possible. Maybe Snickers really did have it right… at least for guys :-)
That’s hilarious about Snickers, and very well said! :)
There’s been a lot of very interesting studies that have been done in the last 5 years or so about how our bodies more essential functions have odd ties to our hormone levels. Imo, It’s fascinating to say the least.
For example: one of the more interesting ones I’ve looked at involved a study of young men that proved a strong correlation between low testosterone and eating disorders.
Consistent with animal data and prior research in adolescent boys, men with lower testosterone reported significantly higher levels of dysregulated eating symptoms even after controlling for depressive symptoms, body mass index, and age.
Overall, these scientists further studies are now somewhat suggesting there’s a “sweet spot” for the amount of testosterone flowing in males that would make it easier for them to regulate good eating habits.
In turn, this implies some new opportunities to explore treating eating disorders with low dose hormones. (At least in males).
Which is a very long way for me to make the joke that scientifically, you COULD make the argument that “Snickers satisfies” the hunger Testosterone creates. ;)
I’m living with an eggshell gf and it’s an insane emotional rollercoaster every monthly cycle , i want out but she’s so good to me when she’s not hormonal…
By the same token, some women are very influenced by their cycles - or at least like to blame a bad attitude on such - which is often used to play up the “unpredictable/emotional narrative”.
Downplaying or excusing bad behaviour as “just that time of month” also puts women in a bag light overall. For a semi-predictable event, knowing how to manage the influence of ones own biochemical factors should be part of personal responsibility, not an excuse. From the side of male partners in that equation, providing some comfort - whether it be prepping a hot water bottle, picking up stuff to help regulate cycle pain - and maybe expecting to pick up a bit of extra slack on chores a few days a month can also be part of a healthy relationship, but walking on eggshells for several days a months is not.
It’s not so much managing the influence of one’s own biochemical factors, but their consequences.
We absolutley have no control over these hormones releasing in our body, and by what amount (unless prescribed as an Rx).
All we can do is tolerate the feelings we get from them, and eventually, through exposure, understand that we’re being controlled by them.
The example you provided is valid, but I would debate the conclusion you are drawing from it.
Woman absolutley have an increase in certain sex hormones hitting them once a month, but they have no control over the amount or frequency. All they can do is bear with it, including cramps, and grow to understand their behaviour is being influenced by the chemically enhanced emotions they’re now experiencing.
I’m not a fan of being in constant pain, so having to experience intense amounts of it in my lower abdomen once a month would certainly make me irratable at that time. Hormones or otherwise.
The ability one has to identify WHEN their emotions are being influenced by these chemicals is what gives us any power over them. Regardless of sex, our worst behaviors often happen when we haven’t realized we’re currently emotionally compromised by these chemicals.
I’ve seen a man get pissed off at a small rock he stumbled over, then kick it, break his toe, and proceed to harrass the strangers trying to help him. All because he was hungry, which can trigger the release of testosterone.
He didn’t know he was emotionally compromised. And lacked the ability to recognize it in time before breaking his toe.
Very similar anecdotes certainly exist between both sexes.
Which to me implies a universal struggle for us to understand our bodies well enough to know when we’re being emotionally influenced by them regardless of our sex.
I’ve never heard of the hungry=testosterone thing before but that’s really interesting. It kinda puts a new spin on those old “you’re not yourself when you’re
hungryfull of triggering hormones” commercials.Also, totally agree that it’s not about “controlling” the chemicals as recognising and mitigating their influence over decisions (easier said than done, I know) or possibly preparing for them ahead of time to the extent that’s possible. Maybe Snickers really did have it right… at least for guys :-)
That’s hilarious about Snickers, and very well said! :)
There’s been a lot of very interesting studies that have been done in the last 5 years or so about how our bodies more essential functions have odd ties to our hormone levels. Imo, It’s fascinating to say the least.
For example: one of the more interesting ones I’ve looked at involved a study of young men that proved a strong correlation between low testosterone and eating disorders.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32643144/
Overall, these scientists further studies are now somewhat suggesting there’s a “sweet spot” for the amount of testosterone flowing in males that would make it easier for them to regulate good eating habits.
In turn, this implies some new opportunities to explore treating eating disorders with low dose hormones. (At least in males).
Which is a very long way for me to make the joke that scientifically, you COULD make the argument that “Snickers satisfies” the hunger Testosterone creates. ;)
I’m living with an eggshell gf and it’s an insane emotional rollercoaster every monthly cycle , i want out but she’s so good to me when she’s not hormonal…