Hormones And Aggression: Does Testosterone Make You Angry?

What estrogen is to females, testosterone is to males – it’s a scientific and biological fact that we all can agree with. However, that’s not to say that women can’t have testosterone or men can’t have estrogen. Women and men have some natural testosterone and estrogen, respectively. And as true as this fact is, it is also true that women and men can take testosterone or estrogen supplements to increase the levels of the respective hormones.

Now, with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), people can choose to increase either their testosterone levels or estrogen levels. Other than this, there are many things that we can associate with these hormones.

Estrogen and testosterone are both significant hormones that are needed for sexual development and functions in females and males. However, these hormones, especially testosterone, have lately come to be associated with anger and aggression.

With the association of testosterone and aggression, many questions have been raised. One of the most common ones is; does testosterone make you angry? Can testosterone have a negative impact on your mood?

Now, if you’re thinking about increasing your testosterone levels for whatever reason or if your natural testosterone levels are high, then answering this question can seem quite significant. That’s what we’ll be talking about in this blog today! Let’s first start with understanding what testosterone is.

What is Testosterone?

Testosterone is a male sex hormone that is one of the very important ones when it comes to male sexual development and function. It is the presence of testosterone during puberty that helps boys develop their features such as facial or body hair, deeper voice, and even muscles. Testosterone is predominantly a male hormone and can be classified as androgen (steroids).

This hormone is produced and found naturally in men and women, both, however, both serve different functions. In men, testosterone is produced in the testicles whereas, in women, it is produced in the ovaries. In both sexes, testosterone can be produced in the adrenal glands, but the amount produced is quite small.

The Natural Qualities of Testosterone

One of the main hormones, testosterone is very important for our health, especially in males. It is the hormone that can help the sex organs develop well and function well. In male teenagers, this hormone is responsible for the growth of facial features, voice, and body muscles. In adult males, testosterone can be quite beneficial.

Testosterone is an important hormone that influences the male sex drive and also helps the healthy development of muscles, bone mass, and strength.

In women, testosterone is equally important and beneficial. As women go through menopause, their testosterone levels naturally decrease, which can lead to a lower sex drive and impact their body mass.

In males, low testosterone levels can cause;

• Low sex drive
• Erectile dysfunction
• Low sperm count
• Loss of body hair
• Increased fat
• Muscle loss
• Weakness
• Mood swings
• Low energy
• High cholesterol
• Cardiovascular disease
• Reduced mental function
• Anxiety
• Depression, and
• Anger

Yes, low testosterone levels can cause or lead to anger and aggression. In reality, it is the general hormone imbalance that can cause distress and uncomfortable feelings to rise and even become more intense. So, if your testosterone levels are low or high, it can cause significant problems to your emotional and mental health.

Are You Taking Testosterone Supplements?

Because testosterone is predominantly produced and found in males, there are still some cases where testosterone levels are low. Due to the decrease in testosterone, many people choose to take testosterone supplements. Low testosterone levels in your body can cause the above-listed conditions and if you don’t have them yet, then you’re already at a high risk of developing them. Increasing your testosterone levels can be a good thing, even healthy in some cases.

Nevertheless, not everyone is taking testosterone supplements to create a balance or increase low testosterone. More often than not, men take steroids to increase their testosterone levels to give them plenty of athletic or physical boosts. What many males fail to realize is that too much testosterone can also have negative effects.

Too much testosterone can cause;

• High blood pressure
• Risk of liver diseases
• Aggression
• Skin infections
• Increased red blood cells
• Infertility

How Does Testosterone Affect Aggressive Mood?

If we talk about aggression or anger for once, then it’ll be safe to say that while testosterone has been linked to aggression, researchers are not convinced that the correlation exists. It is believed that other factors such as genetics and other situational factors could play a role in increased aggression and anger.

There is, however, a connection between testosterone and mood – just like other hormones. Testosterone can affect your brain and cognitive functions, but mood changes can be difficult to understand.

It is also believed that men with mood disorders are more likely to have a low testosterone level.

Going under testosterone therapy or hormonal therapy might help them if such is the case. It is pointed out that not only does hormonal therapy help with mood, but it can also help relieve depression and anxiety. Surprisingly in both men and women.

More detailed research might be needed to truly understand how (or if) testosterone levels in men and women cause anger or aggression.

Moreover, the way you believe how anger manifests can affect your aggressive actions and behaviors. If you believe that high or low testosterone can make you angry, then you’ll be more inclined to express your anger or allow yourself to feel the emotion. Similarly, social expectations might also play a role in your anger issues.

While women also produce testosterone, men are the ones who have the hormone in abundance. And men are also the ones expected to display and express anger the most. This societal belief could also make you question if testosterone can make you angry. Of course, there is no proof of it. Yet.

Should You Take Testosterone Supplements?

Taking testosterone supplements or undergoing testosterone therapy is purely based on the hormonal imbalance your body might be experiencing. Many conditions cause men and women to have either low or high testosterone levels. In males, we have already read what low testosterone levels can do, but in women, high testosterone levels can cause reproductive issues and other conditions that might affect their sexual development and function.

There are natural ways such as exercising, taking vitamin D, eating a healthy diet, improving your sleep schedule, avoiding alcohol or drugs, and reducing stress that can help you increase your testosterone levels. Other ways can include taking testosterone supplements or steroids.

Men and women may undergo testosterone therapy in medical settings. Some of the most common reasons why men choose to take testosterone supplements or therapy is when they experience delayed puberty. Women may choose hormonal supplements or therapy to treat breast cancer.

If you’re considering taking testosterone supplements or testosterone therapy, then it is recommended that you speak to your doctor about the potential side effects of the therapy. If you still want to increase your testosterone levels without worrying about the side effects, then consider changing your lifestyle, eating a healthier diet, or exercising regularly.

How to Control Your Anger?

Regardless of your testosterone levels, if you’re experiencing high levels of aggression or anger issues, then it may be time to consider controlling your anger. High levels of aggression ang anger can lead to poor relationships, and substance use, and even make you take illegal risks that might put your safety in jeopardy.

Anger issues can also be symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other mental health disorders. If you keep finding yourself struggling with your anger issues and controlling your aggression then maybe it’s time to seek a counselor who can help you figure out the cause of your anger, triggers (if there are any), and how to cope with them, strategically and effectively.

Other ways to control your anger issues can include;

• Deep breathing exercises
• Thinking about your “happy place” when you’re angry
• Taking a walk or removing yourself from the aggressive environment
• Practicing progressive muscle relaxation (PMR)
• Talking to your “safe person”

Wrap-Up

No matter what causes your anger issues, you can always find natural ways to control it before it goes out of hand. If you can’t find ways on your own, you can always connect with a counselor who can help you understand the causes of your anger, the triggers, and effective ways to cope with your feelings.

It is important to understand that while hormonal imbalance can be associated with mood swings and changes, no evidence proves that testosterone can make you angry or cause aggression. Low and high testosterone can cause significant changes in mental, emotional, and physical health but there is limited evidence that says that testosterone can affect aggression.

I hope this blog helped you understand the connection between testosterone and anger and helped answer the question; does testosterone make you angry? If you liked this article, let us know in the comments below. You can also drop us a message on our social media or email your response to info@calmsage.com.

Take Care!