M&H
I do not understand why you are disagreeing with what I wrote.
My quibble was not with the possibility that MLC could be hormonal but with your word certainly. Certainly means "certain, without a doubt" and there is a doubt here. My point was just with the word you used, not with the general premise. There is NO general consensus among the science community (the little there is that have studied this phenomena) that andropause/menpause exists.
My only fear with using certainly as a modifier is that people would take that as gospel. I am of the opinion that something chemical DOES go on with MLC. I am a biology student, after all, and have been immersed in the culture - although not full time - for a decade. My goal is to go on to some sort of doctorate program in the area of science, medicine and psychology, although not sure where just yet. I have waffled between veterinarian studies, human disease research, and animal and human nutrition (using food as a drug). Now I’m thinking of studying MLC, to be honest. It’s fascinating and there’s not much out there, we are certainly in need.
The point I was trying to get across is just that MLC MAY have a chemical component, it LIKELY DOES have a chemical component, but the science is just not clear on that yet, nor is there agreement on it. Testosterone levels, as Mermaid mentioned, do decrease rather slowly as compared to female hormones.
I have seen a marked difference in female vs male MLC on this and other boards. I am also of the opinion that if we were able, and it is probably unlikely as the microcosm I'm talking about is so very small for each individual type of MLC - but if we were able to flush out differing types of MLC, we would find out that there is a difference not only between the sexes but also between age groups. Now, since there is a very strong psychological component to MLC as well as what is likely to be a biological/physiological component, we would likely be studying this ad infinitum.
A very strong possibility exists that ADs or hormone therapy may help lessen the symptoms of MLC. It also exists the possibility that it may mask those symptoms, bury feelings and growth potential that maybe SHOULD be expressed, as painful as it is. What will happen to those who medicate a natural process of life? Will they still grown, albeit with less pain? Or will they miss out on some deep, psychological level of growth that may have made them SHINE later in life, may have completed their growth and development? (to as much of a degree that the constantly changing and growing human can be “completed” anyway)
I am concerned with the tendency to medicate everything these days. I listen to quite a few medical podcasts at work as I can’t always find time to read the journals to see what’s happening out there. I heard a doctor, an endocrine specialist, explain about a study he had read. It was on vitamin E and he said at the end, they extolled the virtues of Vitamin E, saying it did this and it did that. Then they said something along the paraphrased lines of “since Vitamin E is so advantageous to the human condition, we suggest that there is growth potential for a pharmaceutical company to develop something that will give the same benefits to us.” Does anyone not see the craziness of this culture that we find a natural substance and then want to chemicalize it and sell it back to the masses as a health promoting DRUG?
There are probably many things that will help MLC, but these men and women are doing all they can to hold on. Many are holding down jobs, at the same time as they are growing, developing, finding out who they are, trying new things, casting off the old, trying it back on again. It’s exhausting just thinking about it.
I’m not going to suggest to my husband to try any drugs because it’s my belief that this is a growth period that he MUST go through and I don’t want him to dull his senses. That’s not for everyone, and that’s fine. Some go through natural childbirth and some as for drugs. Some are in between and do some drugs and not others. Personally, I want my husband back in my life, and I believe we will get there. I KNOW we will, actually, I can feel it deep inside of me. It stinks, yes, but I am willing to wait on him to do the growth he needs to do. And I’m taking the time to grow myself. When is is closer and more out of the tunnel, I will likely sneak in some depression relieving things such as going on mtn bike rides with him again (exercise), feeding him healthy foods (nutrition), and so on.
Antidepressants How many of your MLCers are on Anti depressants/SSRI medication?
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