Testosterone – the success hormone?
Raise your hand if you've got high T!
There is a growing body of evidence to support the theory that low T levels make men less self confident, less likely to take risks – and perhaps less successful at work?
A University of Cambridge study examined the testosterone levels of financial traders, and found a strong link between their testosterone level and how successful they were on a given day.
In the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers measured the traders’ T levels at the start and end of the day, and correlated these with the traders profits during that day. Interestingly, not only did a high morning reading predict a successful day, but at the end of a successful day a trader’s T level was even higher.
The study suggests that T levels dictate success, and success itself pushes up the T level even further! Scientists call this the ‘winner effect’. From the article about this study in Time Magazine:
…two athletes preparing to compete against one another will both experience rising testosterone levels. After the race, though, only those of the eventual winner would continue to climb; the loser’s falls. The winner thus gets a persistent boost in confidence and appetite for risk, which increases the same competitor’s chance of winning again.
The winner effect has a drawback though – research with animals suggests that as T levels keep rising, risk tolerance continues to increase. Eventually the perception of risk becomes completely blurred and stupid risks are taken.
For you average guy with low T (or even low normal), an increase in their T level makes them feel more self confident. That was certainly my experience when I got it under control. Very high T levels, on the other hand, can be just as bad as low T – it’s just a different set of problems.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This is so true, when you’re winning you feel like you can win more, and more. But when your T level is low you just don’t belive you can win. It’s amazing the way something as basic as testosterone can affect all aspects of your life, even change your life.
Folks,
If you go register at the forum (http://www.mehacker.com) and ask a question, someone there can help you. I know that the forum looks empty right now, but we’re just getting it kicked off and we have a few experts watching it who will be more than happy to help you. As soon as you can post there, you should get an answer as the admins will receive an email. Answering on the blog is really cumbersome – thanks and good luck!
I had mine tested and on a scale of 47-247 (normal range) I was 46. It is amazing to lay with a woman half your age and not become aroused, or have very little arousal. After the amazement wears off you feel loss, you feel tragic really. I’ve been on testosterone replacement therapy for nearly six weeks now and I can already feel a difference. I am of course working out like a dog doing weights and cardio both to clear the fat from my liver and slim down and I hope to grow bored with my sedentary non-productive life very soon here that would be nice. If you have no ambition you have nothing…no matter how much you have…you have nothing. I’m very glad I, (very Ron White like, only I went all the way) compared my symptoms to the symptoms in a late night Low T commercial and started bugging my doctor about it. I was literally dying from lack of the stuff…coming down with fatty liver disease (I don’t drink often at all or much), high blood pressure, tachycardia…without T I’m sure I’d be dead by 60. I suffer from ennui and chronic dysthymia. If you have this condition get it treated. The sex is the very least of it…in fact I doubt I’d do it just to improve my sex life, seriously with all the headaches that brings…please…but you know, vigor and a zest for life, once that’s gone you are basically screwed. You’re gonna get fat and die. So its serious business. Anyway that’s what I’ve taken away from the whole experience up to now. I am so looking forward to six months from now. I just hope I’m not found in a parking lot with a lot of overturned automobiles and with my shoes and clothing split wide open and my skin all green.