I am really curious about anyone having gone through something similar. Currently about 6 weeks in on a test E cycle at 300mg a week.
Test is at 1400
E is at 45 (elevated by 1)
Prolactin at 20 (elevated by 5)
Last summer I ran my first prop cycle and loved it. Confidence, libido, increased erections, all of it. Now I honestly have none of that. I second guess everything I say and do. No confidence with my girl and constantly worried about if she cares about me haha now this is not me at all. Even off cycle I have never doubted myself like this. Keep questioning myself if I’ll ever go back to “normal” even. Anyone one have an idea of wtf is going on or what could be causing this? I am going to switch to prop and ride the next 3 weeks out and cut it short and start pct lol but I am curious
It sounds E2 issues bro. "Second-Guessing" is key. That usually means Anxiety is up. I would take an Alpha-Blocker like Doxazosin at 4mg.
Also serotonin causes low-confidence, you could block it with Natrium Health Caffeine + L-Tyrosine or preferred PreWorkout + EXTRA BCAA
[1].
I would also suggest other serotonin-blockers; i.e Cyproheptadine 4-8mg per day. If its NOT Testosterone, its usually the Dopamine:Serotonin imbalance. You probably upregulated Dopamine Transporters with loading Test-E.
Amino Acids. 2013 Sep;45(3):419-30. doi: 10.1007/s00726-012-1330-y. Epub 2012 Jun 8.
Large neutral amino acids: dietary effects on brain neurochemistry and function.
Fernstrom JD1.
Author information
Abstract
The ingestion of large neutral amino acids (LNAA), notably tryptophan, tyrosine and the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), modifies tryptophan and tyrosine uptake into brain and their conversion to serotonin and catecholamines, respectively. The particular effect reflects the competitive nature of the transporter for LNAA at the blood-brain barrier. For example, raising blood tryptophan or tyrosine levels raises their uptake into brain, while raising blood BCAA levels lowers tryptophan and tyrosine uptake; serotonin and catecholamine synthesis in brain parallel the tryptophan and tyrosine changes. By changing blood LNAA levels, the ingestion of particular proteins causes surprisingly large variations in brain tryptophan uptake and serotonin synthesis, with minimal effects on tyrosine uptake and catecholamine synthesis. Such variations elicit predictable effects on mood, cognition and hormone secretion (prolactin, cortisol). The ingestion of mixtures of LNAA, particularly BCAA, lowers brain tryptophan uptake and serotonin synthesis. Though argued to improve physical performance by reducing serotonin function, such effects are generally considered modest at best. However, BCAA ingestion also lowers tyrosine uptake, and dopamine synthesis in brain. Increasing dopamine function in brain improves performance, suggesting that BCAA may fail to increase performance because dopamine is reduced. Conceivably, BCAA administered with tyrosine could prevent the decline in dopamine, while still eliciting a drop in serotonin. Such an LNAA mixture might thus prove an effective enhancer of physical performance. The thoughtful development and application of dietary proteins and LNAA mixtures may thus produce treatments with predictable and useful functional effects.
PMID: 22677921 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-012-1330-y