ecstatichamster
Member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2015
- Messages
- 10,519
Shocking lack of empathy. /sarcasm
lol. Hey. A sense of humor.
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Shocking lack of empathy. /sarcasm
I never said I didn't have funlol. Hey. A sense of humor.
This is probably going to be a controversial post but it's something I'm struggling with and maybe I'm not alone. All it takes is a few minutes searching for "high testosterone low cortisol empathy" in Google to find numerous studies linking low cortisol and high testosterone to psychopathy and lack of empathy.
There seems to be this idea in this forum that the Ray Peat lifestyle leads to increased empathy from decreased serotonin, but if serotonin being low reduces cortisol, would that not predispose someone to said lack of empathy? There's also studies showing low serotonin increases aggression, but of the impulsive, reactive type, not the instrumental, planned aggression promoted by high serotonin.
I've noticed that I've become a bit of a d*** since I started Peating. Healthier, no doubt. But also way less caring and empathetic. My "fuse" is also way shorter and I feel adrenaline surging whenever I perceive my status being threatened. Have any of you experienced the same?
You could be right. I've always done well on things that increased GABA. Theanine, niacinamide. I drink a lot of coffee and take over a gram of aspirin a day. There's probably more antagonists that I'm not aware of I might be taking. Maybe I'm just antagonizing my GABA too much. The problem is that I don't feel stressed until I feel "disrespected". Most people would say I'm very laid back... Until I'm not.Sounds like GABA.
I agree.I think too much empathy can be a bad thing. I’ve been high cortisol for years and have found myself being walked all over due to fear of hurting the feelings of others, even those who hate me. The less you care, the less you stress. Obviously there should be a balance, but I’d rather be just short of not giving a damn than be the nervous wreck I am today.
I've not noticed higher testosterone creating higher empathy, just more passionate and resilient. My empathy level was normal before and remains so.
I think empathy is being able to conceptualize another's experience and relate it to our own requires a certain ability of memory and reasoning - both signs of a functional mind.
Compassion is to be moved emotionally so as to alleviate someones pain.
Compassion is mediated by our reason. Certainly compassion can be used to irrational ends if your emotions are too strong.
I think if your mind is functioning better, as in through memory and reason, you wont be moved by things you see in retrospect as less rational.
Psychopathy is more akin to autism or a kind of mind blindness. It is the lack of ability to conceptialize the minds of others. I think trauma is a large component of that type of thing.
When you're in danger, empathy seems to naturally decrease (along with compassion). I guess it's why people might hurt or kill someone in self defense. Or stealing/pillaging when starving. Like a temporary "mind blindness". Lack of empathy and compassion seems a programmed survival mechanism.
I definitely agree that being too empathetic is bad. It will most likely lead to the type of selflessness that ends up having you become a doormat that other people use for their own gain, emotionally or otherwise. However, I'm finding it difficult to be respectful to my spouse, which is a bit of a problem. Lowering my testosterone seems like the obvious solution but I do powerlifting as a hobby and don't want to sacrifice my strength. Stuck between a rock and a hard place I guess.
GABA raising substances help me brush things off a lot quicker and get on with life.You could be right. I've always done well on things that increased GABA. Theanine, niacinamide. I drink a lot of coffee and take over a gram of aspirin a day. There's probably more antagonists that I'm not aware of I might be taking. Maybe I'm just antagonizing my GABA too much. The problem is that I don't feel stressed until I feel "disrespected". Most people would say I'm very laid back... Until I'm not.
What do you mean breaking up with their gf all year round?You're far from having too far a testosterone level for normal interactions if you don't supplement with supraphysiological doses.
With all the EDC floating around, even if your levels are around 1000, they are only attaching to your receptors like someone from the 1950s who had levels of 500.
And those guys didn't go around breaking up with their gf all year round or being loners.
Curious why you think soTaking a break from luxury foods like meat and milk once or twice a week is probably a good idea, to help put everything in perspective
They also didn't have to deal with women on the pill haha.You're far from having too far a testosterone level for normal interactions if you don't supplement with supraphysiological doses.
With all the EDC floating around, even if your levels are around 1000, they are only attaching to your receptors like someone from the 1950s who had levels of 500.
And those guys didn't go around breaking up with their gf all year round or being loners.
They also didn't have to deal with women on the pill haha.