These encounters were signs from the universe to continue the journey toward completing my book, Testosterone the New Drug Addiction , launching my website, as well as a couple of other cool projects I am working on.

I started my testosterone quest in 2012 after my own life collapsed and in 2013 I began writing essays regarding TRT in English class.  As a result, I learned more and more about how this chemical affects the mind, body, and spirit!

Last year I decided to create a new position for myself: I am now a Testosterone Addiction Recovery Advocate. I created this position because of the growing need for recovery around TRT. This is an emerging addiction and was evident throughout the year as I continued to meet people who had been affected by it.

Recently, a man related that his ex-wife was on testosterone and said it wreaked havoc in her life. She became aggressive, started experiencing other medical issues and was forced to go to an endocrinologist to help her return her body to homostatisis. He then proceeded to tell me he was on it and that his total testosterone level is 1500. At his age, 69, he has the level beyond that of a teenager. You should have seen the look on my face then I about fell off of my chair.

At a recent networking event with therapists and recovery center directors, I introduced myself and explained that I have started an education outreach program for testosterone addiction recovery. One woman replied, “I’ve been waiting for someone to do this.” She said that her former husband is on it – along with all his co-workers. “It’s becoming a big problem. None of them need to be on it,” she added.

Another man said he started taking it because he wanted to lose weight. He loved the intense feeling it gave him, but he is no longer taking it because it’s expensive.

The only man I met this year who actually really needs it had a total level of 70 and has hypogonadism.  He also works with several people who are on it and shared some of those stories.

At a holiday party a woman said she had been on it for four years. And they could never get her dose right. Her levels were hovering around the 250 range. She made the decision to stop the oral pills, said the withdrawal was excruciating and it lasted about two weeks.

My neighbor, whose ex-husband is on it, said that her kids are afraid of him. A former co-worker whose neighbor friend, a woman, is on it and said her sex drive was out of control. She called the doctor and said we’ve got to do something about this.

In this recent NY Times article, F.D.A. Panel Backs Limits on Testosterone Drugs by Sabrina Taverinse http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/18/health/testosterone-drugs-fda.html?_r=0 , Taverinse reports that the FDA voted to ” impose strict new limitations on the multibillion-dollar testosterone drug industry, recommending that the agency tighten labels for the medicines so they are not prescribed to men who only have problems related to aging, such as low energy and libido.”

The lawsuits are mounting and it appears this is just heating up.

Throughout the year hearing the above stories and others told me there is a growing need for recovery around testosterone replacement therapy.

Love & Miracles,

Lisa Marie Shaughnessy