Anabolic Steroids and Aggression

Anabolic steroids (or AAS – anabolic-androgenic steroids) are drugs that we use to improve the overall performance of the human body. It has similar effects to testosterone. So, what do anabolic steroids do to our bodies?

Why Anabolic Steroids?

It is a complicated question, and The Effects of Steroid Use Can Be various. The most important (and the most common reason people take AAS) is gaining muscle mass. You can change a person's voice because steroids impact the vocal cords. Sexual characteristics change (testicle alterations), and you may experience body hair problems due to modifications. However, people use steroids in various ways and for multiple reasons. For instance, some athletes use steroids to boost their stamina and endurance. It is essential to know that authorities do not approve performance-enhancing substances, including anabolic steroids. The non-competitive use of steroids is a bit complex to understand because of the lack of data. Generally, the use of anabolic steroids continues to take root in society, and it is a reality we should get used to for the foreseeable future.

Anabolic Steroids Medical Uses

Although anabolic steroids have a long history of usage, people use them in some medical treatments. They have many dangerous side effects and a long history of persistence. Please be advised that steroids are not entirely harmless. The process of making steroids changes, so you can't erase the side effects. Steroid use for medical purposes is highly regulated, so the risk of developing adverse side effects will reduce significantly.

Behavior and Steroids

Steroids are helpful in some athletes when you take them in reasonable amounts. It also means that you shouldn't take more than the prescribed volume. You may think the results will be better if they take more steroids. The truth is that, after some point, the increasing usage of steroids has no effect. Your body gets used to it, and you might even experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to discontinue its use.

Steroids, besides physical and medical consequences, can have a profound impact on behavior. Increased violence is noticeable among steroid users. Teenagers, especially those not well informed and aware of all possible consequences of steroid usage, and thus suffer the most. However, it is essential to note that the use of steroids for other purposes other than medical ones changes a person's behavior in a certain way. While users usually focus on the good temporary feeling, the long-term adverse effects outweigh the good. It is even worse if the person develops a habit of misusing the drug. Steroids will likely change your hormonal composition, in a change of behavior, including aggression tendencies.

Must Read: Emotional Effects of Steroids

Aggression and Previous Users of Anabolic Steroids

Attempts to find steroid usage patterns and the charge level have yielded no significant result. Steroid users have taken part in some studies to determine the effects of steroid use on behavior. There is a general increase in violence among people who misuse steroids. That includes committing different types of aggressive acts.

The most usual was fighting with someone else and vandalism. But in some situations, this went too far, and there are things like armed robbery, burglary, or theft. These extreme situations lead scientists to research the connection between anabolic steroids and aggression. It also sheds light on other behavioral changes associated with using steroids to boost performance.

Aggression is potentially really dangerous because it manifests in others. It's not only about the steroid user anymore; now, the people around him are in danger. When we talk about the medical consequences of using anabolic steroids, the person who is taking them is the one who is responsible for the issues it can have. But aggression will harm not only the user but also their family, friends, and even strangers.

Do all Steroids Cause Aggression and Violence?

The studies about the connection between anabolic steroids use and aggression are inconclusive. But some are sufficient to show some pattern. Of course, as time passes and scientists do more studies, the conclusions will be more reliable. Studies done by now show that the result is not always the same.

Sometimes the anabolic steroids cause increased aggression, but sometimes they don't have that effect. But this depends on the type of steroid that the person is using. Which steroids can cause an attack and which don't is yet determined because you cannot use steroids individually. One cycle always includes a combination of different steroids (to get maximum results). Steroids affect users differently depending on potency. While most hard steroids have more severe side effects, mild ones show the same effect if one misuses them in large quantities. Violence and aggression among steroid users match the amount of the drug one uses.

Psychiatric Disorders

Steroid users are more likely to report anxiety and other mood disorders if you compare them with non-users. Importantly, steroid users have higher chances of depression because the drugs alter their behavior. Psychiatric disorders such as mania and hypomania result from moderate to high doses of anabolic steroids. Further research shows that steroid users experiencing adverse effects turn to other drugs to alleviate the negative impact of the same. Nalbuphine is one of the drugs people resort to because it reduces the adverse effects and boosts the steroid's potency. Opioids are the other options bodybuilders, and other athletes prefer regarding alleviating adverse steroid effects.

Conclusion

We need time to distinguish which steroid has a potential for aggression and violence and which does not. But, for now,  we don't have aggression and violence on the list of side effects caused by steroids. We still need to properly examine the two to prove a direct link to anabolic steroids. Importantly, steroids and their impact on behavior is a matter that we need to look into with urgency. If not for the general good of the bodybuilding industry, at least let us find solutions for teenagers who unknowingly find themselves in this mess. There is also a need to enlighten steroid users on the possible negative impact of the drugs if misused.