“It’s time to debunk the myth around steroids and take the sexiness out of them"

[RoughKnight]

If you paid any attention to the media at all over the last bit you may have seen this story about Raoul Moat, a british guy gone on a rampage. Lots of articles were attributing his rampage to "roid rage" based on nothing more than supposition.

I finally read an article bringing the issue back to reality. Have a look.

[p.s.]

If any of you guys read MD then I'm sure you've read similar studies to the ones mentioned in the news article provided. In fact one double blind study using AAS and women found that the women on AAS (I believe it was low dose test) were more co-operative and got along well with one another when provided with group problems to be solved, and the group on the placebo showed all kinds of aggression issues when presented with the same group problems.

I know if one has an existing issue with anger/aggression then ya the use of AAS could in fact amplify the problem in so far as making said person into a bigger stronger asshole, but I seriously doubt it will take an average tempered person and create a monster.

[GYMBRAT]

If any of you guys read MD then I'm sure you've read similar studies to the ones mentioned in the news article provided. In fact one double blind study using AAS and women found that the women on AAS (I believe it was low dose test) were more co-operative and got along well with one another when provided with group problems to be solved, and the group on the placebo showed all kinds of aggression issues when presented with the same group problems.

I know if one has an existing issue with anger/aggression then ya the use of AAS could in fact amplify the problem in so far as making said person into a bigger stronger asshole, but I seriously doubt it will take an average tempered person and create a monster.

I totally agree, I also had BAD anger issues as a child/teen, and with gear I become less angry, aggressive yes but only in the gym (which is a good thing)

I think it is because when I look in the mirror there's NO WAY I could not be a happy camper with the positive influence on my body...honestly you just have to have it in your head to stay positive

[RoughKnight]

This actually belongs in this thread:

"Funny aside...

I just went to the doctor to get a check up done. I admitted AAS use and indicated I wanted tests done accordingly. He asked if the testing meant I was coming off and I said "maybe, if there was something wrong." He then said that some values would be out of whack but that the concern over AAS was nothing but scare stories.

I really like how level headed some doctors are.

I've met a few that were really ignorant but still with I-need-daddys-approval superiority complexes and have gotten really upset with the profession in general for it.

Good docs are out there. "

[RoughKnight]

Here is another idiot article drawing inferences on the negative effects of steroids from the deaths of wrestlers.

The author sites multiple wrestler deaths and the frequency of heart related deaths. Then someone in the comments section responds with this:

"While this article makes some good points about the worrying death rate amongst pro wrestlers, trying to pin it on steroids is simply stupid. Benoit, for example, was likely suffering a serious cognitive and psychological decline as a result of years of low-level concussions. Guerrero abused hard drugs and alcohol for years before sobering up -- unfortunately, not soon enough to protect his heart. Pillman died of an undiagnosed heart condition (which ran in his family; same thing killed his father) exacerbated by use of drugs and alcohol. Mike Awesome committed suicide. Test overdosed on prescription pain killers. For God's sake: Yokozuna died of heart failure, at the weight of 770lbs. And so on. Very few of these deaths can legitimately be blamed on steroids.

If you really want to talk about deaths in the wrestling industry, then what you need to talk about is brain injury, particularly after repeated blows to the head; lack of mental health support (and healthcare generally); and abuse of prescription drugs, especially pain killers. "

Some journalists make me really angry.

[bladerunner035]

Here is another idiot article drawing inferences on the negative effects of steroids from the deaths of wrestlers.

The author sites multiple wrestler deaths and the frequency of heart related deaths. Then someone in the comments section responds with this:

"While this article makes some good points about the worrying death rate amongst pro wrestlers, trying to pin it on steroids is simply stupid. Benoit, for example, was likely suffering a serious cognitive and psychological decline as a result of years of low-level concussions. Guerrero abused hard drugs and alcohol for years before sobering up -- unfortunately, not soon enough to protect his heart. Pillman died of an undiagnosed heart condition (which ran in his family; same thing killed his father) exacerbated by use of drugs and alcohol. Mike Awesome committed suicide. Test overdosed on prescription pain killers. For God's sake: Yokozuna died of heart failure, at the weight of 770lbs. And so on. Very few of these deaths can legitimately be blamed on steroids.

If you really want to talk about deaths in the wrestling industry, then what you need to talk about is brain injury, particularly after repeated blows to the head; lack of mental health support (and healthcare generally); and abuse of prescription drugs, especially pain killers. "

Some journalists make me really angry.

Sad but illicit drugs within wrestlers is a big issue,, coke, painkillers, uppers, booze and concussions, oversized hearts.. really don't mix will..

[monty604]

Yeah gov't and media are always looking for ways to make themselves look more and more ignorant.

[p.s.]

If one considers that in reality a pro wrestler is in reality a stuntman and as such is expected to perform these stunts nightly in different cities, states, provinces and of course different coutries what do ya expect? They would be in pain non-stop and the only way to combat this is with pain killers. Plus the lack of sleep/rest requires huge amounts of stimulants to stay energized to have a good show for the public each night, so in time the cost to ones body is such that ya they either break down and retire or die.

Guys like the Rock and Hogan were smart they got out and turned to acting etc. And some guys like Cena appears to be doing the same as the Rock moving off to other avenues before they end up like Benoit etc.

[monty604]

If one considers that in reality a pro wrestler is in reality a stuntman and as such is expected to perform these stunts nightly in different cities, states, provinces and of course different coutries what do ya expect? They would be in pain non-stop and the only way to combat this is with pain killers. Plus the lack of sleep/rest requires huge amounts of stimulants to stay energized to have a good show for the public each night, so in time the cost to ones body is such that ya they either break down and retire or die.

Guys like the Rock and Hogan were smart they got out and turned to acting etc. And some guys like Cena appears to be doing the same as the Rock moving off to other avenues before they end up like Benoit etc.

Yeah look at Brock from when he did that stunt and almost broke his neck. Wrestlers are put through way too much bs.

[RoughKnight]

Excerpted from: APA Talk: Anabolic/Androgenic Steroids and Aggression by Jack Darkes, PhD

AAS’ effects on strength and muscle mass gain were once considered placebo-mediated, but are now largely unquestioned (e.g., Bhasin et al., 1996). Still, building on work by Ariel and Saville (1972), recent studies found changes in strength among college students (e.g., Kalasountas, Reed, & Fitzpatrick, 2007) and national level power lifters (Maganaris, Sharp, & Collins, 2000) in those expecting to consume AAS. A similar, but un-replicated expectancy effect for aggression was seen in placebo-treated participants in an AAS study (Björkqvist, Nygren, Björklund, & Björkvist, 1994). Higher levels of trait impulsivity were associated with increased aggression levels above and beyond any effect of experimentally-administered AAS (O’Connor, Archer, Hair, & Wu, 2002).

Numerous researchers (Brower et al., 1994; Grogan, Shepherd, Evans, Wright, & Hunter, 2006; Hildebrandt et al., 2006; Olrich & Vasallo, 2006) have highlighted expectations that could motivate AAS use and predict use-related outcomes. Users and non-users expect AAS may lead to aggression (e.g., Schwerin & Corcoran, 1996). These expectations may be valued differently; some users may value aggression and both use AAS as a result of, and subsequently behave in accordance with, that expectation, as has been demonstrated for alcohol (Friedman et al., 2007). Although a role for psychosocial factors in AAS-related aggression was suggested years ago (Riem & Hersey, 1995; Sharp & Collins, 1998), these factors remain largely unexplored in AAS use and its psychological effects, perhaps reflecting a bias toward physiological explanations.

[RoughKnight]

Here's a list of great articles:

Articles by Jack Darkes

[p.s.]

Here's a list of great articles:

Articles by Jack Darkes

I've read a few of the articles listed and they are well written and researched. Now if we could only get mainstream media to read these and "understand" them and then maybe we would get on the right track regarding AAS research and use without the insipidly ignorant AAS scare articles/tactics being written by reports.

[ubcpower]

In my opinion there are two very different avenues of AAS use that are often blurred by the media and need to be differentiated between. One being the medical/health side and one being the aesthetic (bodybuilding) side. Studies have shown over and over and over the benefits for men with low natural test and gh levels that hormone replacement therapy have.

On the aesthetic side of the coin. I think that the 'dangerous/deadly' and 'roid rage' stigma that steroid users are given is infact solely responsible by some of the 'natural' personalities and temperment that the steroid culture will often attract. I dont think anyone can refute that those who take drugs (illegal ones at that) purely for the purpose of aesthetic or physique development are on the 'extreme' side. HOWEVER, where the fine line must be drawn is that there are several black sheep who can not curb or just dont have the brains to do their homework and thus leading to abuse of steroids. These are often the same people who inherently can not control their emotions and have let their 'extreme' personalities get out of hand well before they even touched a weight or drug --> the 'roid' rage as it is coined.
My .02 cents

[St]

After all these years with steroids in the media,i now say shit i think there onto somthing.If its on the news then it right and why would any one do harm to themselves.Even drinking and smoking dope is bad,i say this when i know that the person who does drugs say this to me,so that make them feel bad like they acuse me.Jealous people like the make them feel like shit,people love to put people down.For the past year i now tell people i'm doing a natural show end of story,and i tell them everyone gets tested.

[p.s.]

After all these years with steroids in the media,i now say shit i think there onto somthing.If its on the news then it right and why would any one do harm to themselves.Even drinking and smoking dope is bad,i say this when i know that the person who does drugs say this to me,so that make them feel bad like they acuse me.Jealous people like the make them feel like shit,people love to put people down.For the past year i now tell people i'm doing a natural show end of story,and i tell them everyone gets tested.

If someone asks me whether or not I use AAS I just tell them..."look if I say I'm natural you'll think I'm full of shit and if I say of course I use AAS then you'll just attribute my physique to drugs and not my 30+ years of clean eating and hard training to achieve what I have, so make up your own mind". For the most part I could care less what people think as 90% of the general public are fat and lazy. If someone wants to go through life looking like junk that's their choice and if we (BBs) want to go through life looking like a peice of living sculpture that's our choice, but if someone is accusing us of using AAS then chances are they feel bad about how we make them feel and what they look like....so fuk 'em!