We’ve all see the muscular males and wondered how they got so big. Many males use anabolic steroids with their workouts as a performance enhancer to help build muscles. Anabolic steroids can only be sold by a pharmacy to someone with a prescription. This makes it legal to have them for personal use. If you give them or sell them to friends, that is illegal.
Most professional sports organizations ban the use of anabolic steroids. They will do random testing for the use of anabolic steroids. You may remember some of the sports scandals leading to athletes being banned from the sport for a year or more. People like Tyson Gay of track and field, Rafael Palmeiro of baseball, or Alex Rodriguez an MLB player. It’s not just men either, there was Marion Jones a track and field star who won 5 medals 3 of them gold medals.
Typically, males use steroids far more than women but women can use them too.
Effects of anabolic steroids
The regular use of anabolic steroids can lead to physical and psychological changes in both sexes. They can also lead to likely dangerous health situations. The physical effects of steroids for men include the following:
- Low sperm count
- Infertility
- Shrunken testicles
- ED (erectile dysfunction)
- Going bald
- Developing breasts
- Severe acne
- Stomach pain
- Higher risk of prostate cancer
For women the use of anabolic steroids can cause the following:
- Hair growth both on the face and body
- Swelling of the clitoris
- Loss of breast
- A deeper voice
- Hair loss
- Severe acne
- Problems with their monthly cycle
- Increased sex drive
For both sexes the following health conditions can be caused by anabolic steroid use:
- heart attack
- stroke
- liver or kidney complications including failure
- hypertension
- blood clots
- fluid retention
- high cholesterol
Psychological effects include:
- aggressive behavior also is known as “roid rage”
- mood swings
- distrust
- frenzied behavior
- illusions and misconceptions
When it comes to adolescents using anabolic steroids they can actually stunt growth. Other health factors that can come from anabolic steroid use are diseases like HIV or hepatitis from sharing needles. Many users inject the steroid directly into the muscles. Anabolic steroids can be taken orally as well.
The withdrawal symptoms of anabolic steroids include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Lack of concentration
- Insomnia
- Anorexia
- Lowered sex drive
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Muscle and joint pain
Getting treatment and recovery
If you are ready to stop using anabolic steroids and go through treatment you can reach recovery. At 449 Recovery we provide a safe and encouraging environment that is favorable to recovery. Call us (855) 435-7449 to learn more about our continuously monitored detox program. Other programs we offer at 449 Recovery include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, as well as, family therapy every third weekend. It is our goal to help each patient on their road to recovery by providing them the tools they need to reduce the risks of relapse in today’s fast-paced world of stress and demand.