Is it post orgasmic clarity (PNC) or post orgasmic depression?

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Intro…

When someone is an advocate of the autogynephiliac narrative, they always tend to place great credence and authority in the refractory period or – post nut clarity – as they call it on Reddit (how is it that they just always come up with the most horrible terms ever on Reddit 😅).

The basic Vibe of yeah above which follows this idea is that… this is your true self. That maniacal, euphoric fantasist of a moment ago has been derobed dethroned and despoiled and now you lie in your reality. Still want to be a woman now?

However, that seems a little bit like taking a depressed person and telling them that this is their true self. All that silliness going around smiling in the office and having fun and being happy, that was all an illusion and this now is the real you. Take into account what happens after an orgasm.


The Moment of Orgasm

Dopamine peaks, flooding the brain with euphoria as the reward system fires at full force. Oxytocin and vasopressin surge, promoting connection and intimacy. The prefrontal cortex shuts down, silencing self-awareness and control. It’s pure bliss, but this peak is fleeting—neurochemical changes begin within seconds, setting the stage for what follows.

First Two Minutes

Dopamine crashes, leaving a hollow or “spent” feeling. Prolactin surges, dampening sexual desire, while endorphins linger, creating a sedated calm. Emotional centers like the amygdala reactivate, triggering introspection. For some, this brings clarity or regret, depending on personal and societal contexts. The body begins to calm as heart rate slows.

Three to Five Minutes Later

Neurochemicals stabilize, with serotonin balancing mood and prolactin enforcing the refractory period. The brain shifts into reflection, encoding the experience in memory. Thoughts about identity, relationships, or meaning may surface, influenced by lingering societal or personal beliefs. The high is gone, replaced by vulnerability, calm, or contemplative clarity.

Reframing the Refractory Period as a Moment of Vulnerability

The refractory period is often heralded as a moment of “truth,” but it’s crucial to remember that it’s also a time of neurochemical imbalance. The sudden crash of dopamine and surge of prolactin create a state of heightened introspection, often colored by emotional vulnerability. In this context, the “clarity” people experience might not reflect reality but rather a temporary emotional low akin to post-event blues or even mild neurochemical withdrawal. Calling it “truth” is reductive; it’s merely a physiological reset.

Post-Orgasmic Regret is Universal

This moment of doubt or regret isn’t unique to trans women or those questioning their gender identity. Many people feel a wave of second-guessing or disconnection after orgasm. It’s a time when fantasies, heightened by dopamine and arousal, collide with the starkness of post-orgasmic physiology. These feelings can surface in anyone—whether they’re pondering a gender transition, reflecting on a casual hookup, or grappling with societal norms. The phenomenon speaks more to the brain’s fluctuations than to one’s “true self.”

The Existential Insignificance of Three Minutes

To place existential weight on a fleeting three-minute neurochemical event ignores the consistency of desire and identity across the rest of one’s life. While the refractory period may temporarily challenge a person’s thoughts or feelings, it’s statistically and experientially insignificant when compared to the vast majority of time they spend inhabiting their desires and identity. Even if this fleeting moment represented “truth,” its brevity undermines its existential relevance. Our truer selves are likely found in the patterns and inclinations we consistently live by—not in transient physiological dips.

In this post certain redditors put forth the idea that hormones lessen post not clarity. That is to say that since they took estrogen it got better.

Conclusion

…Addressing the Autogynephilia Argument

Advocates of the autogynephilia narrative often place undue emphasis on the refractory period, suggesting it unmasks a person’s “true self.” But this approach is flawed and reductionist. It mirrors the error of telling a depressed person their sadness is their true state, dismissing their joyful moments as illusions. Both perspectives fail to account for the complexity and fluidity of human emotions, desires, and identity. Post-orgasmic vulnerability reflects only a momentary shift in brain chemistry, not an ontological reality.

Just in case you’re curious, Alice garnet argues for female equivalent called the dick haze.
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