anxiety attacks after stopping birth control

Hi I agree with the bio identical hormones I’m a patient at Bodylogic and had a Uribe hormone test (will let u know results) have not received results until 7-10 days from today. I decided to reach out to them after going to primary (at another place) getting blood hormone test and everything coming out normal yet feeling off and not right. The urine test is a 24 hour look into hormones perhaps on day 21 or cycle which is something I did not do with blood test is at One time look at hormones and I’m sure it was not on my day 21. please let’s keep each other updated from- hope212 (nickname) so we can know who’s writing

I just wanted to come back to share with you an update as I had promised long ago.

So I stopped my birthcontrol in 2015 I had everything anxiety,ocd, intrusive thoughts, mood swings, feeling NOT like myself! I had 3 blood hormonal test all normal back in 2015-early 2016. I decided to go to bodylogicmd and get a 24-hour urine hormonal test the results came back last week and it showed some abnoramlities (I will be seeing an endocrionoligist soon) and will update. Not sure if this is the problem or not or if its severe or a bit off but here they are:

My estriol is high is 21.6 ug/mh CR and it should be between 1.6-18.8

My Estradiol is high  7.2 ug/mh CR and it should be between 0.1-4.2

My 2-Hydroxyestrone (female) is low its 3.2 ug/mg CR when it should be between 4.5-57.7 (not sure what this is..)

My 2:16 ratio is low at 1.0

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My 2-Methoxyestrone is low at 0.9ug/mg it should be between 3.8-28.7

and my DHEA-S is 

DHEA-S WAKING   IS high 753.9 ng/ml (50-600 is the normal)

DHEA-S WAKING +8 HOURS 734.4 ng/ml (30-300 is the normal)

DHEA-S WAKING +12 HOURS ng/ml 683.0 ng/ml (30-300 is the normal)

DHEA-S WAKING +17 HOURS ng/ml 324.3 ng/ml (30-300 is the normal)

They also checked my Cortisol levels but those seem to be okay

Are you still having issues or have they resolved ? I have been off for 5.5 months and am feeling a lot better. I still have some nervousness, mild anxiety and intrusive thoughts. It's always worst around ovulation and my period. It's like its there but easier to fight and it doesn't last long. I think my biggest fear it that it could come back. Any thoughts ?

after stopping birth control I had anxiety and depression which all seemed to be about my significant other. About a month after coming off the pill I questioned everything about him. My attractiveness to him, the way I felt towards him. Everything! I felt like I fell out of love. I see that this is normal but idk how long it lasts. I’ve felt like this for 5 months and I just want these constant thoughts to end.

yes I feel same 2 years later but some test came back abnormal as I stated above DHEA-S and stuff so I shall see whats up

Oh no 2 years that’s a really long time. I don’t really know if I can put up with this for two years!

Hi, I have read your post and notice you got muscle twitches too. I get them everywhere especially when I am relaxed in bed. Was it the same for you. Was scared it was something serious until I saw this!

Has anyone seen a naturopath if so, how’d it go did it help?

I had been on Alesse (Canada) for over 10 years and stopped three months ago due to my husband getting a vasectomy. This week I was hit by several severe panic attacks. The anxiety follows me everywhere even in non stressful situations like yoga and at the movies. My hands and feet pour sweat constantly. Going to the doctor to find out blood results and a therapist to try and deal with this. It’s scary but after finding this thread I’m wondering if this isn’t a body reaction to finally getting all of those hormones out of my system. Glad to have found this thread!

Hang in there, it gets better. Look up Dr. Jolene Brighten, read her articles on Post Birth Control Syndrome. Also youre not alone !

Thank you for sharing this! I wish I would’ve had Dr. Jolene Brighten’s information last year when I was at my worst.. she has an office in the Bay Area too which is local for me. I didn’t start slowly feeling better until my 7th month and it took me a full year to balance out.. that’s a long ass time when you have responsibilities and have to function.

I don’t think anyone can take a year out their lives to go heal. This is such a real issue and condition. Hate that I had to go through it to learn. Anyhow it does get a lot better, there are moments where you feel a little off or hazey but they pass pretty quick.

Hey, I see this was posted months ago and I’m hoping that things got better for you. Much love from Canada

Hi,ladies I am not sure how many people are still reading this thread but I wanted to post some hope on this board. Here is my story...
Some back ground info on me- I am a 31yr old RN, I have had a previous history of anxiety/ocd I learned to overcome it with no meds and for several years never had any issues even during times of high stress or my period. I am a very active person, runner, yogi, and kayak-er. I am a devout Christian and super healthy.
January 2017 I started taking the birth control pill Junel Fe, within 2months I started having bad mood swings and crying episodes, also my periods went from 5days (when not on bc) to 9days with horrible cramps. The only reason I started birth control was because I was in a serious relationship. I stopped the birth control for a month and had no issues, I honestly think if I would have left it at this I would have been fine. But I went back to the doctor and was started on the lowest combo pill possible Kariva aka Apri. For 3months I was fine no issues, but when I started my period that 3rd month all hell broke loose. I started having extreme anxiety and ocd. I told my mom and boyfriend and both thought it could be the birth control. So I stopped it mid pack in June 2017 and my life took a 180 degree turn. I went from being confident, happy, independent and in control type of person. To living in extreme fear, anxious about everything, normal task that I would do without thinking became very hard to do because I was so afraid. I was afraid to start my car, afraid to ride the elevator, afraid to turn on the water in the shower, afraid to use my electronics..... and the list goes on. Trust me I knew it was crazy to fear these things, I knew it wasnt me . I would have panic attacks at work and they would hit me in waves, the morning was always the worse. I had episodes of depression and dark, dark thoughts that were not me. I also completely loss my libido and thought I had fallen out of love with my amazing boyfriend. During this time I also had fatigue, ovarian cyst that caused chronic pain, my joints would hurt, I would get lightheaded easily, I had headaches and acne.
I tell you all this because it does get better. The first 3months were HELL and I cannot stress that enough! But it got better, after every period it got better. I am almost 5months off birth control and I am almost back to being normal. I still have some acne and sometimes my mind wanders and I get nervous. This is primarily during ovulation and during my period. I still have some intrusive thoughts but am able to fight them and not let it bother me.
Here is what I did to get better.
I saw a naturopath, she gave me supplements to help the anxiety, one of them was GABA calm you can get it at whole foods, I also took HTP-5 and magnesium calm.
I took a lot of supplements. And just so you know it takes time (months to restore what the birth control depleted from your body) I took a womens multivitamen, fish oil, womens probiotic, Bcomplex vitamin, tummeric/ginger supplement.
I bought sunpotion apdogens : reishi, cordeceptys and ashwagnada. I would mix these in a smoothie every morning. I also added maca, and coconut oil to my smoothies.
I went completely paleo for 2months and made myself exercise 3days a week. Which was odd because before this I loved running all the time.
I cleaned my beauty routine. I bought natural/organic/vegan everything! from perfumes to makeup, soap, deoderant ect... Pacifica and burts bees are a great brands and not expensive. Alot of our beauty products have endocrine disrupters. I also went all natural cleaning products and tampons for the same reason. I started using Myers cleaning products and seventh generation organic tampons. I ordered all my stuff from Vitacost, it's alot cheaper
I did my homework. The two people who helped the most besides God was Dr.Jolene Brighten ( she writes about post birth control syndrome) and Kelly Brogan. LOOK THEM UP. YES it is your hormones, yes its from the pill. The pill creates havoc on your thyroid, adrenals, good gut bacteria, it depletes your vitamins and messes with your estrogen and progesterone levels.
I also learned how to meditate, and at first it was awful cause my mind would bounce around everywhere in panic. But keep at it, it works. Download a free meditation app. And prayer also helps. But I will have to say, my faith also got knocked hard during this time so if yall are dealing with that too I understand. I did purchase a book on CBT and mindfulness to help with my anxiety because I dont have the time or money for a therapist.
So that is my story. I will be more than happy to help in anyway. I truly believe God uses horrible situations for our good. This thread has been a God send in helping me. At least I knew I wasn't alone. Like I said it takes time. And I did go to my womens doctor and agreed I had a hormonal imbalance due to the birth control. Again I am almost 5mo off and most of my days are good with some "off" days but no where near what it was. I am happy to say I have made it this far and I did contemplate a anti-depressant but if you will read the stuff by Kelly Brogan you'll see why I did not take that route. I believe in self healing through diet modifications and behavioral modifications and it truly works. Thank you to all the women who have posted on this thread. You are truly brave and stronger than you imagine. I don't think I could have made it without this support. To everyone still struggling my love and prayers are with you. xoxxox

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Very well said, thank you!

My 16 year old daughter went on birth control pills. She was on them for 3 months and experienced severe side effects like anxiety, panic attacks, severe mood swings. We all decided the best thing to do was to take her off the pills. She has been off for a little over a week and she had another panic attack again. This is awful and I'm sorry for her and anyone else experiencing this. I guess this is par for the course?? She wasn't experiencing any of these things ( to this degree, she is after all a teenage girl) before. Please tell me this eventually goes away.