anxiety attacks after stopping birth control

I just found this forum! And honestly I’m glad I found this. It’s been over little 2 months from me going off the pill. I was on ortho tri-cyclen for over a year. Being on the pill I was totally fine, nothing really extreme. Later on, I wanted to be off the pill just to have a break from it and I wasn’t with my then bf anymore so I decided to stop completely. It’s horrible. My anxiety became so extreme that I later started to feel depressed and started to think of suicidal thoughts. Don’t get me wrong there are some days where I feel better than most, it varies a lot. Usually i’d feel in relax mode in the morning or at night or sometimes reverse it’s weird. But my anxiety has been the worst for me, still is now! Anything or anywhere I go I get anxiety or paranoia, especially when I drive in my car, school, Work etc. my heartbeat goes really fast and I can’t breath and I just feel so tense everywhere in my body, like I’m numb. It’s really horrible feeling this way and I don’t want to go on any meds or get my hormones checked because what if they say I’m fine nothing is wrong.. and that will even make me more depressed. I really hope that it will get better for me because i’ve never been like this before. It scares me feeling that I will stay like this. 

Has anyone experienced brain fog! I have had brain fog for 8 months now following my panic attack and it hasn't gone away :( Has anyone had brain fog and healed?

Did the primrose and b12 help?

how are you feeling now?

I wanted to add in my post because I found this thread so very comforting to see so many women with the same symptoms as me, when the many doctors I saw acted like they had never heard of the bc pill having negative effects on any woman. I was prescribed a triphasic bc pill after my third baby to regulate my cycle. Three months after starting I had my first attack- I awoke with a pounding heart, a rush of adrenalin and the worst insomnia ever. It lasted 3 days during which I got 1 hour of sleep. It repeated the next week, and into the next month too. There were nights when all I could do was literally pace for like 5 hours. I experienced a horrible feeling of doom and gloom, and a racing mind. I later learned this is called anxiety, and is called an anxiety attack- something I never experienced previously. I also suddenly had some pretty horrible tinnitus in one ear. It all got so bad I begged my husband to take me to the ER where they could triage me into the psych ward if necessary. I had never had insomnia, and when I went to see several doctors and call my Obygn, they said it was pretty impossible that the bc pill would cause this. They said I probably was depressed and needed a prescription for Zoloft, Ambien to sleep, and to start a new bc pill. I just couldn’t believe that I could wake up one night and suddenly have depression and anxiety when I had never experienced any of this before? I stopped the pill cold turkey, and my doctors said the hormones would exit my body in a few days and I should be sleeping great soon. Not the case. My tinnitus stopped immediately which was evidence for me that it was the pill. I later found out that insomnia and tinnitus are listed as side effects for the pill I was taking! Although I never again had the crazy total insomnia with adrenalin, my insomnia was more frequent, and this horrible feeling of anxiety haunted me daily for months. I was told I probably had hyperthyroidism, saw an endocrinologist, but my tests were normal. I am about 3 months post pill, and am just starting to feel normal again. What really opened my eyes was a book by Dr Kelly Brogan about the misdiagnosis of depression and the natural things you can do to recover from the dirty side effects of the birth control pill. I sought out a naturopath who has given me advice on supplements, nutrition, and acupuncture (my first time) which has been so very helpful. I am taking zinc, a multi-vitamin, B vitamins (the pill depletes all these), oil of evening primrose, magnesium, and rhodiola rosea ( helps lower cortisol levels). I pray a lot more, and I cut myself some slack that I don’t have to be wonder woman all the time. I am continuing to have blood tests just in case there is something out of balance that needs to be addressed, but based on what I read here, I bet they will be normal, the pill has just wreaked havoc on me. There is hope, and you don’t need a prescription for it- you just need to find your support team who will listen to you, and be kind to yourself as your body does the best to can to heal.

Did your panic attacks got better or did it cured?

Hello, everyone, I posted here several times. I stopped my birth control in August 2015 when I stopped I had severe anxiety, intrusive thoughts, mood swings, irritability, water retention, twitching in toes etc. (it all came out of the blue!) I still have this however back in 2015-2016 I had every blood test (3) blood hormone test, thyroid checked, ultrasound, went to doctor at least 4 times etc. I did acupuncture and everything was always NORMAL. However, my gut said otherwise I did not have reasons to feel so horrible..I always felt tired and I was no myself mood wise and my ANXIETY/MOODSWINGS were horrible. Thing's that I would dismiss before were TOO IMPORTANT and I was constantly anxious to even my own thoughts and I would get intrusive thoughts. I went to psychologist, psychiatrist and they would diagnose me with General Anxiety Disorder with Tendencies of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder but nobody could give me answers to why it occurred. My life seemed to be good except I lived in a bubble of fear. I was prescribed citalopram, Prozac, escitalopram ...20mg, 40mg, 60mg nothing worked. It helped a bit the crying but the anxiety was still full force. I was so confused! I finally decided to go to bodylogicmd and get a URINE hormone test (24 hour test) they measure your hormones based on urine samples you collect every 4 hours for 24 hours they finally concluded I had high estrogen and my progesterone was too low for my estrogen level basically I had ESTROGEN DOMINANCE and my DHEA was high at 700-800 where it should be way less I believe (300 or less if I'm not mistaken). They also saw that my triglyceride levels were high at 235 where it should be under 135 (this is my fault I eat a lot of sweets) and my Vitamin D was 25 where it should be higher. Also, my iron was starting to get low. They put me on a diet which I share on my ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** posting of private information is not allowed*** Please read our Terms of Use and as to motivate myself and others I started posting things I'm doing to get my hormones balance. I will share all I learn I may start bioidentical progesterone (these are compound hormones that are natural, not synthetic like birth control) I'm still looking into it first don't want to make the mistake of not doing my research. I will, however, follow the diet plan they gave me, exercise and take the supplements they told me to take I will be sharing those once I have tried them out and feel they are working.

^ continuation.. advice
1. LISTEN TO YOURSELF
2. EAT CLEAN!
3. EXERCISE
4. Don't believe what a doctor says get 2nd, 3rd , 4th opinions it took my 4th doctor to figure out I had a hormonal imbalance. Take different hormonal test make sure they are testing your hormones on the correct date. 24 hour urine hormonal test is what I personally recommend versus blood test but doing both is better. Maybe for some ppl they can detect in blood and others in urine. Urine since it was 24 hours they were able to see the bigger picture because 3 hormone blood test came normal and it was not able to detect my hormone imbalance.

So far they are just getting better, less severe, more manageable. I am hoping like other posts that they will eventually just disappear.

Thank you for your response, it gave me hope.

Does anyone have moments where they feel better for some days then feel horrible for a few days after. I was having a good week (still far from myself) but coping better with anxiety but then my period went away and I just found myself having two days of full anxiety intrusive thoughts and this whole panicky feeling :/ I was diagnosed with estrogen dominance (high level of estrogen compared to my progestorone) hopefully diet, exercise can help. I'm skeptical about taking bioidentical progestorone hormones I believe you guys will understand why I'm a bit ehm about taking any form of hormone bioidentical or not but will put that as plan B if diet, exercise and all doesnt work

This forum has been so helpful for me for the past 3 days I have been reading all the stories of women who were victimized by birth control pills. I'm 35 years old.

I hope i found this thread a month ago when i thought I was losing my mind and convinced myself I am gonna die from all the things I have been feeling.

I stopped taking the pill Nov 15 2017 because taking it causes me heart palpitations. A week after stopping I was feeling weak but I was able to manage it. 2nd week I was also ok although i know I am not my 100%. Then came the 3rd week I was at work and experienced panic attack. Racing heartbeat, feeling hot, sweaty palms, shaking feeling like im gonna pass out.. i left work right away and went home. From that point everything just went bad. The physical symptoms i was feeling worried me to the point i became a hypochondriac.

Here are the physical symptoms i felt:
1. Body feels tired (worse in the morning)
2. Muscles all over my body feels weak
3. Pressure on my head (left side) sometimes i feel like my brain is moving inside
4. Nausea
5.crying spells
6. Loss of appetite
7. No energy
8. Feeling like im gonna pass out

I'm not sure if these physical symptoms are brought on by the anxiety or stopping the bcp. But its so hard to deal with. I have read here you wouldnt wish it on your worst enemy and it is so true. This is the hardest thing I have to deal with yet.

At first i didnt understand what was happening to me - i went to 3 doctors and all said I was normal from the blood tests, ecg and physical checks they did. I was prescribed Inderal 10mg but that didnt help - made me weaker and tool away my appetite.
I was losing hope of getting an answer for what i have been feeling. I dont understand. I barely recognize myself anymore. I was such a happy outgoing person and then with no warning i turned into a complete opposite.

3 days ago I stumbled upon this thread while i was looking for things abt anxiety and I thank the Lord i was able to do so. Reading all your entries made me realize it must be the pill. Alll these happened after i stopped taking them.

I'm on my 1st month and a half off the pill now - there are more bad days and there were a couple of good ones. It is usually worse in the morning when i wake up - maybe because i overthink too. I keep on thinking this is another day of struggle but i realized thats just so negative to start my day with. Sometimes you cant avoid to feel this way. I was traumatized by the way i feel. 5 days ago I experienced one of the bad days and that was also christmas time. My body was so weak and while i was sleeping i was awakened my this feeling of doom. Like my muscles are tingling and even my brain inside my head.

I pray that my body will be able to adjust soon because i missed a month of work already..
Im just thankful that I can eat a lil bit now and i can sleep 6 hours now.

I learned so much from my experience - change my lifestyle into a healthier one. I have a checkup with my OB later and I am hopeful she can give me more options to make this journey a lil easier to handle.

We are stronger than this and this too shall pass.

I agree! If I had known this was going to happen then I would have never taken birth control pills. My doctor never told me the risks either. And when I asked any OBGYN I had they basically said it was in my head or a coincidence!

where in florida are u located, its not silly at all it's comforting to me too! I'm in Miami, FL. I'm going try to sue because they briefly meantion side effects on it but they don't explain the damages of long-term use or damages encountered after quitting..maybe our bodies went crazy since our own hormonal production was undertaken by synthetic hormones we were giving ourselves daily. Even if u didn't take the same brand we can still protest

Miami, FL as well!!!! Will be signing your petition! For sure! I hope others do too, you should post the link on this forum as well it has remained active for quite some time :

https://www.steadyhealth.com/topics/feeling-depressed-after-stopping-the-birth-control-pills?