anxiety attacks after stopping birth control

Yes this happens to me as well!

It's like I focus so much on how I'm feeling and then I think about the ridiculous thoughts to see how I react and then it's just a downward spiral from there. I want to forget all these stupid thoughts so badly!

Yes! Its like our anxiety doesnt want us to feel ok.. and the worst thing is that it wins most of the time. I try my best to fight it.. I'm Catholic so I call out to God,Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit when an attack happens.

But every attack I get this hangover that makes me feel tired and drowsy and just out of it.

When I stopped birthconrtol I got ocd and intrusive thoughts and just feel like nonstop weird like anxiety 24/7 needing to ruminate . Is this happening to anyone? I was told I jhave estrogen dominance but this feels like I legit have the devil inside, im not religious but its like a bully where I wake up go to sleep wth my head nonstop intrusive thoughts.

I am so thankful I found this post !
I have been off birth control for a week now (after taking it for 8 years) and ever since the day I came off I have been having crazy anxiety that seems to not go away. I went to my primary doctor and he just prescribed me antidepressants which I DONT want to take. I have never had any issues with anxiety or depression before the pill or during the pill. I called my gyno and she said it’s not related to stopping the birth control. Although I found it really odd that it started happening as soon as I stopped them. I don’t know if to get back on it or what to do. Please help.

It's definitely birth control related! Hang in there because it will be a challenge :( i didnt realize it was coming off the pill thay caused my panic attacks 1 month after stopping so i really thought i was dying at one point. The Physical symptoms drive me crazy.

I'm now on my 4th month and anxiety is still rising here and there. See a naturopathic doctor and try acupuncture it helpes me recover.

Anyone here developed ocd after stopping birthcontrol not anxiety I mean ocd such as intrusive thoughts..intrusive sexual thoughts, intrusive thoughts questioning your sexuality etc. I think also health ocd. I was under the impression I had anxiety this entire time but I dont I have obsessive compulsive disorder and wanted to know if anyone developed after stopping pill (ocd)

Yes this is definitely one of the many forms anxiety transpires! Check this post out it’s a bit more active
https://www.steadyhealth.com/topics/feeling-depressed-after-stopping-the-birth-control-pills?p=1950190#1950190

Yes, I've had that. It's the worse. Do not worry, you're not the only one. I will say that the intrusive thoughts have begun to fade (I'm in month 7).

My sexual intrusive thoughts have made me fear having sex with my partner and im just constantly confessing thoufhts to him, I feel like im going crazy

I second the advice on not going back to the pill- it IS what started it. A naturopath Dr is essential to recovery, none of my MDs have a clue on what to do. I am on month 7 post bc pill, and since seeing a naturopath things are starting to change. I was stuck in anxiety and insomnia hell every day, but got hormone and cortisol levels tested. My cortisol is excessive at night, and I am taking supplements to help. Progress is in baby steps but at least it's progress. This recovery is pure hell; mental, physical, emotional. And so slow. I check this thread all the time as a sanity check.

Hi my name is Christina. I cannot say how happy I am to have stumbled upon this thread. I went off my birth control, Lo Loestrin Fe, at the beginning of January 2018. I had been on different birth controls since I was 20 with may be a break of 6 months at some point in that time. I was feeling great. I was experiencing really bad negative thoughts while on this birth control and once I was off it my mind was a lot better. Fast forward to 2/14 were I thought I was having a heart attack at 27. I have fit bit and it said my heartbeat was 186 bpm. I ended up going to ER and they said it was an acute panic attack, It then happened 4 days later (lower heartbeat heart) and then again a week later and so on. Some lasting hours. I went to the ER 3 times in the month February before going to a cardiologist in early March . All the testing I had done with all these doctors were saying that everything was fine. In my heart I knew something was off. I was not feeling normal.

Finally a few days ago I start thinking it could be the birth control? I started doing some research and it lead me to this thread. EVERYTHING mentioned here I can relate too. The anxiety, the muscle twitches, the depression, hair loss, loss appetite, inability to sleep, how everything is worse at night, and so on. Although things has gotten a little better, these symptoms have completely taken over my life in past 2 months. I honestly thought there something wrong with my heart because the anxiety symptoms. That still may be the case, however, I am now more sure it was because of the birth control thanks to this thread. I could cry because I can go discuss with my doctor and try to go from there.

Any advice on things I can do on my own? I scared to take any anxiety or depression meds. I was on Zoloft for a year about 2 years ago and I had to stop because of the apatheticness that was taking over me. I wanted to feel again, so I don't want to go back there. But this sucks a lot too. So any suggestions would be helpful.

Again, I am so thankful for everyone's input. The little bit of weight lifted on my shoulder is everything right now.

Hi everyone!!
Reading this is definitely helping me settle my mind. I stopped taking my pill (microgynon) a little over a month ago and just had my first real period. 2weeks ago the insomnia started.. which is probably around the time of ovulation, anxiety then followed due to anxiousness of me thinking of not being able to get to sleep. I’ve struggled to sleep for the past 2 weeks. So strange as I have never had trouble with anxiety and sleeplessness before, I’ve always been a good sleeper!! Who doesn’t love their bed! And the only thing in my life’s that has changed recently is stopping the pill! I’m normally a very positive/happy person so I’ve been very distressed as to why this is happening along with the awful irrational thoughts - reading this I feel like I need to just accept the anxiety and know that I’m ok and this will pass! feeling a little More confident now! Good luck to you all and hope everyone feels better ASAP xxx

Thanks for posting this. I went off the pill almost three months ago and started experiencing awful insomnia, sleeping just 2-3 hours a night. Then the anxiety, panic attacks, irrational thoughts and fears started to kick in even though my period has continued to be regular. I went off the pill after almost 15 consecutive years because my husband and I want to have a baby in the next few months and I wanted to give my body time to clear the BC out of my system and readjust. I had no idea that I would fee like this and I am appalled that no doctor or medical professional ever warned me, or any of my friends for that matter, of these side effects. Anyway, I am now terrified to get pregnant because I worry that the insomnia and anxiety could be harmful to a developing baby. Especially since so many women who are posting are still having these symptoms over 5 months later. I am glad to hear that pregnancy has alleviated some of your symptoms. Do you worry that they will return post partum? Congratulations and thanks again for sharing your story!!

Hi Christina. I too was on the same birth control pill you were on. I was taking a different BC pill before for about 5 years and switched to Lo Loestrin FE because I was having such bad headaches. My doctor thought the new BC pill would help. It did not help at all, but I kept taking it. In October my husband and I decided to start trying to get pregnant. It wasn’t until about a week or two later when I started having horrible anxiety symptoms. At points I would get so nervous and anxious I would feel like I was going to pass out. I will tell you it gets better. 6 months later I still struggle but it’s not as bad. I have learned to breath and meditate. I have learned how to calm myself when I feel anxious. I also use essential oils from Doterra. I use the balance blend with the serenity blend and run on my feet at night and in the morning. You can also use Lavendar. I will say do NOT try the cheap oils as they are no pure. Try Doterra, Young Living or Rocky Mountain Oils. They have helped me. I am now 4 months pregnant, and still have symptoms. I too do not want to go on anxiety meds. Especially now that I’m expecting. Just be open with a friend or loved one and talk to them. Talking helps. Also journal if you want to. You just have to find something that works for you. I hope things get better!

Beth