anxiety attacks after stopping birth control

hi, I’ve been experiencing basically the same things as you and I was wondering if you’ve recovered?

I've been going through the same thing since October 2018.... was loving life and passionate about life and then when I went of birth control, its like my world just feel apart. I couldn't eat, sleep much as i would always wake up with a panic attack work was terrible as my body literally wouldn't stop shaking, couldn't function for about 2 weeks ... but there were days where it felt like a switch went on in my brain and I was my self again. Anyways, I've been taking, magnesium, iron, Vit D3, Vit b12, Vit C and omega 3 and its been helping tremendously. I also take a natural herbal supplement from McNabs before bed. Stopped caffeine and sugar as that worsens the anxiety , stopped heavy training and just go for long walk now and take Epsom salt baths to detox with lavender. All these remedies have helped tremendously. Been doing a ton of reading and research, its related to adrenal fatigue and thyroid due to the fake hormones. Its really does get better, eating whole foods also helps a lot instead of processed foods. Trust me when I say you are not going mad, even though it feels like it. Just keep reminding yourself it will get better. If you can find a good Dr in functional medicine willing to take you seriously, then do that too as it might speed up the healing process.

not sure how you are feeling and coping since your last post but I started with the following supplements... iron, due to extreme heavy bleeding with every period. Magnesium, b12, d3, omega 3 krill oil, vit c and a probi flora as bcp can trigger yeast overgrowth. I do Epsom salt baths with lavender to flush toxins (usually adrenal glands and thyroid take a major knock with bcp.). no caffeine , sugar or refined foods... everything is whole foods , walking, no hectic training that could cause more stress on the adrenals. Also battling with my brain not working right, sometimes it feels like i'm in a dream which is triggered by the anxiety. I know this is hormonal because I go through stages where it feels like a switch goes on in my brain and i'm my normal self and then it starts all over but its REALLY getting so much better with each passing week. its been about 6 weeks now since my 2 weeks crisis where I didn't even want to get out of bed or live another day through it. the worst is when you know this is nt you and have no explanation for what is happening. if you can see a naturopath that understands this stuff please do.... but hang in there, you not mental, and the hormones will come right. Try help the recovery as much as you can though with diet and natural remedies.

It is for sure anxiety related. I was afraid of my husband and being around him, that stopped, then I started being afraid of coming to work, now I'm struggling with a sense of being in a dream like I'm watching everything from the outside or that what I'm experiencing is not real. this is all due to anxiety. I've NEVER in my life felt like this or experienced anything like this in my life till I stopped birth control. I was afraid of going to sleep because I knew that when I work up it would be panic all over again and the strange thoughts that made me feel scared. the worse stress , the more anxious the worse the symptoms get. BUT, they are getting less and less. from the research I've done, stopping birth control can cause symptoms associated with adrenal fatigue and thyroid issues so do a little research on that and see if you can relate and also google , post birth control syndrome , there's a lot that makes sense. try to keep yourself busy when your mind starts racing or you feel stressed or anxious. get around people that you love being with , that make you feel safe and loved. not sure what your diet is like but whole foods are best and supplement wise ive been taking, iron, magnesium, vit c, vit b12, vit d3 omega 3 krill oil, the pill depletes a lot of stuff which just sends are body into shock when and stress.

Try some natural supplements , magnesium, iron, (if very heavy periods) vit c, vit b12, vit d3, omega 3 , Epsom salt baths with lavender to detox. lavender oil on temples before going to sleep to help clam you. eat whole foods, no caffeine, sugar or processed foods. take long walks, and keep a routine, don't stop living basically. easier said than done at times but it DOES get better. do some research on adrenal fatigue and thyroid issues.... the pill has a HUGE impact on these glands that are responsible for our natural hormones and affect the way our brains function..... when you feel too overwhelmed by life, get quite and rest cause that's your body telling you it needs to rest.

Just wanted to add my experience because this thread had been enlightening for me!!
September 2018 I had an operation, which was told I had to come off BC because it thins the blood. So August 18 I had my Nexplanon implant taken out, after 3 years of no periods or side effects.
Night before the op I had my first panic attack. I was terrified as you would be, but had never had a PA before. After the op I had 2 weeks of daily panic attacks. Thought it was a side effect of the general anaesthetic (probably was).
Then after that started to get super paranoid and anxious. Had weekly panic attacks. Thought i had an infection, blood test was all clear. The glands in my neck became swollen and it consumed my whole life. GP told me it was health anxiety. I thought the general anaesthetic had given me brain damage or the operation had gone wrong??
Started getting pregnancy symptoms- nausea and dizziness, crippling panic attacks, couldn't go to work. Had my thyroid tested which was fine. My blood pressure had gone from being low to high so I started propanolol.
Then i noticed... at the peak of my panic attacks, was when I had my first period in 3 years- 2 months after removing nexplanon. The first month after that period was horrendous. I couldn't go out and had a permanent headache. I also had hives. My brain felt fuzzy and I always felt dizzy. I thought it was an autoimmune disease but doctor was convinced it was 'just anxiety'. Also started getting spots, greasy hair, joint pain, muscle spasms, cold sores, just feeling really ill.
Now I've had 2 periods since this started. Discovering this thread, I've finally realised it was unrelated to my surgery but actually withdrawal from progesterone!! I'm so angry I've gone through this and blamed the wrong thing. I still don't feel right- although have started taking magnesium which has helped, along with evening primrose, cod liver, b12 and propanolol. I will keep updating because this has been life changing. Feel like I've almost had a mental breakdown. I do feel better though, it's been 4 months now and I am hoping the worst parts are behind me.

it does feel like your having a mental break down or something. its not normal is all I can say. the weirdest part for me is the moment your brain "snaps back into place" its like a cloud gets taken off your mind and you can think clearly and be rational and feel your normal self again and wonder what all the fuss was about in the first place. That's when I realized it was an imbalance of some kind. The good days are starting to become more than the bad days, the bad days are still hard but not anywhere near the first 2 weeks this started happening to me.

how are you feeling these days? are you back to normal?

Hi ladies, I was the last guest that posted 3 months ago. I went on the Vienva pill in October 2017 because I “showed PCOS symptoms” and then I stopped in March 2018 just because I felt like it wasn’t really a necessity. (I honestly believe I actually developed PCOS after stopping the pill) I had NEVER heard of these things happening after stopping birth control, I would’ve never gone on it had I known. I loved the pill when I was on it and I can’t believe this birth control would cause such problems in my life, especially being that I was only on it for 6 months.

So fast forward to July 2018, when I started feeling withdrawal symptoms for the first time. I remember feeling really anxious but I didn’t know why. I’m only 19 and I’ve dealt with anxiety since I was younger, but it got so much more controlled as I grew up. I didn’t understand why I started feeling anxious because I had actually been enjoying my summer after a long semester of college. July and August I had such extreme anxiety, obsessive thoughts, sexual intrusive thoughts, depression, twitching, heart palpitations, worrying thoughts about anything and everything. I was so overwhelmed I couldn’t even eat and I lost like 15-20 pounds within a few weeks. It was really such a low point and I found it very hard to believe that I would get through it. Once I came across this forum and a few other ones, I began to realize how much of a pattern my symptoms were. I would be fine before and during my period, but I would have the worst setbacks a few days after my period ended. In August I began taking St. John’s Wort and a few weeks after that I felt a bit better so I stopped (big mistake lol.)

In September I felt sooo anxious and depressed again around my period and my mother convinced me to start the St. John’s Wort again. That was when I realized how helpful that supplement is, and I noticed a difference in my mood within hours.

So now for the good news, I’m currently almost 9 months off and WOW. I’m not 100% better but I feel myself coming back, October and November were great months for me and I can definitely say the St. John’s Wort helped tremendously. I’m still taking it currently and I’m probably going to stop by next month because I feel so much better. If any of you need a supplement for anxiety, I recommend it. I look back on July and August when I couldn’t sleep or eat and I just feel so relieved that I’ve improved this much. If I can get through the worst of it, you can too!!

Sorry for the long story but I just wanted to give you some hope, stay strong girls!!!

Hey girls. Today I felt my libido come back for a hot second ! I haven’t seen it since like February. Maybe that’s improvement ? Any stories of success ? What was the last thing to get better for those success stories ?

Glad you're seeing improvements! I had 0 libido while I was on BC but mine came back about 2 months after stopping.
I would also love to hear success stories. Are there any other forums like this?
Im on month 4/5, was due a period today but it hasn't come, I'm desperate for it so I can start to feel better. Ive got a high pitched noise in my head all the time. My head feels fuzzy, and I'm so fatigued I have huge dark circles under my eyes- does anyone have this? People keep asking if I'm okay!!

I had the fatigue too, I wasn’t really sleeping much the first few months. Check out the Aphrodite Women’s Health forum, there are thousands of posts with so many success stories. Whenever I was extremely anxious I would read them and it helped me tremendously in reminding myself that these issues are simply hormonal

Hey ladies. I am a year and a few months off and i would like to update everyone. I feel 90% better. I know what you all are going through with the highs and lows. You have these unexplainable symptoms for weeks then they go away and you get excited thinking it’s over then they pop up again with new symptoms each cycle. It’s very hard and the hardest year of my life but it does get better but it is a slow process so be patient. I have been taking vitamins and fish oil which seems to help. I know foods and caffeine trigger my symptoms. Currently my only symptom is heart palpitations which is so scary at times i wish to trade it for the old symptoms. They seem to happen after i eat and while I’m laying down. I’ve been prescribed beta blockers to help which do and they happen less frequently so like with all the other symptoms I’m just waiting for this one to run it’s course and be done. Also hoping nothing else replaces this one! Everyone stay strong it does get better. I almost have no anxiety anymore other than when i have my heart palps.

Hi, thank you for posting this!!

I am 4 months off BC. I get palpitations and my whole body feels like its had an electric shock. My muscles shake and it feels like an internal tremor.
I was prescribed beta blockers but then developed a ringing in my ears! I googled it and BB can cause hearing damage!? So am not sure if it's the BB or hormones causing my tinnitus. I have stopped taking them, although they did really help with my panic :( how have you found them?

I am so happy to hear that you are feeling 90 percent better. I can’t wait until I hit that mark. How long did it take you for the anxiety to subside ?