Feeling depressed after stopping the birth control pills?

It's only been three weeks but I was wondering how you're doing now?

A little over a month ago I randomly felt this shortness of breath, it wasn't too bad, but enough to bother me. The holidays were coming up, so I was scheduled to work 47 hours a week and I had finals coming up for three classes (I'm 21), so I'm sure that stressed me out. Then I went on a bike ride and when I came home I was feeling like I couldn't breath and my heart was pounding too hard and I was getting panicky. I went to urgent care and they said it's just anxiety and they did blood test and everything was fine so they gave me Lorazepam... I didn't really take it except for one night that I was extremelly tired and couldn't sleep. So basically the first week I had the worst anxiety ever, constant heart throbbing in my ears, shortness of breath, heavy chest that wouldn't go away, I felt like I was going crazy. Everytime I would take my birth control pill it made it worse, so I stopped. I was taking Generess FE and it had been probably 9 months or maybe a year at the most (I never had problems previously while on it, other than never getting a period at all. I've been off it since around Dec 12 and still no period.) So I stopped the pill then got severe depression, My boyfriend had to drag me out of bed and make me go on a walk. I felt like I was in a fog, like it wasn't me. The next day that lifted a little, but still the constant chest feeling and I couldn't sleep. For like a week I was having really bad insomnia. Now it's 1/16 and I'm doing way better. I was having really bad mood swings/depression last week, but it's gone away mostly. And within the last 4 days I got that chest feeling to go away (although I do feel it a little bit sometimes). I feel like 85% normal. But I still have that weird anxiety feeling which is annoying because I usually don't worry about stuff, and I have an overall feeling that I'm not quite normal like something is off.

I am very hopeful that everything will go back to normal. Everything takes time. I will list the things I've been doing to help everything get better....

-I started taking Vitamin D and B12 right away at the initial sign of depression when I felt like I was in a fog, and I would say it helped significantly.
-I quit caffeine (I used to drink coffee every morning, and probably two sodas a day) I started drinking 4 bottles of water a day.
-Chamomille tea at night (although with the bad insomnia it doesn't do anything)
-I bought some Magnesium Oil the brand is Ancient Minerals ... It's a spray that you rub into your skin. It helps.
- I worked a lot on my mental thinking. If I got negative thoughts from the anxiety I would write them down and then write down a solution to the "what if" For example, I randomly kept feeling like "omg, what If I'm alone when I'm older and I have this problem" Which is something I normally wouldn't think so I wrote "It could be fun, you can do whatever you want, decorate however you want, get a puppy..." stuff like that... Once you write this stuff down it significantly reduces negative thoughts, also realizing that Anxiety is a trick. Our bodies are trying to figure out a reason why we feel so anxious so it makes all of these negative thoughts come into our heads ....
-I keep doing the normal things I would do even when I feel weird and uncomfortable or depressed.
-Never give up. There's always an explanation for everything, so you can't feel like you'll never be normal.. I feel like I'm soooo close to being back to normal, and I won't give up even if it takes years (which I really doubt since I've improved a lot in just a month or so)



Here are other things I read as JUST IN CASE options....
-Adaptagens (herbal supplements that help balance out your hormones/cortisol levels)
-St. Johns wort (Herbs that supposed to help with anxiety/depression)

Just like most others here- I am so glad that I found this thread. I am 36 years old and I have been on birth control (for the most part) since I was 17. I was Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo (or some form of it) for at least 15 years- at one point my pharmacy change it to a generic version because they couldn't get it or something and I was a little put off by that and felt a little off but it wasn't anything too drastic- then I ran out of pills and had lost my insurance so I went off for a short period of time like a month or 2- when I went back my doctor put me on Generess Fe because he gave me samples for a few months worth (because I still didn't have insurance). Once the samples ran out I realized it was extremely expensive but I was nervous to go off of them so quickly after only being on them for like 3months and my body was finally adjusting to them. After I did get my insurance it still wasn't covered but when I went back for my check-up come to find that my doctor wasn't covered either. Basically I stopped taking the pills and I am still trying to find a new gyno. I've been off of the pills since October.

At first it was just my body adjusting with heavy periods, crazy cramps, headaches and my body adjusting. November was a little rough towards the end but things have been a little crazy in my life so I just thought it was the stresses of life. But in Dec I noticed more and more how my mood swings were a little harder. I was super busy with work and adjustments in my relationship (he's in the military and it's long distance and it was a pretty new realtionship on top of it all) so again, I didn't think anything of it- just the periods were extremely heavy and erractic- it felt like I was pmsing more than normal.

Then once Jan hit- the mood swings got incredibly intense. I would cry easily more and more (that was something I noticed but again I figured it was pms my situations all that)- but last month I cried almost every day and for no reason- and most of the time we are talking hard core balling can't breathe the world is coming to and end crying. I was becoming paranoid- horrible thoughts that I would manifest that I couldn't let go of. (I've always been a heady person and I can get to myself sometimes but nothing like this)- I was having thoughts of suicide- I would drive and wonder what it would be like to just drive into a tree or a wall- flashes in my head- I've never had that before. I am tired all the time, no motivation, I go from happy and anger to sadness so quickly. I don't want to leave my house or I need to get out like right now. My boyfriend has no clue b/c he is over an hour away from me and I haven't really known what was going on myself. He has a lot on his plate and it was more like me wanting more attention and then withdrawing at the same time. Just been very hard and now I don't know what to tell him. 

I finally found a gyno in my plan who I think I can trust (I was with the same doctor my entire life and I wasn't very comfortable being forced to switch) 

This weekend I got my period and the week before was just another rough one- I've completely broken down and a lot of my family and friends aren't local or they have crazy busy lives and after finding this thread I realized this is because of going off birth control- it has to be. Now I don't know if I want to go back on but I'm scared to stay off if I keep feeling this way. I'm also so scared to loose my boyfriend- he is so stressed out and I feel like if I tell him- it's like hey honey so you know I've been crazy well it's all because of my birth control- I don't want him to think I'm using it as an excuse- but I have never been depressed and eratic- not like this. 

I'm reading some great tips- but honestly I just don't know what to do or where to start. 

Hi JoJo. You are so not alone in this battle. I have been off of my birth control for 4 months now, after taking it for 15 years STRAIGHT. The first two months weren't so bad.. the last two months, my word.. it's been ROUGH. What has helped me, diet and exercise. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sugar, and work out as often as possible. WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS!! Best of luck to you.

This message has been incredibly eye-opening. I was on Alesse for only about 5 months and stopped taking it cold turkey as I was moving away from home and my boyfriend for about 6 months. I thought going off of it would only have mild side effects - such as a later period date than usual - but I was quickly proven wrong.

About 2 weeks after going off of the pill, I experienced a horrible panic attack that came out of absolutely nowhere - and I mean nowhere, as I had been simply enjoying a brunch with friends on a vacation in Berlin (the most stress-free environment?!) Somewhat thankfully, I have had issues in the past with anxiety and anxiety attacks and so was able to calm myself down. However, since then I have experienced these attacks almost daily to the point where it's becoming hard to calm myself down. Before reading this forum, I was attributing the anxiety to the stressful load of work I have at school right now, but upon reading all of your stories I am enticed to belive that it in fact is related to going off of the pill. 

The worst part for me has been the "foggy head/dreamlike" sort of state. It makes it extremely hard to focus on anything, mainly because the whole time I am stressing about the fact that I feel like that. Headaches, loss of apetite and extreme fatigue (even when I sleep for up to 10 hours a night!) are other side effects I have experienced so far. I'm not sure if I would say I have felt depressed, but I have certainly cried a lot over the fact that I feel this way. 

Nevertheless, it makes me feel so much better that I am not alone and that there is a cause for all of this. I saw a GP this morning to make sure all my vital signs/blood work were in good shape, and I would encourage all of you to do the same - even just for peace of mind. During anxiety attacks or even when you're feeling stressed or down, talking to someone is always, ALWAYS the best thing you can do. When you feel like that, you tend to get trapped in your own mind and so it's important to talk to someone and let another, more rational opinion in. 

To be blunt: it sucks. It's just something we will all have to deal with - and we will all find our own way of dealing with it. Just think that it could be worse. And it will stop. 

I was taking Ovranette for 20 years yup i know!! I decided to come off the pill just to give my body a break the longest time i was off it was one month it was horrendous. Now it has been just over two years and I am still having side effects of the pill I am a monster before my periods and period pains about a week before. I am getting spots on my scalp before my periods and just irritated a lot of the time. I am going through a lot of forums and I seem to be the only person who has been on the pill the longest sometimes it does drag you down like a mini depression episode then it passes i still don't feel a 100% motivated and would love to get my mojo back i am taking b12 but doesn't seem to work. I don't want to take anti depression tablets. It's bloody frustrating if i had known this years ago I would have stopped taking it

Char. Hello. My wife was on the pill for 12 years straight and just got off of it six months ago. She is certainly not the same still after 6 months of being off of it. Depression, migraines, unmotivated, you name it is a daily routine. Her work is starting to suffer and of course our home life too. I and her have no idea what to do except get her back on the pill. Clearly being "addicted" to the pill is not an appropriate solution.

Where are the doctors or agencies in all of this? Her doctors tell her they have never heard of anything like this.

Well, I'll add to the chorus.  I have been off birth control for 3 months now after being diagnosed with a benign tumor that may have some link to hormal contraceptives.  I was on levora and some other pills for almost 22 years straight - and I mean straight, as for the last 6 or 7 years, I wasn't taking the palcebo week.  Being on the pill was so awesome!  Never a mood problem, no messy pills, I was stable emotionally and physically every month, all month!

I had no idea going off would be hard at all.  I kind of knew my cycle might take a while to regulate but that's it.  I haven't had my period at all in the three months, but I wish that was all.  I have been extremely depressed (constant crying and thoughts of suicide), anxious (adrenaline washing through me, hyperventiliating) and have severe insomnia.  I didn't think this was linked to the birth control pill until just the other day.  you see, I've had three members of my extended family die in the last 6 months, I had that scary tumor health scare along with a severe infection (which is what landed me in the hospital in the first place and found the tumor), I moved and started a new job that is sort of hard.  So every facet of my life was sort of undermined and I (and my family and closest friends) said it's understandable that I am so upset given all that has happened to me.  But it's so much more than just a reaction to bad circumstances.  Sometimes I am bawling even as I am acknoledging that life isn't actually so bad and I'm getting over the deaths, and my health is actually fine.

So I think (and hope, since it's nice to KNOW what's wrong and not feel just crazy) that it's going off the pill.  I had already started seeinga counselor and got on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills in an attempt to literally save my life, as well as having tried 3 sleeping pills, which are all pretty ineffective.  So far, the various pills aren't super helpful and I don't know how much longer I can go on feeling like this and not sleeping.  My performance at work is starting to be affected and as a new employee, this is a huge risk for my future.  

I made an appointment today to see my PCP next week and the office sent a message to the liver specialists.  My idea right now is to try to go back on the pill, but do the placebo weeks and/or a lower dose pill and then see if there is some way to wean myself off and not have such bad withdrawal, maybe by starting to take the pill intermittently or something.  Has anyone ever tried this or suggested it to a dr?  I would think that would help minimize the symptoms of withdrawal.  It all depends on the liver people being ok with me taking hormonal contraceptives for a bit longer, but as I said on the phone to the nurse, I think the risk of being on the pill to my benign tumor is less than the risk of being off the pill is to my mental health and well-being. 

For the last month, I have been feeling depressed, mildly during my cycle and extremely during the end, to the point of wanting to not live. The week I come off my BC is BAD, and when I go back on it, it is a switch of becoming better! I know I have to come off but I went on a new one with higher estrogen for now, and I fully believe its deficiency of my estrogen. I know I am going to have to come off, but my depression is a TEN when I am off it, and I can't function even well enough to respond to an email properly. I am unsure if I can do it without medication, but I know I have to come off. My plan is to go on an IUD in the future.

How are you feeling now? This is exactly what is going on with me, less anxiety and severe depression. Two months in a row, right when I go off the pill. I know i have to quit but I have not had the strength to do so.

Hi, This thread has been such a blessing for me! I've had every symptom you described and then some. I was on lo ogestral for a year and a half, missed 2 months, them back on for a month and now off almost a month for good. The week after my "period" in my last pack was by far the worst as far as anxiety goes, I missed 3 days of work, crying and hyperventilating, just aweful. I'm still VERY anxious, emotional, and cry randomly most days. My dr gave me lexapro but Im not going to take it unless I feel I can't function, it's a last resort for me as I hate the idea of medicating myself. How long before you saw any improvement in your moods? I know I will get through this and it just takes time but it feels hopeless when I have bad days. I NEVER would have started the pill had I known getting off it would do this!

This is a follow up to my post a couple of months ago, about 4 posts up, starting with "I'll add to the chorus...." So, the liver specialists were ok with me going back on the pill (and I have regular appointments to monitor the tumor to see if it grows/changes) and my PCP was also fine with it, although she really felt that my symptoms were probably just anxiety and not related to going off the pill. So I started the pill again and then maybe a week or so later I also started twice weekly acupuncture appointments. I look back at how I was feeling now and am so grateful I'm better. Not completely better, but the anxiety is very rare and very mild when I do feel it, the depression is also almost completely gone, more rare and mild, too. And I am sleeping almost normally, which is the very, very best part! However, I am still taking sleeping pills and if I do not, my sleep is not perfect, but still better than a couple of months ago with sleeping pills. So great! So I still want to get a bit more stable before I make any changes. I'm still on the anti-depressants (which cause some undesirable side effects) and the anti-anxiety medications. I'd like to get off those first because they are more of a pain than the birth control pills, which I am much more comfortable with. However, I don't want to get too complacent, due to the tumor. I had my placebo week on the pill about a week and a half ago, and I did have a day or two with real melancholy and some anxiety. Not super terrible, and maybe unrelated to the fact that I hadn't taken the pill in 4 days, but these things just seem so strongly correlated to me. I'm planning on staying on everything for another month or two just to hopefully feel solid. I'm terrified that I never really will be solid enough to go off everything. I'm terrified that all of the horrible anxiety, depression and insomnia is lurking within me, underneath the pills and acupuncture. But for now I'm so grateful and even though the pill is artificial hormones and I don't want to feel medicated and artificial, it's totally worth it to not feel suicidal and to feel like there is some hope in life.

My first experience with this was three years ago in 2012. I stopped BC after graduating college. A month after stopping I had a sever anxiety attack, dizziness, depression and a foggy confused feeling lasted for six months. After 6 months I was back to my old self where I didn't feel anxiety however, I became very aggressive. To this day I am always overly defensive. Anyway, Three months after the anxiety stopped I became pregnant. My pregnancy was amazing, I was probably the happiest pregnant woman ever . After giving birth, I breastfed and was totally fine. Now that my little one is one years old, as of last month the feeling of anxiety, foggy brain came back. I had the feeling a week before my period. When I got my period I was instantly better and I was better the week after. Now that I am ovulating the feeling is back! I am not sure how long this will last. I have been off the pill for three years but the long term effects are real. I only have these feeling when its time for my cycle of when I am ovulating. I wish I did not have to go through this every month and I hope it goes away soon because I have a child I have to focus on. It disgust me that these side effect that affect our mental state is not noted by doctors or pharmaceutical companies.

the EXACT same THING is happening to me right now. I am devastated. I admit, unlike you, I have been doing a little more stress eating the end of this school year (I am a teacher), but I've gained a really fast 20 lbs.

Please tell me it eventually stops (for pregnancy or otherwise).

I'll start the same way everyone else has. Im so happy I read through these posts. The last 4 months have been really awful. I moved overseas and was prescribed the same pill I was prescribed before. It made me a little nuts. I found out later that sometimes they meds are a bit different. So, after 3 months of snappiness I started a new one that messed with my hormones so much that I plummeted into depression crying all day everyday for 12 days until I just stopped taking it. My life is quite great now, but it wasn't as a child and these pills brought back there and to a place lower than Ive ever felt before. Additionally, I have other hormonal issues I take medication for and I was convinced that there was something "off balance" I think you can tell when something isn't right in your body but, Im not a doctor. Ive stopped taking my pills and have been talking about the effects so much, I thought maybe I am just depressed and am all ready to find a therapist. Fair enough, I may have some things to deal with, but Im so glad to know that I probably AM off balance and its because my hormones are trying to get back on track. It sounds like some of you have tried acupuncture. I think at this point Im willing to try anything.

Holy moly - finding all of your wonderfully open comments has made me feel so relieved. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in 2009 when I was 21 after 6 years in an abusive relationship. I started the pill 12 years ago. I have had an up and down year with depression, so thought coming off the pill would be good, as well as all vitamins I was taking - to finally find the real me.... It has been 1 1/2 months, and it's getting increasingly worse. I have never had such bad anxiety. In the past two weeks I've packed my bags to leave my partner 3 times. I'm confused, scared and so depressed most days. I started seeing my psychologist again last week to work on schemas from previous relationships, and my supportive fiancé came with me to that appt. we had such a great relationship, but in the past two weeks it's like we can't see a way forward. Like 'bam' out of nowhere it's gone from soul mates getting married coming up to our 3 year anniversary, to confusion and arguments! Now that I have found your comments, it has reaffirmed by inner belief to not start on anti-depressants, continue my counselling, and NOT leave my wonderfully supportive fiancé while I'm feeling so bloody confused!
I hope there's not too much longer to go! Best of luck to you all, and hang in there xx