Feeling depressed after stopping the birth control pills?

Hey James, thanks for your post.
This definetely seems like post bcp ROCD. I felt the same. Have you showed her this thread ? Does she know that she is not alone feeling crazy and feeling like she doesn't want your love anymore? I am 9 months off and I still cope from all of this. It is a very hard thing but you two can make it if she understands what is happening to her and you seem like the perfect boyfriend to go through this with :)
Best of luck to both of you!

Hi James, that sounds just like she’s going through the same thing as all of us here. I had no idea the pill could cause an imbalance like this and it’s a very scary thing to go through. Apparently the side effects getting off have something to do with your body not producing hormones correctly on its own because it’s so use to receiving them synthetically from the pill. I had a couple of months where I withdrew from people too because I felt like no one could understand and like I was worthless (probably from the depression). Your girlfriend may benefit from this forum so she understands better what’s going on. You’re so nice to try and help her by doing your research. I’m sorry she’s not feeling good

This is about to be a very long post but it'll make me feel so good to get this out and possible help anyone who will read this..... I am yet another person who was so relieved and happy to stumble across this page!!! I am 19 now (April 2018) but I started taking the Tri-Linyah birth control pill in July of 2017. I initially started taking it because I always had pretty severe cramping, and overall menstrual period yucky feelings since I first got my period at age 11. (Other than the cramping however, it is important to note that I never had any issues with bad mood swings, depression, anxiety, headaches, nausea, or appetite issues.) In the first few months of taking the pill, I actually had amazing improvements. My skin, which was already pretty clear, was incredibly clear and healthy looking; my weight stayed at a consistent, healthy number; my cramps stopped completely; and mood unchanged. I was so happy and raved about the pill to anyone who asked! Additionally in September of 2017, my boyfriend and I decided to become sexually active with each other, so being on the pill gave me extra peace of mind. From then on till December, it was smooth sailing. Starting mid December however, I woke up one morning, stepped off my bed, and immediately had an insane amount of pressure on both sides of my head. Being someone who never got headaches, I found this very odd, and found it more and more worrisome when the headaches became an everyday thing. The headaches soon became coupled with nausea and severe loss of appetite, and soon enough, I started spotting in the middle of my cycle (At this point I had never experienced spotting in my life, I always had very regular periods that had a very clear cut stop and end date that I could predict usually dead on). After researching my symptoms and talking to friends, I began to think that I was possibly pregnant... and this of course added to my already troubling symptoms, along with the stress of being in finals week at university. Physically and now for the first time mentally, I was very on edge and worried. After a handful of negative pregnancy tests however, my period finally came 3 days late and slowly but surely, symptoms improved and I started feeling more like myself. Fast forward a couple of weeks and the symptoms returned, having a sharper decrease in appetite, more headaches that turned into migraines, and terrible nausea. I decided then on January 1st, 2018 to stop taking the BPC to see if that's what was causing the sudden adverse symptoms. After stopping the pill, for about 2 weeks, I had horrible migraines, nausea, chest pain, and dizziness and went to the doctor to get checked up on. After a few blood tests and a CT scan, I learned that I didn't have anything seriously wrong with me, and my doctor told me that my symptoms were likely caused by the birth control. Going to my universities doctor about a week later to get a second opinion, she additionally told me my chest pain was likely brought on by anxiety. Hearing this I was honestly so upset and confused because I never experienced anxiety to the point where it brought on physical chest pain and shortness of breath, I didn't feel as though it was anxiety because I didn't really know what anxiety was, so I was in disbelief and tried to brush that off. Additionally to note, being 5'7, my body naturally liked to be at about 140 pounds, I was that weight steadily since high school and starting college. Now however and since January, my decrease in appetite has brought me down to about 123-126 pounds on a given day. (IM SORRY THIS POST IS ALL OVER THE PLACE ITS BEEN SUCH A CONFUSING ROLLER COASTER FOR ME) Anyways, now talking about life off the pill.... first period off the pill was still very regular, but I did have horrible cramps, even worse than I had before starting the pill. Other than that, and till February, I had constant headaches, nausea, still little appetite, increased oiliness in skin and hair, and I began to feel a little more sensitive and moody (especially towards my poor boyfriend, so I felt/still feel bad about it). My second period off the pill (in Feb) came a week late which I wasn't used to. Had pretty bad cramps and still continuing headaches and nausea. March March March March. Early to mid March was a nightmare. My physical symptoms of headaches and nausea and little to no appetite were still prevalent, but this was definitely a month of mental health changes. Starting off as just being moody at my boyfriend, I suddenly started feeling so incredibly sad, irritated, and low. Although this period of really low moods only lasted about 4-5 days, I started getting thoughts that I had never had before, ones that I won't detail on but they definitely were unlike anything I ever experienced. I was so ashamed and confused for thinking such things and for being so sad. I kept thinking to myself "you were literally fine a few days ago why the hell are you thinking like this now????" a part of me knew this was not my normal mental state, and that something was wrong, but i kept thinking what if this is stuck with me forever? I was suddenly questioning am i now suddenly depressed? schizophrenic or something of that sort? anxiety filled? I started thinking of things in ways never before, constantly putting a negative depressing outlook on things. I was constantly thinking about being sad and constantly worried it would get worse, all while having my normal thoughts in my head telling me that this is not normal, this is not me, and that i need to stop this negativity! The shows and videos I'd watch on sad topics all became so bad for me to watch because they would foster all bad things in my mind. I felt like i was walking with a rainy cloud over my head. It was a really rough week for me and in trying to discuss it with my boyfriend or friends or family, I was trying to be open, but at the same time not worry them. I played everything down a lot and that made me feel more alone. To add onto this, starting in January I had to move into an apartment away from my college friends due to room assignment issues, so I think being physically alone too for a lot of my day played/plays a role in my mental health. After a few days, each day while actively trying to distract myself and surround myself with friends, I slowly felt like i was getting better mentally. I was so relieved because I felt like that sudden impending doom, anxiety, depression feeling was with me forever. The next few weeks were good, I didn't really experience bad moods outside the normal 19 year old realm, I just was always fearful and a little ashamed of the depressing mood i felt in mid march. Coming to mid April, I have had some returning mood issues, slightly like the ones last month but no where near as bad. I find that the bad mood makes me think of how depressing my thoughts were last month then I get fearful of that returning. But for the past few days I've been trying to just calm myself and distract my thoughts and it seems to be getting better. Bottom line is that each month since stopping the pill, I have recorded when my health goes worse and its consistently the same time, its a week after i get my period and it lasts about 5ish days. Im hoping this is all just due to my hormones getting back to normal and that each month will get better. So far thats what it seems like but I keep getting worried and fearful that that horrible mental state will come back. Trying to stay positive and remind myself that things have been looking and feeling better. If anything I definitely am much more sensitive and understanding and concerned with the issue of mental health. Being consistently happy for all my life then suddenly hitting that low point really scared me and I just am really hoping that my body figures itself out and that i will continue to get better. I keep going back and forth on the idea of taking a different pill. The most recent doctor I saw said maybe I should consider it but I'm thinking no. People on here have been saying 6-8 months for things to get much better and so far for me it has been 4 months off the pill. Just going to wait and see. Ill take bad cramps any day over a bad mental state like I experienced. This has really put things into perspective for me. Sorry this has been all over the place but I just wanted to get everything I can remember out. If you are still reading this I hope maybe I have been able to help you feel like you're not alone. And if anyone has any advice, tips, or just comments/encouragements for me please don't hold them back, support has made me feel so much better through all this and I am just hoping for a healthy, happy road back to the way I used to be before taking the pill!

Just found this thread today...and I am happy that I am not losing my mind and am not alone, but at the same time very angry and sad for everyone going through this because of birth control. My story is similar to some of the others on here, but I figured I'd share it anyway...
I was happily on one type of birth control for over a year with no issues and then was suddenly told by my insurance that they don't cover it anymore, so would have been a lot out of pocket. I switched to another one, which was supposedly the "generic" for the brand I'd been taking. First few weeks on it were fine, no major issues. It was the third or fourth week that I started feeling awful. I had symptoms included, but not limited to: very foggy brain, feeling like I wasn't really present, staring off into space multiple times a day, feeling VERY anxious and like I was going to pass out and becoming more anxious because of it, muscles randomly feeling lose/relaxed/weak, hard time focusing and took me a longer time to process things, everything started to feel like it was in slow motion, nausea, heartburn, waking up in the middle of the night with my heart racing, I also suffered a few panic attacks (mostly when waking up in the morning), sensitivity to light (I actually couldn't watch TV for a while and had to have dim lighting in my home at night), feeling dizzy, very low sex drive, not feeling like myself at all, and I'm sure there are others I'm missing. Anyway, I went to my doctor and he said I need to get off these immediately. He told me it might take a while (weeks or even months) but eventually, those symptoms/side effects should go away. I have now been off those pills for two weeks, as of yesterday. While some of my symptoms have gone away or gotten better since then, I am still suffering. I now have awful mood swings - literally from moment to moment my mood changes, I have crippling anxiety, I am depressed a good deal of the time, I have lost my love for life and barely want to do anything anymore, I either have no appetite or I can eat anything and everything, very little energy, poor concentration, I have become paranoid for my health and always worry that something bad will happen to me, each morning starts off with anxiety and nausea, sometimes dizziness. I have been on anti-anxiety medication for 3 years, and they help some. I used to be very active and go to the gym/run/walk almost every day - now I can barely leave the house for more than 30 minutes at a time. The worst is the foggy/dream like state I am in sometimes. Usually in the evening, I feel like I am barely here anymore and I just want to sleep for days. I have some good moments/days, where I feel almost normal again and I try and make the most of those times, but its hard knowing that it won't last and pretty soon I'll go back to feeling like a zombie. I have been to the ER twice and seen my doctor as well, all blood work, CT scan, etc... came back normal. I have not started taking any new medications or changed anything else, so I am sure that these awful things are happening to me because of the hormones. I can only hope that with time, I will get back to normal at some point. This is not how I want to live the rest of my life. Since it has only been 2 weeks, I will try and post an update later on down the line in a few more weeks. I hope everyone going through this knows that they are not alone. I will never take birth control again - my future boyfriend/husband/whatever can deal with protection if they don't want kids.

Hi Anna,

I'm 23 and in month 7 of this mess and am finally starting to make noticeable progress as of last month. I can say that every single side effect you mentioned above, is exactly what I've had. Even the dreamy feeling/not feeling present thing (which was the WORSE part of all of this for me). I also was obsessed with my health and still am healing from that. People refer to it as Health OCD. I will never take any birth control again that goes in your system either. Future hubby will just have to deal. It's not worth my peace of mind! Only thing you didn't mention that I and some other women experiencing this have had is the floaters or little black dots in my vision every now and then. Hopefully you skipped over that! It stinks that hormones are nearly invisible to doctors and how sick we are can't come back in a scan or test. Your story sounds exactly like mine. Can't wait until we're all better. (Also, I too was fine on the BC brand I was on until my insurance switched me to generic and said it's the same!!!! Obviously not!) Please know you are not alone.

Hi,
This is Anna - thank you so much for your response. You don't know how much it means to me. I am so sorry that you are going through this as well, but happy that you are noticing some progress now. When I first started experiencing all of these things, I thought there was something really wrong with me - I thought MS, Lyme Disease, Epilepsy, even brain tumor. I had no idea that Health OCD was a thing... but I think now, I definitely have it. I am very sensitive to changes in my body and how it feels, so the smallest change now sets my alert/anxiety off and I worry about it. For example, one night last week I was laying in bed reading and my feet kept getting pins and needles feelings and falling asleep. Then it happened to my entire leg. I was sure I was going to have a stroke. This is what these pills/coming off them have done to me. It also seems like there is no end to the symptoms, every day feels like something new comes up. I really did think I was going crazy until I found this site. And the thing is, I had no one to talk to about it or who could completely relate to it. My sister had no problems at all coming off birth control last year or when she started a new one earlier this year, my boyfriend is understanding but thinks that the symptoms are more psychosomatic than anything else, my mom has been a gem because she says she experienced similar issues going through menopause and told me hormones are the worst. As I write this now, this morning, I feel okay. My mind is a little clearer then yesterday, the only symptom I have right now is a weird warm sensation in my arms. I know that the foggy brain will be back soon enough though. If you happen to come back here and read this, would you mind answering a couple of questions whenever you have a chance? You said that you have experienced these symptoms for 7 months now - how long were you on the pill before coming off of it? Do you still get the weird dreamy/fuzzy/not there feeling? What have you found helps you when you are experiencing these symptoms? I can't believe that our stories are so similar, as are many women's on this site. Thank you for responding to me. Oh and to answer your question about the floaters - yes, I do get them every now and then but not too often. When I first started having problems with the generic BC I experienced severe issues with my vision - I had blurry/double vision, couldn't watch TV or have the light on, at some point I couldn't even read, and the little black dots would come out of nowhere and make me feel dizzy and scared. So yes, I have had pretty much everything. Last night I experienced very bad depression and anxiety and cried and cried. I just want this all to be over and be back to the way I was before.

Whoops I didn't see that your response was on the next page. Thank you two for replying. I needed the words of encouragement! A lot has happened since I posted. On Tuesday she dumped me and I told her I support her and will do anything that she needs. That night she went out with her friend and they drank A LOT. She called me the next morning and we talked for hours. She said she felt like she made the biggest mistake of her life and we were going to just go back to being the way we were before everything started and be the fun loving carefree couple that we always have been. She said she doesn't think that she is actually depressed and that, subconsciously, I was making her sad by not being myself and by trying to be so nice and there for her all the time but she didn't realize it until now. We got back together and I stayed with her that night and things seemed like they were finally going to get better...

Then yesterday(Friday) happened. I got drunk at a party and was a really emotional/clingy/sad because she didn't want to hangout with me that night. I made a hug ass of myself by being so emotional and it was really for no reason at all. Everything seemed like it was getting better but I am afraid that I might have ruined all of that.

Words can't describe how embarrassed I am today and how sorry I am that I put her through that. I feel like I'm the one with the hormonal imbalance! I told her I am sorry and embarrassed and she said she can't deal with stuff like this. I haven't heard from her since. Should I just leave her be for a couple of days or should I reach out to her? I really messed up and I don't know what to do.

Hey guys! Month 7 for me! And i felt tremendously better between month 6 and now, there is a huge distinction. The last period i had before easter did not induce any anxiety .. no bad thoughts.. nothing. I was able to LIVE. I did break up with my boyfriend mid february.. (unrelated to anxiety) (actually because he treated me terribly when we fight and i know one day i will be with someone who respects me all around) but all of march i was feeling amazing.. the only thing that im struggling with now is panic attacks. i only got ONE yesterday , SO RANDOM! i have noticed i get them when im ALONE! but the thing is .. i have been with my ex boyfriend for 3 years.. and i dont want to just jump into another relationship with a rebound to make me feel better.. i want a break from relationships (cause they are a full time job & im only 21) and i want to move on from him in the most graceful way.. its extremely hard because i think well if ur single go have fun! but i know in the long run... not hooking up with randoms/jumping into random relationships will be SO much better for me.. i might even be able to find the underlying issues to my anxiety.. time to myself and fully TO MYSELF sounds like a dream and i want to do it. Self love and self discipline means "forgoing immediate pleasure for the exchange of long term respect". I believe that so much. So i am trying to move on from heartbreak, deal with my own anxiety and panic.. i feel like the birth control is not a reason to blame anymore. i honestly hope you all find clarity and peace

(sorry my post cut off) I want you all to discovery yourselves through this journey.. because clearly we are transforming into something bigger and better then we have ever been. Oh also i changed my diet, more FRUITS AND VEGGIES! CUT OUT DAIRY (i try!) NO GLUTEN (slowly try this also) I continuously go to the gym, i hang out with my friends, i stopped seeing a therapist, and i got to get back into deep breathing exercises. And remember that when dealing with anxiety.. you can remove yourself from a situation that is heightening your anxiety.. dont be afraid, be selfish during this time period. Ask me anything!

Hey Nikki,

I'm glad you're making progress. I'm in month 7 too. Although, I can't say the birth control is not to blame. I never had these issues before and they coincide with the timeline of me taking the pill... It's also obvious to me that if we're all having the same side effects after taking a similar birth control method that the birth control is the outlier? Did you mean that you cant blame how you're feeling on th pill anymore because you're feeling better? Question since we're both in the same month - do you feel like you have a wall up? I still feel out of it, not "lively." IU'm wondering if it's trauma/PTSD from this scary experience.

I just can't imagine that hundreds of women have come here with the same symptoms and it's not from the pill? Also, I should not I'm feeling better as well but something's still not right! I can't break down the wall

Hi Anna,
Of course, I'm glad we can all come here and relate to something. I also didn't know Health OCD or half of these symptoms were a thing! I've read through here that many women have had the pins and needles feeling in their hands/legs so I wouldn't sweat it. I know it's not comfortable but hopefully it helps to know what's going on. Maybe if you look back through the pages on here a bit you'll see someone mentioning the same experience. On of the craziest things has been getting a new side effect, coming on here, and seeing tens of women say the same thing!! I also thought I was having a heart attack or something intense when I was having heart palpitations. It's been tough not having people in real life to talk to, but it's nice that your mom can relate. My mom told me my grandmother and her both had depression so I was like omg I never knew that so maybe I'm more perceptible? But I was happy go lucky before this so it's strange. Though I was in the clear.

So, to answer your questions - I was on the pill for 3 years. I got on the pill from going to Planned Parenthood when I was 20, when I started dating my now fiance (my first partner). I was fine for 2 years until one day I went to pick up my prescription and was told they switched it to another brand but it's similar. Now I wish I never drove away with that prescription! I shrugged it off and though - whatever, it's just a contraceptive, it won't make a difference. Boy, was I wrong. I began to have awful headaches and cramps to the point I was bent over in tears. I just thought wow - womanhood sucks, my period must be getting more intense as I get older. Then in that winter I started to feel very down (unlike my normal bubbly self) but chalked it up to a random bout of seasonal depression. As I write this I'm so mad because all of the signs were there that I needed to get off the pill. Then this past August, I started to get this weird feeling once in a while - the foggy brain/dreamy feeling. Then August 31 I had the wore heart palpitations and went into the hospital where they said it might be anxiety. That day I went off the pill becauseI knew something wasn't right. I do still feel a wall between me and life but it is nowhere, NOWHERE near what I've experienced in the previous months. I am hopeful that the wall will break now that I've made obvious progress with symptoms. When I was feeling the symptoms I did not let myself be alone. That was the best thing I did. Even though I had to crawl to mommy loI did it. I am seeing a therapist, which I don't know helps because no personal event like a breakup or anything caused the depression/anxiety. But she tells me I can get through and she says she wouldn't say that if she didn't believe it so that is helpful. I also discuss the symptoms with her and she explains them to me which is nice. Sorry you're having a rough time, really I am. I've been where you are. Remember, it's hormones not you! This sis not you, okay? It never was. It's just a phase.

Hey! and i feel like when i had a boyfriend and i was freaking out i didn't know what was wrong.. i feel like i had to find something that gave me the answer and something to blame it on what im feeling. I definitely think the depression, overload anxiety in the first couple months was the birth control. but if you listen to your body, you can realize something is wrong in your life, your body is just telling you! I am now very scared most of the time ("oh what if i get anxiety about this? what if i have a panic attack about this?") Making all these scenarios up in my head because i have been so traumatized by this, but i assure you that time will heal and our brains will re wire how you think like that! just take all the necessary steps, each day write down 3 things your grateful for, for a month and your brain will start to realize all the little great things in your life and spring up happiness. Why im saying sometimes its not the pill is because.. this happened to me before when i was SUPER young.. no birth control.. my ex boyfriend (back then) hurt me and SCARED me SO BAD, that my anxiety flared up (first experience) and immediately my body went into freaked out mode. But he did purposely "Fake break up" with me the week before and i realized how much relationships hurt, so i was being very careful, then the next week he pretended to do it again.. and something in me realized that "omg you cant be with a person like this" but i stayed.. i was secretly dying each day and nobody knew.. one day i got the chance to run and i took it and i was the happiest person ever. So my anxiety is different.. my anxiety usually flares when my body KNOWS something is wrong for me.. and I have learned to APPRECIATE THAT! My body is my friend. But i will say the random panic attacks are unnecessary, im still trying to figure those out, panic attacks do come from when ur in high stress mode, check out i love panic attacks on youtube he explains it!

Hi Nikki,

I understand what you mean now. I thought you meant the pills didn’t cause your symptoms but they align perfectly O.o I don’t feel like I blame the pill, because the pill I was on was two-estrayalla and on the box it says it can cause depression. So it should’ve been more cautious. I also have the what if this or that causes anxiety too which I know is trauma from the first months. For me the first 5-6 months were anxiety/depression from the pill, but I was on it for 3 years so maybe that’s why it was only a “couple of months” for you if you were on it less. I haven’t had a panic attack since the first couple of months I got off the pill, and all physical symptoms for me are gone except for the eye floaters and “veil” over how I experience life. I do get good feelings now. Feeing good actually feels weird now lol

Hey Nikki Martha here :)

It's been a while since we talked here! I'm glad to know you feel so much better than the first time we talked 4 months ago. I was on my 2nd month that time and I was on a bad state. You helped me a lot.

I'm now almost on my 5th month and it has gotten better. Though i'm still on edge a lot of times but I was able to go out and hang out with friends.. i get anxiety attacks every now and then but it doesn't last all day like how it used to.

I checked the forum today because my physical anxiety is so high today. Haven't had a decent sleep for the past 3 nights becase of my persistent dry cough. It just goes to show how important sleep is when dealing with anxiety and all that..

For all the new girls in this forum hang in there.. the road will be hard I wont lie but it will get better.. :)