Feeling depressed after stopping the birth control pills?

Hi dear,
you are definitely 100% not alone! If you look back at some of the posts on this forum, there are many many women who have struggled with the same symptoms you describe here among others. How long have you been off the pill? Although you have already gotten your first period after the pill, that does not mean your hormones have balanced out - it can take many months and many cycles (for some it takes less, for some more, there really is no rhyme or reason to this crazy thing). I am 3 months off of the pill and have two periods so far, but many of my symptoms are still present. I struggle every day, and so do many others. I also suffer from health anxiety and always think that I have a horrible illness - so you are not alone in that either. You just have to keep reminding yourself its just the hormones, thats all it is. Eventually they will even out - but it is a slow and gradual process with many ups and downs, where one moment you feel like you're fine and the next your symptoms return. You'll be okay though, I have no doubt. If it makes you feel better, have your doctor do all necessary blood work and tests to rule out anything else, at least to give yourself peace of mind.
I truly hope you feel better. Please message me any time if you need to talk!

Been off the pill last April (Diane), got my withrawal bleed the same month - so basically it’s 2 months now. I only had spotting the first month of the cycle and all the symptoms subsided on the first... and then my period. A week before it I was dizzy, had visual issues, and my boobs were hurting - with a pricking pain quality which made me think it was a looming heart attack. My back upper back hurted too. And then my period came and it subsided - as mentioned I thought I was going to be okay until my period stopped, and I was heavily constipated, bloated, and gassy - I have to strain with pooping and in small amounts which led me to think I have colon and lung cancer since it never happened until now!

Last night i couldn’t stop crying!

Today I am going to undergo abdominal ultrasound and upper GI endoscopy to check if anything’s wrong, but the procedure itself freaks me out.
On my first month I also got myself checked by a cardiologist because my blood pressure was out of whack - there are times it is normal but there are times when it would shoot up even at rest. Eventually results came out normal but then after my period this week, I had this anxiety again (i’m attributing it to excessive worrying and breathlessness) and it shooted up again. Seeing all these happen to me makes me even more scared. I am devastated. I am frustrated. I kept myself active on the first month, but with these symptoms that are bothering me - I am afraid to move for fear that I will have a heart attack anytime. Labs came out normal too ( bloodwork, lipid profile, thyroid panel, ECG, EKG, holter ) except for borderline cholesterol but then I feel like they missed something.

Here I am again - scared, in the dark. I try to distract myself but the fear still lingers no matter how I try.

My husband is already going crazy too since I have been an emotional and physical wreck.
Sometimes I get mad at him for the lack of empathy.

Thanks girls for your encouragement.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. Hormones can definitely bring about the GI and stomach issues you mentioned. I am nauseous almost every morning and also feel dizzy, and as I mentioned I am 3 months off after only being on the pill for a little over 1 year. The anxiety and other symptoms are definitely connected with your cycle. You will probably begin to notice a pattern. I'm glad you got all of the blood work done though - I doubt they missed anything, so I would try not to worry about that (I know its hard, believe me - I had the same worry for a long time).

I also try distracting myself, but it doesn't always work either - especially right now when I feel tired, sick, and dizzy and don't feel like leaving the house very often. My advice would be to start with at least one thing a day that makes YOU happy and takes you away from your thoughts about your symptoms for a little bit. It could be anything from chatting on the phone with a friend to cooking a delicious meal to working in your garden, or simple reading outside. As long as you move your mind away from your symptoms for a little while.

I have read from other people that the first 1-4 months off the pill are the absolute worst. It can be very hard to live life, and you may have to make some adjustments but don't give up. My partner also doesn't understand the extent of what I am going through. In the beginning he was very supportive and worried, but now that all of my blood tests are normal and we know I don't have a serious illness, he almost expects me to "snap out of it" and be back to my old self already. I only wish it was that easy and I could wake up one day and just feel like myself again.

Anyway, how are you feeling today? Keep us posted! And please try and do something fun for yourself this weekend to take your mind off things, I know its hard but just try :)

Hi Martha,

Haven't heard from you in sometime. I hope you are doing well! Have you been feeling better?

Anna

Hi, do you also find yourself crying most of the time with the symptoms?

When do you find yourself most anxious in your cycle?

I think anxiety also aggravates the symptons and the symptoms cause further anxiety. It’s a vicious cycle :( but it is a scary one.

I was diagnosed with gastritis/ leaky gut after my upper GI endoscopy. Xray turned out clear, but my pulmonary function test results wasnt optimal because i was so gassy as if i do not have space for my lungs anymore. Not sure if this is related to our hormones but I noticed that this only happened after my period.

It also happened to me the first month of the pill but I ignored it since I was more concerned about the dizzy spells and vision issues.

Anyway, anxiety was terrible after my tests awhile ago but somehow it lessened a bit this time I am typing this. How have you been by the way?

:( still sad

Hi,

Yes, I do still cry a lot - mostly because I'm scared and just want to go back to the way I was before all of these symptoms happened. I cry out of frustration too because sometimes I'll have a good day or even good few hours and then I'll go back to feeling awful and I don't understand why this is happening to ME.

I was most anxious and depressed right before my first period and second period...during the first period, pretty much all of my anxiety went away during and after but my second one I was very anxious in the week leading up to it, during my period, and for at least a week after...so 3 weeks total. It was a nightmare.

Yes, I do agree with you...anxiety makes some of the symptoms so much worse. But keep in mind, some of the symptoms are because of anxiety as well. It is definitely a viscous cycle, but the way I see it...it has to end at some point, right?

I'm sorry about your diagnosis! At least you do have an answer now though. Is there any medication or vitamins that can help you? Doctors might argue with me here, but I absolutely do think it is connected to our hormones. Especially since we didn't have these issues prior to the birth control pill, so it would be the greatest coincidence in the world for them to surface at the same time, you know what I mean?

I have been okay today...I managed a quick walk in the park (its hot here today though, so I couldn't stay out long)... I am feeling a little anxious/nervous/jittery and my period is late so I am expecting it any day now. I'm also fatigued, but thats nothing new. I'll manage to push through, always do :)

Hello! - I’ve been off the pill for about 2 months now. I am supposed to have my first period a month after my withrawal bleed post birth control, but it was replaced by “spotting” a few drops of blood which lasted only for a day. After that, I waited out again, and my next period was 2 days late which lasted for 6 days. I am not sure if it is my first regular period but it was heavy. After about a week, here I am very anxious since I am experiencing some kind of spotting again today (small amount of pink discharge, with light spotting), with some very mild cramps. It’s scary since Ive been constipated for a week now as well.

I am pretty scared and unsure if this is normal in the first few months of stopping birth control. This can’t be something really serious right?

Please tell me I am not alone please and my cycles will also regulate! I am so depressed with all the things happening aside from other symptoms which started only after stopping it.

Thank you!

Hi everyone. I know so many people have already stated this, but when I was in the worst of my anxiety, I would just sit at work and scroll through this and it would make me feel like I was not crazy. I was only on Bc for two months and felt like it was making me irritable so I got off. Mind you, I have gotten off Bc in the past before w no symptoms. I believe I was on a generic form alesse this time though and it may have affected me differently. I've always had mild anxiety/ agoraphobia but it's always been situational and especially not when I'm at home or in my comfort zone.

Anyways the day after I stopped taking my Bc I went out w friends and drank quite a bit. I called in sick to work which made me feel guilty and two days later when I was at work, the anxiety started. It was out of nowhere and terrifying. Nothing I've ever felt befor in my life. My bachelorette party was the next weekend too and it did not get better I feel like I ruined my own party and could barely have a good time. I was up at night freaking out and feeling like I needed to go to the ER. I finally felt better about five days after that and I was pumped! I was me again. Good enough that I drove out of town alone to a wedding. I drank about 9 drinks at the wedding and then next morning, absolute panic. Panic so bad and I knew I had a long drive ahead of me. Multiple times I almost pulled over on the highway and kept thinking what if I have to call 911. I felt like I needed to be close to a hospital at all times. The only thing that helped me was I took Xanax. This anxiety spell lasted 6 days. I now feel ok again for the most part.
Did any of you feel the increase in panic from alcohol? I have always been a regular and fairly heavy drinker on the weekends and have never experienced this panic before and the only other thing that has changed is the Bc ..
my doctor tried to give me beta blockers and wooodnt give me anymore Xanax even tho I explained it's for those emergency situations. The beta blockers are for the physical symptoms of anxiety. My problem is my mind right now.
Anyways it's been four weeks since I've stopped. I feel good tonight which gives me hope. I am obviously not going to drink alcohol anymore. Or at least for a very long time because I am that scared and never want this feeling again
I am also annoyed that doctors do not think the cause of this issue is birth control. It's very maddening to feel like they are not listening to us. I'm also annoyed I listened to my gyno and got on Bc again in the first place.. I feel like She pressured me for some reason.
Curious about the alcohol issue with you all though. Let me know

Hello there. I don’t think that alcohol caused your panic attack. Panic attack is part of the whole post birth control pill process and will diminish as time goes by. Alcohol plainly is a harbinger of a panic attack so, my advise is you shouldn’t take it. I had several panic attacks post pill causing a multitudenof symptoms - racing and pounding heartbeat, cold sweats, hot flashes, breathlessness, fluctuating blood pressure... believe me i thought I was going to die any minute! Just last week I had one too because of other symptoms. My advise for you is not to take alcohol because it may trigger reflux/heartburn which can also aggravate anxiety/panoc symptoms plus, It also disrupts our not so balanced internal rhythm at the moment. Try to take high dose 400-600mg magnesium supplements and B complex, since these vitamins are depleted after stopping birth control pills. You can look it up, as it is recommended by many experts in regulating homeostasis after stopping birth control. I can testify it’s effects — panic attack significantly diminished since I stopped.

i cannot say it will completely go away, bit it definitely helps — along with time.

You go girl! Continue fighting and resist the temptation of being on it again! Your body will thank you for it.Currently battling a plethora of symptoms as well, but I try to stay strong!

Please do too!
good luck

Oh, and in addition - alcohol disrupts the natural ecosystem of our gut flora, which is also not intune post pill which means alcohol will further aggravate the condition of our GI system sinced it’s closely linked with our hormones.

Went to the GI specialist last week since I had a panic attack triggered by GI symtoms, had an upper GI endoscopy done and ruled our gastritis and bile reflux.

In short, we need to veer away from anything “unhealthy” and modify our lifestyle at the moment. This means - we have to lessen consumption of caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods. We have to think healthy ay the moment.

You can look up recommended lifestyle/ diet changes post pill.

Hope this helps!

Hi Dani, may I ask what GI troubles have you experienced?

And did your spotting occur again in the next cyles? Have GI issues too- excessive gas, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, shortness of breath.

Hi Anna!

Thanks for checking on me :) I'm feeling better although there are days I can still feel the anxiety kicking in.

I had a terrible attack while I was in Disneyland and i thought I was going to die right there. Such a horrible experience. I have to tour the park in a wheelchair.

I finally got my 2nd period after 7 months today! Omg. Explains why my anxiety is so high.

How are you feeling? Have your symptoms improv3d since our last talk?

Martha

Hi Martha! Have you experienced spotting on the first few months off the pill?

on what month did you feel your symptoms slowly lift?

Hi guys! Martha here
Sorry for being MIA for the last weeks. I travelled with my partner and moved to another apartment so i have been really busy.

For some of our new sisters here hello! I have been off the pill for 8 months now. The first 3 months were the worst days of my life! I thought i was going to die! Month 4 i got better though i still get attacks a lot. Month 5 i was able to go to the mall lil by lil.. i still get my symptoms like 3 days out of the week. Month 6 & 7 i was able to travel already and move around better..

It does get better every week guys!!! I can assure you of that.

I'm feeling better compared to the past weeks.. though my symptoms still show up every now and then I can manage it better most days.. i think we need to be patient really. I still cry about it whenever i get attacks because the feeling is just so awful

What helped me the most i think to quickly recover are my essential oils! I diffuse everyday and i also made my own roller bottles. I still stick to my diet most of the time.. i don't eat sugary food, no caffeine and no alcohol.

How's everyone feeling?

Martha

Yes i did. My symptoms started to lift month 4.. although the bad days still outnumber the good days. Month 6 is really my turn around point..