Feeling depressed after stopping the birth control pills?

You took the words right out of my mouth! I am about 7 weeks off and this whole month has been hell :( I'm getting married in October so I'm sure the stress of that doesn't help but the scary thoughts and the remembering that we had those scary thoughts is the one thing I'm having a really hard time getting over.

You guys sound like me from a month ago. Having your hormones going crazy definitely doesn't make the wedding stuff go more smoothly. However, in hindsight, I know that we're stronger because of everything we've been through. I wasn't magically healed on my wedding day, I still had a few down moments, but overall it was a good day and a good honeymoon. In fact, as I continue to get better I'm starting to look forward to our anniversaries when I'll be completely healed and be able to fully enjoy myself.

Last night, my husband and I started talking about the wedding and honeymoon, and I told him that it was bittersweet for me because of my emotions. I'd been super happy, but the more we talked about how I'd felt back then, the more sad I became. I asked if we could change subjects, I felt almost instant relief. So yes, I think those guy reactions will be hard to get over, but I'm confident that we'll all be left with the good memories in a few years time.

Hey guys! Sorry its been awhile since I've last posted. I am having a bad week. So i thought i'd check in with everyone. I have noticed a direct correlation to my mood and what week im on in my birth control pack. The inactive week is the worse. And then I progressively get better as the amount of hormones increase. My best week is the highest amount of hormones.
While the depression and feelings towards my boyfriend are still there they arent nearly as bad. I constantly find myself asking if we are meant to be together, if i really love him, if we are going to be together forever... etc. If you would have asked me these questions a month and a half ago when this all started I would have told you were crazy! I am head over heals in love! He is everything i want and need in a partner.... So having these feelings is crushing.
I have gone to a counsler and will be starting a new pill in a little over a week. So, I'm going to see what that does after a few months. If it gets worse or doesnt help my counsler wants to discuss anti-depressants.
Depression runs in my family ( my mom and her mom had it) so it doesnt seem too far fetched. In addition to it running in my family I have had A LOT of bad things happen to me in the four years. so, its possible that all the crazyness in my life coupled with the pill that was throwing me out of whack and a family history of depression finally pushed underlying depression to the suface.
It hard to be patient.... but i keep trying to tell myself that it will get better.
As a side note something that I have been finding myself dweling on lately is the feeling that my boyfriend seems like a stranger. I mean... Not really a stranger, but just that i dont know him very well. and i obsess over it, thinking that our relationship is bad or something.

Anyone else have anything like that?

Also, as some women have mentioned, they have considered getting a copper IUD. I have really been thinking about this too. Money is the main issue, however my boyfriend has offered to help me with it if thats what I decide is best.

Hey girl! I'm so so sorry you're having a tough week. I've been having the toughest week since this all started (I've been off the pill for 8 weeks now). I can deal with the physical symptoms of anxiety, but when I start getting the negative, scary intrusive thoughts that I just can't stop thinking about it becomes really hard.



I'm obviously not a doctor, but in my opinion anti-depressants aren't going to help. I've read a lot on them because I sometimes feel I'm at that point as well, but everything I've read makes me feel like it's not worth it. Some can make you feel worse (if that's possible haha), some just make you feel numb, others can make you feel great but then if you ever want to go off them (for instance if you want to get pregnant) then it's this crazy process all over again. For me, I'd rather get this over and done with! I've even thought about going back on the pill (which on better days I swore I'd NEVER do) just because I'm getting married in October and don't want to have a chance of feeling like this on my wedding day, but there's no guarantee that I'll feel better doing that - it could even make it worse.



I'm sure for you that it is a mixture of all the stress you've had in the last four years, along with the birth control causing your hormones to go crazy. And I know what you mean about your boyfriend feeling like a stranger - I've had times like that where I look at my fiance and feel emotionally numb. But that DOES go away. Going through old memories and pictures really helps me because it reminds me of a time when my hormones weren't out of whack and I was really happy! I know that I will be like that again someday but it will take time. I'm not patient, so I know it's really hard, but keep your head up :) No matter what, you just have to stay positive - and I know how hard that is but it's the only control we have over this right now!



My suggestion for you is to keep talking to a counselor. I've thought about going to a therapist but just haven't gotten there yet. Also talk to friends and family about what you're going through. You have to have a support system. I broke down in my boss' office yesterday because he wanted to know if he said something to upset me these last couple months and I finally told him why I've been a little on edge at work. He completely understood and it feels better now that he knows. Also, if you can, I would see a naturopathic or homeopathic doctor. I see one and I trust her way more than regular doctors who are always pushing some big drug company's meds. She has me on certain supplements to balance my hormones, support my thyroid, etc. If you ever need someone to talk to just PM me :)

Right, the anti-depressants are my last resort. The main reason that I think it might be an option is becuase it runs in my family. I'm really hopping that the new pill helps. My boyfriend has been so supportive and when i think about hurting him or losing him it kills me. and then i feel guilty for feeling numb. Its a big vicious cycle.

I hope that getting back on the pill helps you!

Yes, I have noticed that going through pics helps. Unfortunately there arent a ton of us from before this all started. :( but I do have some. and being with him always helps (we are in a semi long distance relationship. we live about 2 hours away from eachother but see eachother every weeked for the entire weekend) While it helps it almost never seems to go away completely. There are moments where all of the feelings start rushing back and i remember how i used to feel. but generally i find my self qestioning everything.

 

What kind of supplements are you on? I started taking B6... I'm not sure if its helped or not.

I know all about long distance! My fiance and I met when I was going to college 6 hours away from home. We dated long distance for 4 years! Sometimes we'd have to go 80+ days without seeing each other (I had a countdown hahaaha). I can't imagine how I did that now! But hang in there!

The supplements I am taking are specifically tailored to my body - a lot of the ones people talk about on here like 5-HTP my body didn't want - she (Mr Dr.) tested it on me and my body said I didn't want it. Her specific method is called Nutrition Response Testing. I've also had to cut out dairy (which I believe is due to the pill) because I just all of a sudden got a sensitivity to it and it would make me really nauseous and have horrible stomach pain. That all started when this all started! Anyway... I'm on Minchex and Nevaton by the brand Standard Process. Those are the ones for my moods - the other stuff I'm on is because my lungs needed some support, and so did my thyroid. I would highly recommend trying to find a doctor to test this stuff on you so he/she can help you get better faster instead of you wasting money on supplements that may or may not work for you.

Interesting! Good to know. Thank you!

Haha, I meant "My Dr." not "Mr Dr." hahahaha

LOL! I figured as much. :)

Hello Ladies!Just thought I'd pop in and reassure you that things will get better. I've been off the pill for 3 months now..I got my period today (it has been regular even after stopping BC) and I must say I feel amazingly better this week compared to a couple of weeks ago. My anxiety has withdrawn immensely and I'm eating more regularly. The persistent side effects are my hair loss (handfuls coming out all day long) and my inability to put any weight back on. I had a very stressful few days with my bf and had they happened a month ago I probably would have ended up in hospital with a full blown panic attack..but instead I took it really well. My trainer friend recommended I cut out dairy, junk food, wheat and certain fruits as well as taking Vitamin B supplements, fish oil and magnesium to help me relax. I must admit it has really really helped me! I'm learning a lot from him about the toxic nature of certain estrogen forms and the imbalance that occurs after pills..so I'll keep posting as I get more insight :)Good luck!!

Hey girls,

I was happy to see so many posts when I got home from work today. So many of us have been waiting for that "light at the end of the tunnel" and I think I've made it there. For the first time since May, I TRULY feel like my "old self". By that, I mean that I'm head over heels for my husband (then fiance), and any doubts I had before are gone. I don't even have those random negative questions popping up in my head anymore, which always used to spur the slump in my mood. Also, my cycle is back on track completely. Though frankly, I'm much more excited about my emotional healing than my physical. 

I believed I would get to this point eventually, but wow, I had no idea how great it would feel once I was there. So, DON'T GIVE UP!!! DON'T EVER DOUBT THAT IT'S ANYTHING BEYOND THE HORMONES!! It's true that my daily stresses sometimes made things worse, but I can now see beyond a doubt that the hormones were influencing how I processed EVERYTHING. Then, once those negative experiences occured, I became conditioned to respond negatively because of the hormones. That was difficult to break. Now, this is not to say that I have forgotten what it's all like. I do feel healed, but I still am not ready to talk about those bad times very much. I feel like I still need more distance and time before I can talk about those times without feeling a surge of guilt and sadness. It's still sad to think about the months I had to suffer in doubt before finding a relief. On the bright side though, you guys can take comfort knowing that a few months from now you might feel exactly the same way :)

Im so happy for you! I hope that I can end up like that too. This week has been hell. But I have had my good days. Here's hoping.

Okay with all the negative thoughts what are some things that you would think about? I find myself questioning life alot and if l ever return to normal and i hate feeling this way :( yesterday marked 3 months off the pill ive had 3 periods since then or so what you wanna call a period i dont know if its my actually period or not. Some days i feel like a walking zombie and like i have no memory what so ever did the memory thing ever happen to anyone else

Most of my negative thoughts have to do with my relationship. I suspect because its the most important thing in my life...