Feeling depressed after stopping the birth control pills?

Okay good to know. Because of course my head wants to panic about it but it only started a few weeks ago. (This is Shyla btw). And it's not constant, just random aches and pains that throw me into anxiety. I hate this. Plus I have a sinus infection.

Ugh I feel your pain. It's hard not to get that sense of panic when you get random pains or feel new, worsening, or symptoms that stay the same.. how could that not bother anyone or not make their mind wander/worry.

When did your sinus infection begin? Was it related to the pill? I had never had a sinus infection in my life before this. Is it bacterial or viral? I think antibiotics make it harder for our bodies to heal, or so I've read. My dermatologist wanted to put me on antibiotics for my acne (thanks to getting off the pill) but I refused being that antibiotics just screw us up more and will add more time for us to heal. Anyone taking antibiotics should also be taking a probiotic.

I've had sinus issues since stopping, like weird face/head/nose pressure that didn't turn into anything until a few weeks ago. Now I've had a major cold/sinus stuff twice at about the same time both months. I just ovulated. Had a great day yesterday and today I went downhill again. I so wish more women would come back and share their progress!

So I've been doing some thinking and talking to other women. At what point have some of you decided to start an antidepressant and did it help? An older anxiety med called BusPar made me worse. I think. Anyway, my problems started the week before I quit BC and then got way worse when I did. I guess because I've had bouts of anxiety and feeling low my whole life, I'm concerned this is just ME and had been waiting to happen. I had horrible post partum depression both times but I'd say this is worse. I'm very concerned. And almost three months off the pill. I've seen some physical improvements but emotionally I feel very bad. Like I'm
In a dream or a fog half the time. Or like I'm disconnected from reality and I cry a LOT. Generally feeling down and hopeless and no desire to do anything. Any thoughts?

Ps This is Shyla. Just curious who all has tried an antidepressant. I'm getting worried this is just ME and not hormones.

Hi, super glad I decided to google this and came across this page! Im 22 and have been on the pill from the age of 16. For the first couple of years I was on microginon but it gave me awful mood swings, so I changed to loestrin. On loestrin I always felt as if I couldn't feel emotions as much, like incapable of getting excited etc. Anyway my boyfriend is in the raf and went away for three months with work, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to give my body a break. I stopped taking the pill mid September. I completely missed my first period and started feeling constantly anxious around mid November around when I finally got my period. Only recently have my symptoms been getting bad. My heart is constantly racing and im always nervous but im not sure what for. I have zero appetite and feel sick if I do eat, I feel as if im in a little bubble like everythings a dream and my thoughts are really loud. When im in a circumstance where its loud e.g a restaurant with friends its hard to concentrate and I feel as if im about to faint. I get occurrences where my symptoms are exaggerated and break out in a cold sweat like an anxiety attack. Its only recently that ive suspected it might be stopping the pill that is responsible for this, because ive had a few changes recently such as graduating and entering a job which is nothing to do with what I have a degree in ( work in a bank and want to be in design -desperately ) getting my first car (which im terrified about driving every time I get behind the wheel ) and ive had a constant battle with IBS for the past few years. Feeling stressed brings on my IBS so this new anxiety is just awful for my stomach and I worry about it flaring up, which in turn obviously does, so I worry more and its just a vicious cycle. What I really want to know is can I go back to taking the pill without any complications? My initial plan was to come off it the duration of my partners absence and go straight back on it when he returned as I have no plans to be starting a family right now. But I read somewhere that I should wait for 6 months after stopping to return to the pill. I know this is a question for a doctor but I want to know if I can start taking it again immediately because these symptoms are getting unbearable! (Scary how we rely so much on artificial emotions )

I don't know what else to say except that I am so sorry and I totally understand. It's so terrible. I believe it's low estrogen causing most of our symptoms. The pill worries me, but if you're planning to get back on it anyway, I think it's fine to go ahead. I wouldn't wait six months. My doc told me I could hop right back on a pill whenever I wanted.

Hello. Sorry that you are going through it. I'm not trying to discourage you from going back on the pill, but most women I've read about who went back on the pill did not feel better. In some cases they felt worse.

I think that you've already put so much time into the healing process since coming off in September and should the pill not work for you this go round, you will essentially have to start all over again. That's even more days and months of going through the motions.

Yes this is definitely some scary stuff. It's by far the hardest thing I've gone through. But it scares me so much to where I know I never want to take birth control and experience this ever again. I think your instincts were right when you decided to get off the pill and give your body a break. Many doctors are pro pill, they don't think that there are hormonal side effects, yet here we all are.

I've had so many old and new symptoms arise from being on BC. Acid reflux being one of them, my anxiety and stomach issues feed off of one another. As long as I watch everything I eat I'm in the clear, but once I deviate from my approved food list it all comes back.

The stress from this all triggers physical symptoms for me too so I can relate somewhat. All we can do is roll with the punch at this point and baby our bodies until these synthetic hormones get out of our system.

Should you decide to get back on the pill start taking daily vitamins that the pill has been known to deplete. I'm in my 4th month, I didn't start to feel better until the beginning of my 3rd month. Periods are high anxiety days, but after your cycle you feel better afterwards until the next period comes.

Talking to my boyfriend about me coming off the pill was the hardest thing, initially he was supportive but this process is long so there are times where he's not very sympathetic. We use condoms and I keep track of the days that I am fertile. Some women choose diaphragms and spermicide. There are natural spermicides if you are sensitive down there. Good luck and happy healing

Yes I agree... right now I rely a lot on other women's stories because I'm constantly looking for reassurance that this is all going to be okay, which I know it will in time, but connecting with other ppl lets me know I'm not alone which is comforting.

It will get easier! I struggled for so long after stopping birth control but now two years later I'm 100% back to normal. I think it took me a good 6 months. And maybe just this past year to not be afraid I would go crazy again, it really was just from my hormones being all messed up from birth control. Hang in there and lean on those who support and live you!

Music to my ears! Thank you so much for posting. We need more follow ups. If you ever have time and wouldn't mind briefly sharing your previous symptoms that would be great! It seems like some us are having sinus/ear/head pressure issues just to name a few. Congrats on your recovery

Hi there, I am wondering how things are with you and your boyfriend now? Did the "in love" feeling return after your body continued to heal itself?

How is everyone??? Doing better I hope. I've had a little more head pressure/ sinus issues the past couple days and have been feeling a little detached. I just finished ovulating and I have been under some stress which may be contributing to it all. I noticed that stress does intensify the head and sinus pressure since this all began.. Fun times! Not. Anyways I noticed that people haven't really posted. I honestly feel like a broken record posting over and over again. Taking one day at a time. Please people check in, even if you are feeling the same. Has anyone who's back on a normal cycle noticed period like cramps during and after ovulation???
-Anxiously Waiting

Hey! I just came back from a trip which went amazingly well. I still don't feel 100% by any means, but I've been seeing a chiropractor and I feel like maybe it helps me?? I'm pretty sure I ovulated over two weeks ago but I still don't have a period (haven't had one since November 1st.) And yes, even before the pill, I always cramped during ovulation. Honestly I cramped all the time. I have endometriosis though. Not sure if that matters. Are you seeing any improvements? My sinus infection is getting slowly better. - Shyla

I had the same issue! I was only on the pill for about 6 months until I realized it was the cause of extreme hairloss. It's been a few months since stopping and I will say the headaches have gotten better, in the beginning I would have throbbing migraines for days at a time! I'm still experiencing moodswings and bouts of depression, but I'm glad to see people saying it does get better and level out over time!