Feeling depressed after stopping the birth control pills?

Wow so weird how similar our situations are. I feel exactly like that.

Another problem I have is that I notice every little flaw. I feel like I dislike so many physically features about him now and that's so sad! Ugh I hate this

Im 10 months off after being on bc for ten years! Surely i should be better by now? :-( anyone else taken this long??

So do i. It used to be a lot worse but I try to tell myself that I am not perfect, and the physical has never trumped who he is as a person before this happened. I was always able to appreciate him for being an awesome person. Literally has changed me. Someone tcare so much about appearance has never been me.

His appearance has never bothered me. Lately, I've been noticing things that bother me and that's horrible! I hope by the 6th month I will feel okay and almost back to "normal". I'm not sure what normal would be considered to be because honestly I don't have hope that I will go back to what I was before all of this.

Hello I'm writing this post to give you some clarity. I was only on birth control for 2 months and have been off of birth control just shy of four months. I have days where I feel better but then I have weeks where I feel worse. You were only birth control for many years so it may take longer for your body to adjust. It's only been about 4 months for me and I'm not sure how much longer I can feel this way so I can only imagine how you feel 10 months later. I know it much be horrible for your relationship especially feeling like you fell out of love with someone who was once so special to you. My biggest advice to you and something that help me get through this is just remember that this is the pill. Although it may not feel like this pill did this to you, it's the only logical reason we would all feel the same way about our relationships. I know how hard but I think you will be okay. You will get better in time just waiting it a lot a little longer. I read that it could take up to 1 year for some people to feel completely back. But if you look at it this way, I'm sure you are much better than when this first started! You are stronger than you think, wishing you the best.

Thanks, i must say that the first couple of months off i felt ok but then from january onwards i became so insecure an paranoid but that was mainly about losin my husband cos i loved him so much. Now i seem to have went full circle an now doubt our relationship and my feelings. Its frightenin me. I jus wana feel the way i did! Im drivin him away an feel like i am being a c**p wife. Stuff about him annoys me that didnt before an stuff i should be supportin him over, i feel i struggle to which makes me feel selfish! Im scared that im left like this an i wont return to normal :-(

I saw a psychiatrist today because I've been having scary thoughts, etc. He thinks the hormones could have sparked a change in my brain chemistry (along with other stressors). He also thinks I've had an OCD component (purely obsessions) to my previously diagnosed depression/anxiety. So he upped my new meds and gave me an as-needed sedative.

I know a lot of you don't want to be on antidepressants, and I get that, but I was previously had been on them for almost a decade. But the main thing I got from him is that the brain chemistry can get messed up, and any obsessions or thoughts that don't seem like you, aren't really you. Whether or not they can be straightened out without meds, I did not ask as I am probably the type of person who will always need antidepressants. I hope this helps someone.

Thanks this helped me! Not only have I been doubting my relationship but I just don't really see a future for me anymore which is very odd so I'm glad that you found that out! Hopefully it could go back to normal without meds? Thanks!

Thanks for your post! How long have u been off bc? Im jus so fed up feeling like this. Just want to be happy again an stop constantly worrying :-(

I can definitely attest to what Becs1689 is saying. I had a friend who was going through the relationship anxiety/OCD like me. She got to a really really really bad place and was at a point where she needed help ASAP. She went to a psychiatrist who said that her symptoms are very characteristic of anxiety and depression. So he prescribed her an antidepressant and anxiety pills as needed. She was not functional before she went to the psychiatrist, and she said that she feels functional now that she has been taking the pills. The thoughts have not gone away; they are still there, they just don't have the ability to torture her as they did.

Her situation was a little different. Her anxiety was just caused by ppmd, not by getting off the pill like myself. In addition to getting off of the pill- I have worked out heavily and completely lost my period (a.k.a. threw my hormones through fire) and was put on the pill to get my period. So, now that I am off of the pill, not only am I dealing with hormones related to the pill, but I have stopped working out as heavily, so my body is getting used to normal stress hormones and everything else associated with that as well. In the beginning I was really bad and was desperate to get help in any way, but very reluctant to go on an antidepressant because my compounded hormone issues and a fear that throwing more chemicals in the midst will make my life worse.. However, I also am now "functional" so I deal with the anxiety/depression daily, and it seems like my body may or may not be working its way back to normal without the aid of medication.

On another note, as a result of my anxiety and depression,I have been afraid to really go out with friends in fear that my anxiety will spike. Additionally, I have became hooked on coffee. I found that when I am at my worst, coffee makes me feel better. Ever since I became functional, I also have developed a really really really bad rash on my hands. I itch so bad that I cut my skin and it scabs. There are literally hives and blisters all over my hands. Can anyone relate to these physical symptoms?

I've been off for almost 7 weeks, but my story is kinda crazy. I was on for 10 weeks and then my insurance wanted to send the meds mail-order. The change was all messed up, so I went off it for 5 weeks, and then tried again for 12 days. So I am sure the off and on and two incomplete cycles with the Pill.

During this time there was a family thing where a relative was given 50% change of surviving surgery (he did, but it was crazy with 5 weeks of waiting prior to the surgery and then a few weeks to get a prognosis, which is almost the best outcome we could have hoped for). My sister moved out of state, and with being physically disabled, I am home most of the time. But that has been the same for 5 years.

It could have been a perfect storm, and as the psychiatrist said, something could have just flipped a switch in the brain. He also reinforced the fact that it is *not* my fault.

I have been off the pill for a 1 year and 5 months. I took them for 6 years straight and had to stop them for 2 months due to surgery but when I started taking them again It all started the anxiety but mostly the depression and need to cry for no reason. When I realized the pill was the culprit I stopped them and right away started to feel better but that was only for a month. On the second month all hell broke loose. You name it I had it. Ocd thoughts, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, insecurities, light sensitivity, migraines, insomnia, loss of emotions all kinds of fears materialized. The first thing my doctor prescribed was anti depressants. I took one and felt worst so I tossed those out. It has not been easy as most of you know but now I can see the light. :) I am 35 and I feel that its a mix of my body learning again to function and a change in hormones that most women experience in their 30's. I take a complete natural multivitamin, calcium magnesium with vitamin d3 and omega's. This has really helped but like with all vitamins it takes time to build up in your system. Now most of my days are good with a few bad moments not even days in between. Mostly the day before my period and during it is when I feel more down as my period ends i get a bit anxious and then again moments during ovulation. I strongly recommend you write down or use an app to track everything and I mean everything how you're feeling and side effects, moods etc. This will help you see if there is a patters and it will give you peace of mind. Remember that all of our emotions are flatlined while on the pill and now we are like scared kitties learning to deal with the world. Mostly we tend to obsess and worry and question things that are important to us. Like our partners, kids, family, our health, etc. The important thing is to stop yourself when the first negative thought crosses your mind. Stop yourself constantly and say NO this is not me. Invest your time in keeping busy. Go out in the sun. Excersice. And little by little you will regain that joy for life. Important face your fears. If you don't they will grow. Talk to friends talk about how you feel all the time you might realize there are a lit more girls in the same boat and you are not alone. This although sad is a relief because we usually tend to think is it just me?
Best of wishes to all of you. Hope you have a great day:)
Mare.

Thanks for this Mare. I remember seeing your posts from previous months so it's nice to hear back from someone who's coming out of this. Very glad to hear about your improvement :)

Thank you so much for this! I've only been off 4 months so I hope it doesn't take as long as a year. I was on the pill for a very short time so I don't think this process should last that long.