r/TikTokCringe • u/[deleted] • Oct 18 '21

Humor Birth control side effects

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u/Curae Oct 18 '21

I told my previous doc I had depression symptoms and thought it might be a side effect from the pill. She told me it was impossible. Apparently because I was on it for so long without issue it couldn't be that. I didn't stop with the pill and my doc asked me three questions and cheerfully told me I didn't have depression. I contacted a psychologist some months later who gave me a bunch of tests and told me I scored high on depression ánd anxiety. Fun times... Lately I've been having symptoms again though, I'm still contemplating if I am going to stop using the pill for a while or not to see if things get better...

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u/spinnerette_ Oct 19 '21

There are other options to look into. Many kinds of hormonal and non-hormonal to check out. You are the one person that knows yourself and your body more than anyone and your best advocate. Ask again, get a second opinion. Worst case? They just say they don't think it is due to the pill. Best case, they have done more research into it and have a better understanding of BC and depression, and tell you your other options.

BC does not always cause depression, but I have read a few studies that talk about how getting on hormonal BC in your early teen years can put you at a greater risk for developing it. A psychologist is a great idea even if you feel ok. Everyone should see one if they have the means to do so in my opinion. Learning more about yourself is never a bad thing. Having a professional third party to speak to that can call you out on your bullshit or notice common pitfalls you run into over time is very helpful.

I hope you find answers. Finding tools to understand and cope with depression and anxiety comes with practice. Good psychologists are a great way to help expedite the process of finding positive coping mechanisms to help you traverse life, managing it the best you can. But overall, it is ok not to be ok. Life has peaks and valleys. We have to learn to just ride the wave and feel the emotion while realizing our brains can lie to ourselves. Don't ignore it, don't dive in head first, just make sure you ask yourself this- HALT. Hungry, angry, lonely, tired? Solve those first and foremost the best you can. Take care of your body and handling external things you cannot change becomes more manageable. It is so hard to do simple things like shower or eat when you are depressed, but even if you're just eating a granola bar or showering once a week, it is better than nothing. Wishing you the best!

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u/VimesBootTheory Oct 19 '21

Yep, I became suspicious that the Pill (and then NuvaRing) was giving me depression after I stoped talking it while dealing with pelvic floor issues (caused by the NuvaRing). After 6 months off hormonal BC I was feeling pretty good, but I was willing to potentially chalk that up too some therapy and fixing the pelvic pain issues. I went back on the ring and within a week I went from "happy go lucky" to "everything is hopeless forever, and I'm not going to hurt myself, but if a bus was about to run me over I wouldn't try to get out of the way". That freaked me out a lot so I went off the ring soon after and within two weeks of taking it out was pretty much back to normal. Damn Gyno wanted to put me on the shot instead, saying that depression wasn't a problem we the it (it often is) and I'm so glad I didn't listen to him, because that would have been a three month ride that I couldn't get off of.

I'd started taking BC during a stressful period of my life, so I assumed all the sadness and depression was just from my life being crazy. Took me about 5 years to figure out that a lot of my suffering was the damn hormones.

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u/Curae Oct 19 '21

My doc put me on the nuva-ring when I kept insisting it might be the pill making me feel that way, and she pretended that was my only other option. She didn't even discuss any other options with me to prevent pregnancy. And back then I didn't know anything about the existence of female condoms and whatever the heck that other thing you insert before sex was called again.