Panic Attacks Support Group

A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...

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Birth Control and Anxiety

deleted_user
deleted_user
I suffer from panic disorder and gad. Since the start of all of my mental problems, I have been avidly searching for ways to heal myself. I gave up on antidepressants and am currently taking xanax. It works for me, but I want something more.

This question is for the ladies. I have been on the birth control pill for quite a while and I recently found out that it can cause anxiety and panic attacks even in people who don't have panic disorder. All of the hormones in the pill mess with your natural hormonal balance and can give you anxiety. I quit my pill about three weeks ago, i still suffer from anxiety and panic, but it has been lessened. I am hoping that once these hormones are completely out of my system I will feel better.

Has anyone experienced anxiety related to the pill? If so, there may be hope for some of us girls? IUD's don't mess with your hormonal balance and they are more affective than the pill. Any advice or testimonials out there?
deleted_user
deleted_user
it will take longer for all of the old hormones to leave, you might not notice for a month or so, it may not totally ease the anxiety though, yes I too went through
deleted_user
deleted_user
what pill r u on?
deleted_user
deleted_user
I took the pill many years ago and had to stop taking it because I became depressed. The depression went away after I went off the pill. BC pills can definitely cause anxiety. I recommend you try another birth control method.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was on Lutera, which is the generic for allese. it is a low estrogen, high progestin pill.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I took Depo Provera for many years and it caused major Depression for me. I have since been off of it for about 2 years now and notice a huge differnce. I am still depressed but not half as bad as I was on the Depo.
It's kind of a catch 22.
Good Luck To You!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Thanks for yalls reponses.
deleted_user
deleted_user
a lot of things including stress can mess with your hormones... I didn't get any worse while on the birth control pills and actually it did the opposite on me... it helped me level out my hormones it also helped me keep my periods more regular which anxiety made all wacky. Know what really ups the stress and anxiety? an unplanned pregnancy... you can get a simple blood test done to see IF your hormones are out of balance and THEN I would decide if you should be on the pill... MANY MANY different factors can effect hormones.
deleted_user
deleted_user
the pill calms mine down
deleted_user
deleted_user
I will look into getting a blood test to see how my hormones are. I did not think of that before. However, I know that the pill was messing me up because my periods would last for 3 weeks while on the pill D:, even though I took it every day at the same time. I guess they just affect people differently. I'm not using the pill now, but I am protected.
deleted_user
deleted_user
awesome idea to get your hormones checked... unfortunately the pill isn't designed for individuals... it's based on the "average" woman's body... and 49 % of us aren't "average". That's the problem with most medication. Some doses are based on an average male body and for someone like me who is short and underweight it can be way too much.
ItsKimi
ItsKimi
If you are taking a triphasic pill that could be the problem. Try a monophasic one. Hopefully that will help. :)
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