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Post by fattreegirl on Jan 24, 2014 6:07:22 GMT
Apparently, the Pill and the Mini Pill can excaberate depression in someone who is already vulnerable to depression due to the levels of progesterone in it. I had been on Cerazette for 5 years, as the original pill made me ill from the increase of Oestrogen. As most of you probably know, the mini pill is progesterone-only and contains no oestrogen. I have probably been suffering from some form of depression for half of my life now but it has gotten worse in the last couple of years, especially since I moved to Uni. It is only through my counsellor spotting a regular pattern in my depression cycle (which was unlike depression, as it occurred in a monthly cycle rather than being depressed for months at a time) that we put two and two together. I did suspect at one point that I may have bi-polar disorder as I felt like I was constantly up and down from one day to the next but my CBT counsellor ruled this out. She noted that many GPs nowadays like to diagnose many people with MH problems with depression because "they fit a certain criteria" and can give them standard drugs that drug companies push onto them, instead of really delving into the complexities of a mental illness (which of course, a counsellor is for). My so-called diagnosed "depression" was discovered to be much more through my therapy sessions - a combination of hormonal-related depression, social anxiety, obsessive perfectionism/procrastination, over eating disorder and old trauma issues - and which after many sessions, I'm still not quite sure what exactly I do have. But I would just like this to be a warning to any women currently on contraception and suffering from depression, that I was stupid or niaave to never put two and two together and realise that the pill might be contributing to my depression. When you're used to taking something daily, you don't really think about what you are putting into your mouth or how really effects your body. |
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Post by Helen on Jan 24, 2014 9:30:04 GMT
That's really interesting. And terrible that you've had to go through that. At one point I was really upset about my digestive problems and my doctor kept insisting I was depressed - despite the fact that I was fine other than having no energy. There is a difference between being frustrated and being depressed. I think because depression has tablets for it they only find that the easiest solution without looking deeper. Personally my problems appear to be chemical as they are mostly not related to events in my life but a lot of people have problems which cause their depression and solving the root of the problem is so much better than throwing pills at it.
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Post by lucyrob on Jan 24, 2014 10:57:24 GMT
Can I just say, I've now been on the pill for a couple of years and it has had no affect on my depression. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I don't want everyone reading this to worry that it IS affecting depression, when it may not be.
Hope you're getting the help you need though!
Helen, couldn't agree more about solving the route cause. Though I guess it's different for everyone and sometimes medication is the best way. It has been for me.
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Post by fattreegirl on Jan 24, 2014 14:10:15 GMT
Oh I know it isn't the case for everyone and that my body may be extra-sensitive to it's side effects but after years of continuously going to many different doctors and none of them ever pointing out that me taking the mini Pill might be contributing to my depression (as all of them will have a list of medication the patient is on on their computer screen), I just thought I should make a point if any other women are suffering severe depression during their cycle and can't pinpoint any other reason why.
Most importantly, because it has robbed me of what was supposed to be the best 5 years of my life and I don't want the same happening to anyone else.
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Post by Helen on Jan 24, 2014 19:45:41 GMT
It's good to have this information spread as far as it possibly can. I also don't knock medication - I wouldn't be where I am today without it.
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Post by lucyrob on Jan 24, 2014 21:18:48 GMT
Awh bless you, that's horrible. Yeah, thank you for making us aware. I just had to comment that in case people were going to panic y'know?
That's so kind of you! Really hope you're doing better now!
Yeah, Helen, same here. I can't help but agree that the route cause always needs to be dealt with though!
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Post by fattreegirl on Jan 24, 2014 21:22:34 GMT
Yeah I understand  |
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