A question for the women

Have you noticed that your depression worsens around the time of your period? Thankfully most of the time my meds are working and I’m feeling pretty good. But around that time of the month, I go into a severe deep depression. My doctor wants to add another anti-depressant, but the problem is that my cycle is not regular and I’d have to take another pill every day. Does this happen to you? How do you deal?

I suffered a lot of depression through years gone by because of my period. Unfortunately, I never realized at the time that a lot of my depression was caused by that time of the month. It wasn't until after having a hysterectomy that it became clear to me what had gone on most of my life.


sabby

How did you deal with it at the time Sabby? After all these years a light dawned on me and it just clicked. A little late perhaps, I'm in early/mid stages of the change. I wonder if this cycle will stop when I'm finished.

I don't get more depressed before my period, I got really paranoid about a week to 10 days right before my period. Since I've been on an antipsychotic, I haven't had that problem.

--spltiimage

I did suffer like you, I just cried alot during that time. But in my group today, the nurse said that doctors are now starting to give women prozac for that time of the month. Hang in there!

It would be so much easier if I were on some type of schedule, but I have never been. I may have to break down and take another pill everyday.

I used to get suicidal two days before my period. It took me a while to figure out that many of my most severe suicidal thoughts were linked to my cycle.

My ob/gyn worked with my pdoc to prescribe a low-dose hormone (yasmin birth control pills). I take them continuously--meaning steady hormones and no periods. This has had a huge impact on my mood stability (diagnosed BPII). In fact, this has improved my life more than all of my other meds combined!

I'd highly recommend at least looking into hormone treatment rather than adding an AD. I wish I had known about the connection sooner.

I think you're wise to decline another med, since it is a cycle that happens. My rage used to really flare then too. Now I'm beyond the age of periods, thank goodness.

I noticed that if I ate extra good (little sugar, salt, caffeine) and got extra exercise, it really helped a lot. But I still was so so tired at that time. For the tiredness, I just planned for it and rested, did quiet things like rent movies, read.

And even though I watched my sugar intake at that time, without a doubt chocolate helped tremendously. M&M therapy.

Echoes since I'm unpredictable I can't plan for quiet time, but I think I'm going to implement it anyway! No matter what else is going on mom gets quiet time. My anger gets the best of me too.

I think I will have to talk to my doctor about the low dose birth control pill, not only for my moods, but if nothing else I'll know when the mood swings are coming.

Thanks for all the tips!

AAAAA,

very enlightening thread!

thank you.

peace,
night

Yes. I am soon to be 25... seems strange to be saying that... anyways I know what u mean. I originally started Ortho Novum bc of not being regular with my period which turned out not to be a bad thing bc I became more and more permiscuous which flares up now and then. I've become more careful tho over time. I know there are no real excuses for my behavior; but, I know for me being raped at 13 just flushed my self respect as far as the subject of sexuality and that subject goes. Although it took maybe As long as 10 years to break that. I've been stupid and I'm sure I'm not done being stupid. Now I just need to keep working on being safe about it. At the very least I live someplace very safe. In an apt complex 24 in my building alone with a locked door entry system and a deadbolt on every apt door that has a special device not to be carded. Where I live on the third floor there is no other way in either. So no matter what my head may tell me I am very safe. It is just a matter of practicing safe sex, et cetera. Teh other thing: I am on my second round of ECT as I am no longer able to take antipsychotics or antidepressants as they do not work for me. I am working on finding a new regular doctor. I am getting back into see a therapist: despite hating every minute and second of even thinking about it. Good luck to u too. ((HugS))

good post, and thank you for adding that. i was on the birth controll shot depo provera, and it made so angry all the time, this was before i had any known problems with anxiety and panic, and since they started rite after i got off the shot, i have been so scared of birth controll, but maybe a low dose will help. or maybe i should just wait untill i talk with the pdoc first. but thats not till next month and it will be my first time to see this one.

I'm sorry that we're all suffering, but at least we're figuring it out!

Ever since I've been on birth control pills (about 10 years), I don't have nearly as bad PMS or depression around that time...But I still can get bouts of it. I am not actually depressed "per se", but I joined this site hoping to find other women (or men?) who have depressed romantic partners. It is very palpable....Also, I am 46 so I'm "perimenopausal", which seems to produce periods of anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Absolutely, and it was nearly a week late this time!
(unusual for me) I was wondering wtf was going on

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
doubtful said:
I used to get suicidal two days before my period. It took me a while to figure out that many of my most severe suicidal thoughts were linked to my cycle.

My ob/gyn worked with my pdoc to prescribe a low-dose hormone (yasmin birth control pills). I take them continuously--meaning steady hormones and no periods. This has had a huge impact on my mood stability (diagnosed BPII). In fact, this has improved my life more than all of my other meds combined!

I'd highly recommend at least looking into hormone treatment rather than adding an AD. I wish I had known about the connection sooner.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I get suicidal before my period too, thanks for this post!

Thanks so much for all of the informative replies! It really does make a difference, I remind myself that I'm not the only one, that the hormones are making me feel this way and if I just hang on for a few more days it will get better. It's nice to know for this at least there is an end in sight!