Ok, so this is a subject of a relatively serious nature, and I dont expect most to read it (and I’ve been umming and ahhing about putting it up on here), but I also believe it’s an important one. And if I can make just one other woman aware, it will be more than worth any criticism I get about putting it up here. It’s about birth control and depression – so if you’re not interested, dont click on 
For a good 7 years of my life, I considered myself a “crazy woman”. I’d cry for no reason at all, I’d have bouts of major depression and it got worse as time went on. This is not to mention the feeling of being completely out of control of my whole life. I kept on thinking “what is wrong with me, I used to have it so ‘together’ at school”. So like millions of other women, I went on about my life putting up with it – basically having no other choice.
Four years ago, it got worse. Much worse. To the point where I cant thank my family and husband enough for sticking by. However it wasnt until 18 months later that I finally made the connection. I was nearing the end of the life of my birth control implant and not only was the depression getting worse, but I was also starting to get physiological symptoms and I was in a great deal of pain. That’s when I did the google search. And that is when I realised I was not alone.
There was one forum where thousands of women had replied to just one post (similar to this). Each woman shared her experiences with birth control and depression. Some talked of wanting to die, others about the horrible pains they experienced. So many drove away their boyfriends and partners due to the inability to control their emotions and moods whilst on the pill or implant. Then there are a stack of articles with research on this very issue – proving the fact that depression and mood swings aren’t rare side effects.
I talked to close friends about what I had learned only to find that they were already aware of what it did to their bodies. One girl had terrible nightmares while using the pill. Another girl simply refused to add unknown chemicals into her body.
I had the implant removed and refused to go back on the pill. That was 2 and a half years ago. I’ve never looked back. My moods improved almost immediately and although I still go through some “lows” they’re just regular day-to-day blues, nothing like what I experienced all those years ago.
These day’s I’m hearing of more girls and women going through similar times and I just hope they, too, can make the connection. Oh and for all you people wondering what you can actually use for birth control (other than the male kind) there is a natural way – billings.
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