Concerned About Mood Swings

[Sincerely Yours ♥]

Within the last few months or so, I've noticed I'm having a lot of mood swings. I used to get them towards the end of my last relationship, because well, it was an awful relationship. Once I was out, I was totally fine.

A few months later, I started dating another guy, no mood swings. But I was put on birth control in March/April. I know birth control can cause mood swings, but I don't know whether it's that or maybe I'm bipolar. I'm actually really concerned, because it's affecting my relationships.

I know I can't be diagnosed on here, but I'm just wondering if anyone has any thoughts. Here are my symptoms (if that's the right word):
-Once I'm sad, it's hard to make me happy again
-There are days where I really have no reason to be sad, but I am
-Sometimes I get sad to the point where I just want to cry
-It seems like one little thing can throw my whole mood off
-Sometimes I get headaches from how much my mind is trying sort through my moods

I know there are more, but this is basically my mood right now, so it's easiest to describe. I'm seriously moody so often that it makes me even more depressed, because it's difficult to be happy.

I'm hoping it's the birth control, but I really don't know since it's the first type I've been on. It'd be great if anyone who has had this problem can confirm if my suspicions are correct or not. I don't even know if it's the right forum, so feel free to move it if needed. I am going to the doctor in November, so I'll get a different type of birth control, but I'm wondering if I need to try to get in sooner.

Sorry for the long description & I appreciate any help I can get.

[LeapOfFayth]

Guaranteed its not bipolar, you don't have any symptoms of mania or hypomania. Might be from your birth control, maybe its recurrent bried depression, who knows? Oh wait, your doctor would! Maybe pay them a visit, that's why they get paid after all.

[Thirteen]

As Rick said, without the other essential half of the Bipolar symptoms, it's highly unlikely to be that.

It's most likely your birth control, since birth control is essentially different hormones, to help prevent pregnancy. These hormones can mess around with certain people, causing mood problems, weight gain, weight loss, and other things. Your birth control should have an informational booklet that tells you all the major and minor side effects.

Lastly, as Rick also said, you should see your doctor. Whether it be to figure out the birth control thing (there are many different types, maybe this hormone mix isn't right for you..?), or even to figure out your mental health (you could possibly have a form of Depression, if it's not the birth control affecting your moods).

[PlayingPretend]

It's possible it's the birth control. Before I was on the birth control I'm on now (Apri), I was on a birth control that turned me into an absolute moody mess. It had taken already violent mood swings and made them even worse, on top of which I gained weight as well, further exacerbating the problem (due to body image issues). I would highly recommend talking to your doctor about what you're experiencing and consider if it has anything to do with the birth control you're on; perhaps you could try a different type. Like medication, sometimes you have to work with BC pills/dosages/types before you find what's right for you.

[Dr.Bobby]

You're correct that we cannot diagnose you online. But we (me?) can offer some accurate info that might help nonetheless.

In order to have Bi Polar you need to be depressed for a period of time, and then have at least one, diagnosed manic episode. These usually cycle, and the length and duration of those cycles is individual. However, when first diagnosed, the first episode, you can start with a long period of depression, the manic episode hasn't happened yet. So 'guarantees' or 'assurances' are impossible without history. The most accurate ways of diagnosing Bi Polar is thru accurate history (runs strongly in families, is genetically determined) and clinical presentation (symptoms caused by biochemical disorder, not environmental triggers). Your mood swings (at least initially) seem correlated to a bad relationship, we'd expect moodiness, so although the feelings aren't 'normal', they are appropriate to the situation.

People's moods change, but typically for reasons clearly discernible, and they're usually tolerated, they don't interfere too much with either well being or responsibility. In your case, they seem to, so it's worth a call to the doc and start a process to determine their cause and probable treatment.