My Anxiety & Hormonal Birth Control

If you’ve been following me on Social Media for any length of time you may have heard me mention that for a while I have been dealing with anxiety. Looking back I started to notice a spike in my anxiety just after I got married about a year and a half ago. It progressively got worse and worse. I remember thinking to myself This doesn’t seem normal for someone who is happy in her marriage. How can this be? So I started doing some research. I began seeing a therapist and through my talks with her I tried experimenting with different ways to alleviate my anxiety naturally and physically. I have read two books this year that have helped a TON! The first is The Anti-Anxiety Food Solution, and the second is called Facing Panic: Self-Help for People with Panic Attacks.

About a month before I married my husband I started taking hormonal birth control pills. We were getting married but knew we didn’t want kids right away. Birth control seemed like the most practical option at the time. Little did I know then that this tiny pill, which was intended simply to prevent me from having babies, would completely throw my entire body out of whack. You know those rare symptoms they list on the packaging? Yeah, I had most of them.

My self worth was little to none, my fears were magnified, and I was convinced that this state of constant stress, fear, and disappointment was what my life was going to be now.

I was convinced that this state of constant stress, fear, and disappointment was what my life was going to be nowClick To Tweet

After reading the Anti Anxiety Food Solution I discovered that some of the sources of my anxiety was coming from the medications I was taking, which ironically enough, were trying to alleviate anxious symptoms, but also my anxiety symptoms were a result of the foods I was eating.

This book gave me the motivation I needed to be serious about cutting out gluten and dairy from my diet (which are big contributors to anxiety if you didn’t know this already). It also inspired a conversation with my husband about a change in our method of birth control. We’ve since stopped using hormonal birth control pills and switched to more natural family planning methods. We cut out gluten and dairy completely from my diet, and I’ve started regularly exercising 3-5 days/week. Within weeks, even days, after making these changes I started to see a relief from my anxiety. I was able to see hope and an increase in my progress almost instantly. I was able to leave the house again without the crippling fear of dying in a car crash, my husband leaving me, or even losing my job. I was able to stop “What iffing” with every little thing. I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

I was able to stop “What iffing” with every little thing. I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.Click To Tweet

After cutting out the birth control pills, I also was able to cut out the antidepressant I was taking. Both of which were actually causing more of the symptoms that I was trying to eliminate by taking them. I’ve been working with my doctor to stop taking my migraine prevention medication but also to find a natural and more permanent solution to the chronic migraines. We are still working together to get my hypothyroidism in check.

Cutting out birth control for me was scary to admit for a while being that I know so many people would take that as a sign that Evan and I are trying for babies. Though the baby fever is something fierce for me this time of year (not sure why but it always it), we have decided that we’d like just a little bit more time as a family of two before we add in a little one. But don’t worry, when that day comes we’ll be sure to share all about how excited we are.

We’d like just a little bit more time as a family of two before we add in a little one.Click To Tweet

Until then, I have kind of made it my mission to let you know about my experience with Birth Control in efforts that it might help someone else who might be struggling with the same thing. It’s not “normal” to be spotting most days out of the month. It’s not “normal” to be terrified of leaving your house. It’s not “normal” to not want to spend time with your husband. At the end of the day, you are the best judge about what’s going on in your own body. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s probably because it isn’t right. It’s definitely worth it to try to figure out the root of the problem, and take the measures to correct it.

For me, the root of my anxiety was in the Birth Control. Once I corrected my body to it’s natural clock, I’ve seen a world of difference in my life, and especially in my marriage. There are other options available to you and it’s your responsibility to take care of the body that has been given to you. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you’ve received from God? You are not your own” 1 Corinthians 6:19. Take care of the temple that you’ve been given by God.

Much Love,

Caylee