Think I figured out the "cause" of my "depression" Decreasing estrogen during cycle?
I've been noticing a pattern. I do have a history of depression. Just that low level nagging kind that I live with, but the since I started getting TOM after my last pregnancy, I get sudden, severe depression right around when I ovulated, then when TOM is here.
I've been reading all morning (as I havent had the will to move off the couch for anything else other than some granola bars) and it seems that estrogen levels are shown to have a relation to depression. They help with seratonin receptors some how.
After TOM estrogen rises (this is when I feel the best!!! motivated, energy, happy about life, positive) then right before ovulation they drop dramatically. And like clockwork, around ovulation I feel suddenly depressed, hopeless, and of course eating way off plan, binging, dont feel like exercising. Gees dont feel like doing anything.
Then after ovulation estrogen begins to rise slowly, and some sources I read say some women will notice an improvement in their mood around days 21-24 of their cycle. I cant say its those exact days, but my mood does lift a little, then when TOM hits estrogen drops once again.
And of course, during TOM I am very depressed again.
I've always been a bit moody around TOM, but since my second child, its not just emotional or the blues. I am almost non functional. I hate this. Today I have just sat. No shower, no cleaning. I fed the kids. My husband worked late an is sleeping. I feel like crying.
And I'm angry that this mght be something as simple as hormones. I have an appointment with my GYN at the end ofthe month. But it seems that there's not much that can be done. Oral contraceptives are an option for hormone regualtion, but women with a history of depression (as I have) my end up woth depression from BC, plus I took Yaz after my first baby and I was severly depressed all the time until I stopped it.
This sounds crazy but I use food as a pick me up. Since I'm trying not to do that, there's nothing to "lift" the mood. It sucks.
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