Bouts of Depression during ovulation and before my period

Women's health
1

I have pcos and I am starting to wonder if the condition exacerbates a problem that I have: A couple of times a month I experience small bouts of depression and anxiety, which I have worked out is related to when I'm ovulating and just before my period starts. I don't think that it's 'normal' PMT.

It varies in severity, but I feel like it's getting worse as I get older. I'm a total emotional f***wit during this time- anything has the potential to make me cry. I feel lethargic, but can't get a good night's sleep. I'm overwhelmed by multiple tasks and make mistakes on simple things. I get really frustrated and angry.

I can be surrounded by people that I love, but feel isolated and lonely. I feel needy, but I don't want to socialise or for people to see me- It's the time when I feel at my ugliest and fattest. I'm more critical of myself than at any other time and I feel paranoid that other people don't like me.

It could be a bright, sunny day, but if I can get away with it, I'll close the curtains and won't go outside. I won't even get dressed.

At the time, I don't feel like there's anything that can fix it or like I will ever be able to snap out of it.

I can usually hide it quite well, but I'm just going through the motions and Inside I'm feeling absolutely miserable.

I always forget what causes it or that it's coming, even though it happens like clockwork and, even if I did expect it, I wouldn't be able to prevent it from happening because my hormones hijack my body and my mind.

It only lasts for about a day or two and, like I said, sometimes it's not as severe as other times.

I want to find a way to control this problem and not feel like this because I hate it.

Most of the time I am a very optimistic and generally happy, relaxed and independent person.

Has anybody else ever experienced this and overcome it (preferably without the use of drugs, such as anti-depressants)? I haven't raised these issues with my GP, because I feel like if I mention the symptoms above, I will be prescribed anti-depressants, which you have to take every single day. I can't take the pill anymore, unfortunately. All of my PCOS symptoms have become worse over the last year, since I came off of the pill. I didn't find out I had it until then.

2

I have this same problem I also have very sever mood swings, I spoke to my gp about it and she suggested counselling as im already on enough medication as it is and don't need any more meds especially anti depressants because I'm generally not depressed I'm a very happy person but a few times a month I have these serious mood swings and I physically have to lock myself away from people because I'm just in the worst mood ever for absolutely no reason it's not related to my periods or ovulation because I don't have periods my gynacholgist suggested I keep a mood diary and that I take a very low dose of anti depressants at the time I get these really bad moods, it hasn't seemed to work yet but it's only been a few weeks so I may need my dosage upped, I didn't find counselling helped at all because they just wanted to know why I was feeling like this and what had happened and honestly nothing had happened I would just have sever mood swings for no reason at all I could be happily watching TV with my boyfriend or out for dinner with my friends and I will have these extreme mood swings, hope this helped a bit but Gps and drs just seem to want to put you on antidepressants and leave you too it, not much help for people with depression and mood swings out there

3

​PCOS has been linked to depression, especially if you are TTC. Your hormones are out of control, and you are already under lot of stress due to infertility, this can aggravate your mood swings. You said your symptoms are worsening over the last year. I do hope you are already on medication for this. If still there is no improvement, you should talk to your doctor and get the right help for your overall health.I completely understand if you say no antidepressant; so many medications are over-prescribed. But sometimes, when you find the right one, they do truly provide relief; you just have to sort of be an educated consumer of sorts. Even medications that restore the balance to hormone levels can also help these feelings.

4

I'm not actually trying to conceive and I'm not infertile, so there isn't any stress caused by this (for me). I had been hoping to find somebody that might have found a solution or a way to ease this without anti-depressants. Maybe something that I could suggest to my own GP.

5

This is my main issue with going to the GP. I know that anti-depressants/counselling would be their suggestion. I'm not interested in either of those things

6

It is frustrating but that's really all there is, depressions isn't easily controlled as its going on in your head so where as if we had a cold we can dose up with vitamin c and carry around a box of tissues and we can get on with it easily depression makes our minds do funny things, sometimes anti depressants are the last resort as they should be, you can try and be happy for a very long time but if you are depressed it won't make a difference, sorry this wasn't more useful but that really is all there is anti depressants and counselling

7

Hi. I don't get the depression but can get very bad panic attacks (or generalised anxiety disorder, as my therapist told me?). It's all related. Unfortunately we need the hormones to regulate our bodies. Those of us with PCOS can't regulate properly. There are many hormones involved and to be fair to the medical profession they don't fully understand the complexities of it all because, as I've been told by several professionals, there isn't the money going into the research to help us.  Last year I put my foot down, found the right doctor in my surgery and said do something.....NOW! She put me on one of the many pills but with specifically progesterone and I have been much better, I'm not cured and I still have a couple of wobbly days but now I don't feel like I want to die!! Hormones are funny things you can't live with them, you can't live without them. Hope you manage to find an answer. Good luck

8

Hi, I'm interested in which medication you are taking to help with your anxiety. I have PCOS and I'm 42 and was diagnosed when having fertility issues. I never really related PCOS directly to my anxiety and depression but have been having severe issues with anxiety and depression recently so did my own research.  A long story short I am now interested in having treatment for the hormone imbalance in the hope this will also stabalise my moods. My GP so far has only offered mood stabalisers and my fertility consultant will only treat for fertility and the last gynae consultant I saw  wouldnt even diagnose me with PCOS as my symptoms werent striking enough despite. I only got diagnosed and treated for fertility once refered for IVF for then unexplained infertility. She immediately diagnosed me with PCOS, treated me and thankfully, eventually a baby I now keep getting pushed towards anti depressants and feel this just masks the symptoms and feel if the hormone imbalance is fixed then the rest will improve. Any help will be welcome.. I can cope with the physical symptoms generally and ow have the Myrena coil to manage the monthly flow and pain and discomfort.  I work out to keep my weight down, I use hair removal, I dont have excessive facial hair and my acne is now manageable with topical treatments but have also had 2 courses of Roaccutane but the anxiety and depression is affecting my every day life, ability to cope and I dont want antidepressants as they zap my emotions and my libido. Thank you for your time. Lorna x

9

I have very similar symptoms!!! and I am happy to tell you that I have learnt to manage them better without the need of medication.

Firstly I had some counselling sessions, mostly learning coping skills - which as far as I am concerned, would benefit most humans.

Secondly, but not by any means less important - I exercise regularly! Exercising releases endorphins. If I am feeling down, or anxious or irritable and I exercise, I find that when I am done, I am come home much happier. It was a little tough at the start before I got into the habit, because when you are feeling low you really don't want to be in a room full of people, but once I pushed through that and developed a bit of an exercise routine, now it is by far the best management option I have found. It has the added benefit of making you fit, which in turn makes you feel better because you see improvements in your body as well as your mood. I still have days when I am self critical, I still get low and angry and irritable and anxious, but the bouts are not as strong and don't last as long.

Other than this, I try and have a balanced diet but I am by no means strict. But to sustain a good exercise regime you want to feed your body good fuel too. I also don't really drink much alcohol. A glass of wine or a beer or two - but I do find that the day after drinking I get quite anxious and unhappy.

Hope this helps

10

I don't have depression, and I usually don't get depressed when ovulating, but for some reason I've been having weird bouts of depression out of no where. I read that one of the main reasons is because our serotonin levels are lower while ovulating? but it's never happened to me before. It's out of the blue sadness off and on...its really weird and I can't explain it. 

11

I'm sorry, I don't know what PCOS is. But you could try:

psychotherapy

counselling

aromatherapy

acupuncture

massage

hypnotherapy

yoga

meditation

reflexology

reiki

chakra balancing

ayahuasca

medicinal cannabis

herbal medicine

dietary changes

exercise

art therapy

music therapy

drama therapy

any activity you find therapeutic

a support network

Or a combination of whatever suits you.

I hope this is useful to you.

12

I have not been diagnosed with PCOS, but I have a lot of symptoms that suggest I do have it like excessive hair growth on my face.  With that said, I have EVERY symptom you describe and the pattern begins when I begin to ovulate.  And then one day, I just feel better.  Like you I do not want to be on anti-depressants, however, when I excercise, eat well, rest, etc...I do notice my symptoms do improve.  Unfortunately, it is a vicious cycle because I don't always feel like doing the things that help me because I get "stuck" in my emotions.  I'm 47 and my symptoms have defintely worsened.  The anxiety is particularly exhausting.  Anyway, I feel better discovering your post because it is nice to know you're not alone and just crazy.  

 

13

Sorry, I realize this post is over a year old, but I'm just wondering if you have been able to find any sort of relief. I completely understand what you mean, because I could have written that myself. All of it, you took the words right out of my mouth. Before I ovulate, and before my period I become an emotional train wreck. I become overwhelmed way too easily, I become angry, depressed, exhausted, anxious, I question my self worth, and feel like the world is against me. It wouldn't be so bad if I could stay home and hide during those times, but I work full time, and that makes it 100x worse. Being forced to deal with the public and coworkers when you're in that dark place is a whole other hell in itself *sigh*

14

I'm so relieved to find this message board as I have noticed that I have every symptom right before my period and definitely around ovulation. I thought I was crazy and sometimes afraid I'm was going to lose my spouse but luckily he loves me and accepts my faults hormonal imbalance and all. I have pcos and had ovarian drilling last year which helped with acne and regulating periods and shortened my days that I feel in the dumps. I'm experiencing the depression and irritation right now. I just stay to myself and try to keep my conversations short and sweet as possible. I have really been giving thought to acupuncture hoping that will provide relief and possible a bfp.I did notice that exercise or sex helps a little but I have to force myself because usually I don't like anyone around this time including my spouse.it is a vicious cycle and I was on a mood stabilizer years back but I noticed I couldn't sleep without them and became very unstable if I missed a dose or took it too late so I quit cold turkey( not suggested).

15

hi, are you still having this premenstrulation emotional depressive syndrome? I had it 8 years back, which I got so emotional and depressed for about half times of a month, and it went on for sometimes until my O&G friend pointed out that it could be related to hormone unbalance either during ovulation or postmenstrualation. My syndrome is more of like I got really depressed during ovulation, and the it turns into irritation during menstrualation, and then back again to anxiety and depressive symptoms. By knowing when will it strucks, it helps me to accept myself, my anger, and my powerlessness. I found that acceptance helped me to grow out of it. I didn't go for any counseling nor seeing any psychiatrist for this. I remember that  If I need to sleep, I slept the whole day off, and knowing that it was a mere transition, when I can't afford to put my attention to works I needed to do, I just drunk myself with things that I can put my hands on that day, and often I find that after a while (probably 2~3 days) I can put myself back to the work that I need to do. It was easier for me back then because I was a student and staying alone. I hope that this help. 

16

I have been experiencing simptoms of depression as a part of my PMS couple of days before period, sadness, and severe headache exactly three days before my periods. ..

I know hormones are very powerful. They can turn man to a women and oposite . Unfortunately, I had a clinical depression couple of years ago, which was situational.My nervous sistem was already weak, I didn't have a strength to cope with stress.

I am off antidepressants, but I am taking herbal remedies, St Johns, and it helps.

The last two months, I have started to notice that during my ovulation week I become confused, as if I was high, irritable, I speak my mind to the point of hearting other people's feelings,..

That feeling of confusion makes me worried, I regret saying things. I am afraid I'll loose my mind.

Last month it lasted a day.

I'm in my mid forties, and worried it will get worse in menopause, and later. Or emotions stabilize after menopause?

Anyone with similar experience?

17

I relate to the nuttiness during ovulation. The feeling lonely but feeling so irritable I want to avoid people, feeling worse about myself then, feeling frustrated in general, feeling frustrated I'm not being as productive.

I'm yet to find appropriate treatment and recognition of my hormones being out of whack. So far only this new Naturopath has sent me for a bunch of tests and is saying things are out of whack hormonally, but I haven't seen her in a while as it gets expensive going to Naturoapths.

I think the older I get the more I notice things are cyclical in terms of mood swings.

I also don't want to take any meds for this, I want to fix it naturally not stick a band aid on it.

I've also struggled with anxiety for years, and I feel like when I start to feel good about mindfullness practice or meditating, my hormones take a dip downwards, and all my awarenss practice feels utterly futile to deal with this internal imbalance.

I'm also less motivated to exercise or even eat properly during this time as I'm so irritable, I kind of lose my appetite and don't eat till I have to. I know that's not helping, but yeah, stuff seems bland around this time.

I tried to learn something today and I lost my patience with it today completely. I think it might be worse on the day I can feel my ovary actually crampy.

18

Hi. I got an account just to reply to your post. I googled a few words and this is the first thing that came up. It's like I could have written it! It's good to know I am not alone. I am 46 years old and have had PCOS in the past but for many years now my periods have been fairly regular. I have begun to notice a pattern or a drop in the way that I feel and I've pinned it down to around when I ovulate. It's like night and day for me. Just a week ago, I was happy, smiling, felt great, good mood, etc.. and today and yesterday it's like my world is crashing down. Have had trouble sleeping which is one of the first things I've noticed. Last night, I knew I would have trouble again so I took a melatonin like I usually do and it still took me another 2 hours to fall asleep. I am not interested in going on any kind of drugs either. Have you found any solutions?? I had my gall bladder out 3 years ago and I'm wondering if that might have anything to do with it. I take vitamin B12 which seems to help when I am not "dropping"???

19

Well I feel like only naturopaths in the past 2 or 3yrs are even acknowledging my hormones are off. Before that nobody was! And I spent at least 18 months on herbs that were supposed to help my hormones and my severe period pain. But they didn't work.

This newish naturopath has a different approach, but so far every natural thing I've been on hasn't helped. I went to one doctor that acknowledged some stuff was off, but she said she didn't know how to help me.

I've discovered l-tryptophan, so that's worked way better on me than melatonin, for the sleeping. It's a precursor to melatonin and serotonin, something like that. I got it off a US site even though I'm in Australia.

So yeah, the journey continues.

Food can greatly affect my moods. I'm lactose intolerant so that's already all out. But I'm also very sensitive to caffeine and sugar, that excasberate as any moodiness, anxiety and even sugar lows the next day! So I'd recommend not binging on high sugar chocolate to pick your mood up, or at least noticing if you feel better without it, coz I paid the price of a massive sugar drop next day and I felt anxious and depressed all day!

20

ooops I got confused with the email I read, i thought the website said you replied to my post. Ignore my post if you wish, unless you find anything helpful there.