Do you have a "period"?

[Beth Andrea]

I deal with severe depression and anxiety from time to time...usually only on days ending in "y"...but I have noticed an increase in symptoms on or about my "monthly anniversary" of being on hormones...

I started on the 21st of Feb this year, and it wasn't until May that I started seeing a trend. I keep a journal of my daily moods, and I have recorded increased depressive feelings between the 18th and the 22nd of each month.

This month it's exceptionally bad. I'm just wondering if anyone else had an increase in symptoms (of depression etc) after starting HRT?

Thanks for reading this.

I need some *hugs*.

[Jamie D]

I deal with severe depression and anxiety from time to time...usually only on days ending in "y"

Montag   
Dienstag
Mittwoch
Donnerstag
Freitag
Samstag
Sonntag

Move to Germany! 

(I hope you feel better soon.)

[V M]

I often deal with depression and anxiety but try to mostly keep it to myself and tell people I'm okay or even try to put on a bright and cheery act

I just try to not be a bummer on others, but sometimes it slips out

I hope you get feeling better soon

Hugs

[Keaira]

Yes, including physical symptoms. They suck! -_-

[Hell_Girl]

Yes, it used to be quite distinct and did include a few physical symptoms...especially early on, however I lost track of things in february this year when my mental state deteriorated badly due to medication.

[Kelly J. P.]

 Not as far as I know. I should be expecting it in a few days, but if it doesn't happen then I'll probably shrug off the idea.

[Kitty_Babe]

yeap ! I noticed mine increasing some months into taking HRT, increases in common symptoms, HRT can make you depressed, but common symptoms for PMS, include moodiness, irritability, tiredness and so on too. I get this on a cycle like common PMS cycles.. Its actually not funny at times, as it can be bad.

[Siobhan]

I dunno about that, do go through bouts of being tired and irritable, and down felt fat and bloated too.. Just sorta came out of one that lasted 5 days, but surely its just co incidence, we dont have a hormonal cycle like cis girls after all..
I just cant believe its possible

[Kadri]

now that you've mentioned it, you've really got me wondering. I'll try to pay special attention to the dates when i feel worst. It would be around the fifth or sixth of the month for the androcur, and the fourth for the start of the oestrogen.

[Dale]

I had it bad for a while, Dr gave me a anti-depress for a while. Then I was okay. Been ok since.

[Nicole]

3 days a month since about 6 months into hrt like clock work.

I go crazy, lose my mind, little things become huge, I can't do anything right, i get easily ticked off. I also feel "uneasy",

[Beth Andrea]

I deal with severe depression and anxiety from time to time...usually only on days ending in "y"

Montag   
Dienstag
Mittwoch
Donnerstag
Freitag
Samstag
Sonntag

Move to Germany! 

(I hope you feel better soon.)

OMG that is funny! There have been times I have thought about moving/emigrating to one of the German-speaking countries (Lichtenstein for some reason has an attraction, don't know why), but being American is not something to discard easily...

Thanks everyone, I'm glad I'm not the only one. Maybe it is "all in my head", but since I don't pay attention to upcoming anniversaries (I only notice it 2-3 days into a depressive mood) I suspect it's a real event. At any rate, I do have an appt with my psych doc to discuss modifying my anti-depressant regimen.

I'm *so* glad we don't get the bleeding and cramps. (Right...?)

[Beth Andrea]

I often deal with depression and anxiety but try to mostly keep it to myself and tell people I'm okay or even try to put on a bright and cheery act

I just try to not be a bummer on others, but sometimes it slips out

I hope you get feeling better soon

Hugs

I used to do that, too. Until I started having long-term suicide ideations (we're talking years of ideations, which turned to years of urges), and then I'd read about people who did kill themselves, and all their friends were like, "Wha..? We didn't know, he never said anything..."

Two weeks after I decided to go to therapy (just over 2 years ago, due to a sudden increase in panic attacks), my friend--the only one I had--killed himself, and we (his family and friends, including me) were like, "Wha..? We didn't know, he never said anything..."

I never said anything either. I'm sure I'd have done myself in too, at some point. I'm still kinda close to that edge, but now I feel safe enough to talk about it.

And if I get people down...I understand. When they mention it, I just slowly walk away from the friendship. No use bringing pain to their lives.

Besides, they're the ones who'll say, "If he had only talked to me, I would've tried to help him..."

*hugs* 

ETA: I'm feeling much better today. Maybe it's because I'm going out to see some friends? Yeah! 

[Michelle G]

I thought it was just me! Nice to hear others have to deal with it as well

Since my late 20's (long long time ago) once a month or so I get moody, depressed, fingernails break easier, face would break out and would just feel crummy...a few days later and all is well just like clockwork!

I would tell girlfriends about it as they would notice something was up, they would just say "join the club" this is when I was in total boy mode all the time those years.

[crazy old bat]

No, I'd say it was more of an ellipses.

[Jamie D]

OMG that is funny! There have been times I have thought about moving/emigrating to one of the German-speaking countries (Lichtenstein for some reason has an attraction, don't know why), but being American is not something to discard easily...

Thanks everyone, I'm glad I'm not the only one. Maybe it is "all in my head", but since I don't pay attention to upcoming anniversaries (I only notice it 2-3 days into a depressive mood) I suspect it's a real event. At any rate, I do have an appt with my psych doc to discuss modifying my anti-depressant regimen.

I'm *so* glad we don't get the bleeding and cramps. (Right...?)

On a more serious note, I do hope you are coping well.

I have looked into biorhythms, but don't really understand them.

[Beth Andrea]

Well, I'm still alive after all these years...I suppose that's evidence that I'm coping.

There's a few sayings that I tell myself when I'm TOO close to that dark edge...

"Let's just go one day at a time."

"Screw the one day at a time, let's just try for the next 5 minutes."

"This too, shall pass."

etc.

And during the times I am "RIGHT THERE" at the point-of-no-return, I close my eyes and think about the darkness, and tell myself...

"Take one more look around."

So far, it's worked. Anti-depressants helped a bunch...but HRT is the "OMG THIS IS WHAT I NEEDED" that has really softened that dark edge.

[Miharu Barbie]

Hi Beth,

It's so funny that you should bring this up.  I most definitely have a "period" or mood cycle.  For me it's in dramatic contrast because I give myself a single shot of estrogen once every 4 weeks like clockwork.  In fact, I have a clock in my home that tracks the phases of the moon, and because I was born on a new moon, long ago I made the decision to synchronize my hormone injection to the new moon.

When I was younger, I did deal with severe depression, which I completely resolved 11 years ago with a powerful form of meditation.  But it's pretty typical in the last 4 to 5 days before the new moon for me to get bloated, tired, emotional, mildly depressed and cranky.  At the new moon, I give myself a shot (OUCH!) and within a few hours to a day, I'm totally fine. 

My spouse also appreciates having a clock in the house that displays the phases of the moon; when I'm cranky, emotional and complaining that I'm fat, she knows to check the clock so that she can remind me that the new moon is in a couple of days, or whatever.

I would say yes, I most definitely have a cycle; my cycle is tied to the new moon; and I find that my cycle is in stark contrast because my hormone injection happens once a month.

Peace,
Miharu

[PrettySoldier]

I do know since starting HRT my depression has gotten worse. Especially at night time, I just wanna scream & cry. My physician suggested a therapist for me. I always thought I could just beat my depression but it seems to be getting to a level that I thought it never would.

[Beth Andrea]

I do know since starting HRT my depression has gotten worse. Especially at night time, I just wanna scream & cry. My physician suggested a therapist for me. I always thought I could just beat my depression but it seems to be getting to a level that I thought it never would.

For me, the "worst" time is between 1pm and 3pm, mid-afternoonish. (The second worst is between 1am-3am...so maybe it is tied to something like a lunar/tidal cycle) While at work or in bed, I can send a text to my email and when I get home I compile them into my daily journal.

For me, the depression centers around futility, the uselessness of it all. That's what we focus on in my therapy. Where did that feeling come from? What drives it? etc. (We know the answers now, my CSA and subsequent abuse in adulthood)

But, that may be something for you to think about...text yourself how you're feeling, and what your thoughts are dwelling on. Texting is a good idea, because one always has their phone with them, and can quickly tap out a message that, even if it's not a complete book, is enough to prompt your memory in the morning.