Depressive episodes caused by birth control?

[Ray_yay]

Hello Scarleteen team!

To get straight to the point - i started taking birth control pills a week ago (the specific brand im taking is called "Ebelya"), and I've been terribly depressed, anxious, and even had thoughts about harming myself a few times ever since I took the second pill.

I read on Google that these feelings are incredibly common, and that I should wait like 2-3 months for these unpleasant side effects to stop. My question is - how do i deal with these feelings in the meantime? I don't want to feel like this, but I have no idea how to PREVENT myself from feeling like this.

Thanks in advance for your response, and have a great day

[Heather]

Given this happened with only the second pill, and given how very low a dose BCPs are, this may or may not be related to the pill at all. Did you start mid-cycle, or did you do a day-one-of-period start?

Is there anything else going on with you or your life lately besides starting the pill? Do you have any history with these kinds of feelings?

Do you have a mental healthcare provider, by any chance?

[Heather]

Btw, we are closed on direct services for a staff in-service this week, so I won't be able to help you more with this.

But if this could be about anything else, I'd do what you can to care for yourself around it -- and do that, period -- and if you're pretty sure this is the pill, I'd try to get through the first few weeks and see how it goes. <3