Hormones & Mood

I'm sure we are all familiar with "PMS". For the last 8 months, I have been tracking my mood in particular to see if there are patterns that correlate to my hormone levels throughout my cycle. 

I started tracking (with the help of eve and primary sources) because I was dealing with sudden onset of major depression and anxiety that reared its head winter of 2014-15. I had never dealt with symptoms like these and it was terrifying. Life was blackness to me, I had no pleasure or excitement for life anymore. That was definitely not me. 

Additionally, before I had any of these major symptoms, I recall during the Summer of 2014 suddenly losing my libido. I have always been a sexual person, so this was concerning, naturally. I didn't think much of it, however, because I had been in a relationship for 3 years at this point and I thought it might just be a normal progression of serious relational commitment. Then, when I started having all the mental health issues, I got curious about my BC pill.

I went to my GYN and she recommended switching to non-hormonal IUD. I noticed a change in my mood cycles almost immediately. In addition to my SSRI, I stopped feeling all the bad stuff constantly, and my moods became very predictable. 

I experience depressive and intrusive/obsessive negative thoughts like clockwork around day 1-3 of my cycle and day 14-16 at ovulation. It's incredible. I can literally plan for these feelings. Additionally, at around days 7-14 following menstruation, I am RAVENOUS for sex. Like all day, multiple times a day (my boyfriend's favorite time of the month hehe). I assume all of this is tied to estrogen as it peaks and then drops off right before your period and ovulation. 

Anyway, I've spent a lot of time researching myself and how my body works. Does anybody else experience these mood changes that seem so scheduled? Do you have a mood disorder that could potentially be the result of a hormonal imbalance?

I ask not because I am worried, but because when I noticed a pattern taking shape, I wished I had somebody to tell me what their mood swings were like (figuring all this out was really difficult). Also, it helped to feel like I wasn't alone :) 

Thanks for reading and cheers! ✌🏻❤️