Feeling very low since stopping breastfeeding

[Tailtwister]

I can be prone to low mood anyway, but I've felt very deep episodes of darkness since stopping breastfeeding and was wondering if anyone had experienced similar. I have been breastfeeding for pretty much 5.5y without a break and DS2 has recently self weaned at 3.5. I don't particularly miss it, in fact I'm really pleased with how it's all worked out, but I'm feeling just knackered, demotivated, achey, fuzzy head, very flat (hard to describe, just 'nothingness' really).

I had a hard time around 1.5y ago following a m/c and was prescribed citalopram which I never took. However, this feels different somehow.

Could it be linked to hormones and if so, what can I do about it?

Dw with bipolar is always ill when she stops bf . It sounds like maybe a trip to the gp is in order. Think us called weaning depression.

I suffered terribly every time I dropped a feed, and then when I stopped. It's a known condition, some old threads on here about it somewhere. Sadly I found my health visitor and gp severely lacking in information but I'd urge you to try yours.

I found my depression eased with each period, and after 3 months I usually felt better. But 3 months was a long time to wait - every time I dropped a feed I felt like someone had drained all the colour out of my life.

I'm sorry you're having a hard time. There is a condition called weaning-related depression, and this blog post has some information about, and links to other sites as well. Sorry it's a bit long, but I hope it helps you and at least makes you feel like there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

joannagoddard.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/motherhood-depression-and-weaning.html#more

Thanks for all the replies. Since I've been breastfeeding for so long (albeit with varying frequency) it's hard to remember what it feels like not to be!

I will definitely have a look at the link, thanks womma and search back for previous threads. I'll see how I go, but if it doesn't get any better I'll go to my GP.