So, recently (in the last several months) I've been tired almost constantly, within the last few weeks I've been moody, apathetic, depressed, paranoid, etc.  I've been having trouble getting up to exercise, and eating like it's going out of style.  It took several people who are close to me asking me if I was okay this week to really bring it home.  My freaking Nuvaring is messing with my head. 

This seems to be the way it goes with me and birth control.  I do great for a couple years.  Then BAM!  It hits me like a ton of bricks.  I was on the Ortho-Tricyclen forever until it made me depressed enough to be suicidal.  So, I switched to Depo.  That worked great for a couple years, until I started gaining weight, and couldn't stop.  So, tried the patch, had an allergic reaction within the first month.  So, went with Nuvaring.  Been on it for a couple years, and been doing great (even losing weight) until the last few months.  I'm about at the end of my rope here!  I don't know what to do, and now is probably not the best time to figure it out, what with the depression and all.  Hubby thinks I should just go off all hormonal birth control, and we'll use condoms and spermicide.  It's beginning to seem really tempting.  But I'm uber paranoid about getting pregnant.

I'm too young, and haven't had any kids, so they won't spay me.  And I'm pretty sure they won't do IUD's either, since I haven't had kids.  Bleh.  Sometimes being a woman sucks.

 Got any ideas?

You could trying talkign to your doctor next time you see him/her. Tell about what happens and then see if they can suggest a birth control that will work forever, or if you should just use an alternative. See what happens.

I'm one of the lucky few. I've been on the ring for almost 2 years and I love it! I have a terrible memory and would forget to take the pill every day, definitely not good.

It's not uncommon, many many many women's bodies reject HBC (hormonal birth control) after a period of time. It's just not natural, and our bodies know that.

I don't know what your situation with kids is, but I'm going to assume, since you mentioned being spayed, that you don't want any. There is an option to have hubby snipped (though SO MANY men have issues with it). Buddy of mine was 23 with no kids and he had it done, no arguments (and yet here I am with a child, 8 years of school ahead of me, and they won't even hear me out!)

Low dose is definately the way to go. Ortho tri cyclen Lo (OTC is the grandmomma of all HBC, and the Lo version is different that what you were taking), Alesse (considered an "ultra-low dose"), Yasmin. You could also do the "mini-pills" route, which are progesterone-only pills, though these are slightly less effective than regular pills, so you'd want to use backup barriers or spermicide, but to save your mental health it may be worth it?

IUD's (minus the one that releases hormones while it's in there) are only 80something% effective, and people often have problems with their bodies rejecting them and pushing them out. Tell me that would be lovely!

I'm going through this nonsense, too. I'm getting various referals to various ob/gyn's trying to find one who will tie my darned tubes so I can get off HBC altogether. I was having awful side effects (both physical and mental/emotional) on depo (I had been on it for 7 years, it was bound to happen) and i've since switched to Alesse. Aside from a bit of an acne breakout problem on my right shoulder (seriously, of all places? and only on my right shoulder, too!) for a little while I've been starting to feel much more normal on it!

I thought that and women having their tubes tied wasn't 100% because sometimes they can rejoin, in both cases.

What about this?
http://www.essure.com/

If I am ever in a serious relationship I will get this done before anything, as I'm sure I do not want children.

I got an IUD after my daughter was born, but it came out within a few months...that was an odd experience  

Then, I started dating my girlfriend, and we've been together for over eight years now, which sort of eliminates all need for bc.  Kind of an extreme step, though...so I don't really think that's going to be an option for you.   

I'm wondering if you've tried yasmine or yaz.  The hormone is different than the ones used in other types of birth contol.  Seems like it'd be worth a try.

I had no idea that a woman could not just go and get her tubes tied if that's what she wanted to do. Do people not realize how over populated this planet is?

I know, right?  My doctor here in Arizona STILL won't do it (I could have had it done in GA before we moved, but it was expensive and I didn't realize I wouldn't be able to do it here).  I've been married for SIX YEARS and have two kids, and they still won't do it because I'm only 25.  Crazy stuff, eh?

i am on seasonale, which btw....is AWESOME, but i also have had issues over the years with weight gain loss, and "mental stability". my weight is doing great now, but my dr put me on a very low dose of zoloft, and i have felt so damn normal, its almost boring   the hormones in bc can def mess around with everything else and can make you a little loopy. if your mental health is the biggest problem with it right now, why not give that a shot? i even sleep ten times better now.

I was on Ortho, it made me gain weight really quickly. I was on it for about 2 years and I gained like 40 lbs in like a year and then it slowed but I was still gaining. It was horrible. This was on both the Lo and regular (I switched after about 6 months).
I switched to Loestrine 24 Fe, a few months ago and I already feel like its making a difference. Although that could be wishful thinking. I never had any mental side effects though, so I can't vouch for any help in that area.
Oh oh aannnd Loestrin has pretty much eliminated my period. There is 24 days of active pills, its supposed to give you a shorter period, and for many women makes it almost non existent. (I'm talking like light tampon is all you need period) and I used to have a fairly heavy flow so works for me!!
My Gyno actually put me on it after she started taking it. It helped her lose weight and basically eliminated her period and she didn't feel any negative side effects so she though I should try it. I like it so far, but its only been a few months.

I tried condoms, spermicide, birth control pills various brands, Depo, nuvaring, the patch. All the hormone methods gave me mood swings, migraines, low to no sex drive and some the inability to wear contacts. I tried the Paragaurd copper IUD but since I have not had children it only stayed in about 6 months before coming out.I t was extremely painful to have inserted and insurance did not cover any of it.  At the age of 32 I convinced my Dr that I never wanted children and would like to have a tubal ligation. He agreed with me, I had the procedure and have had no problems, and no regreets.

im 20 and have tried several b.c methods...but all have had severe mental side effects.. so my fiance and I switched to condoms.. turned out we were both allergic to latex and even the non latex caused me pain and minor swelling..no clue why.. well we decided to have a kid.. my first his third.. im hoping after i have my baby to be able to get my tubes tied..i dont want more kids and neither does he..