Mental Health

So I've been taking birth control for about a year now, and I've never been the happiest person around, but now it feels it's taken a turn for the worse. I always had a bit of anxiety, but never really too bad. Around the time I started birth control, I started to get annoyed at minor things, go from happy to angry very quickly, and just in general feel a bit down. Everyone tells me it's probably not the birth control, probably just something seasonal or something else, but I'm not sure. I'm taking birth control to prevent preganancy, and I'm scared to go off of it as well, but I'm more scared it could be causing my mental health issues. Has anyone experienced this, or know if this could be the case?

I am a 68 year old women, retired and living at home. I spend most days playing sudoku, going for walks, knitting. I would say I am a generally healthy person. But lately, I've found it harder and harder to recollect. I'd made plans to have dinner with my daughter and son in law, but when they'd shown up I'd completely forgotten making the plans. I also can't recall where I leave things, I'll walk into a room and not remember why I'd gone there. I always thought I had a strong mind before, and I know with age it gets worse, but I just feel like it's gotten increasingly bad. I don't have a family history of dementia, but I'm afraid that I might be developing it. Is this normal, or should I seek a doctor?

I am a 50 year old women, and I believe I am beginning to go through menopause. The other symptoms, hot flashes and such, are all manageable, but I've also been experiencing severe mood swings. I do not know if it is relation to the menopause or independent, but I'm usually quite laid back and calm, but lately the smallest things can set me off. I am very up and down with mood and feelings, and it's been taking over my life and effecting my job and marriage. Anyone go through this and care to advise? I don't know what I can do to reduce the emotional imbalance, but I can't go on like this.