Am I suffering from Depression?

Here are questions from readers that were addressed by leading psychiatrist Dr Manish Bajpayee. The identities of the solution-seekers have been withheld to protect their privacy.

Dear Doctor, I read with interest your article on depression and I realised that I may also be suffering from this. Of late I find that I have no energy and hate getting out of bed. I also smoke 10 cigarettes a day and drink few pegs of whiskey every evening. This of course I have been doing for years now. Does this mean I am suffering from depression? I am not suffering from any stress or pressure… I just don’t feel great.

These symptoms are characteristic of Major Depressive Disorder. A large percentage of people try to overcome it with alcohol. You should consult a mental health professional at the earliest. Also, I must add that Stress and Depression are not always co-related. It could be perceived stress or biological factors too causing this condition. Irrespective of the cause, immediate medical intervention is advised.

One of the most important things to remember is that there are a wide variety of fantastic treatments out there, so if you are diagnosed with depression, you might want to do some research into ways of managing your mental health. This could involve attending regular therapy sessions, or, alternatively, some people find that natural remedies such as marijuana can uplift their mood. Provided that cannabis has been legalized in your area, you might want to read into how to buy low green and other marijuana-infused products and discover the potential benefits these goods can have for your health.

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Of course, there are other natural products that you might want to incorporate into your mental health toolkit. Recently, the use of psilocybin (or magic mushrooms) and other psychedelic therapies have hit the headlines as a potential treatment for people living with depression and anxiety. Again, early studies seem to suggest that psilocybin can have a mood-boosting impact when used in a controlled way. You can Read more about some of the different types of magic mushrooms by doing some research online.

Just remember to always speak to a doctor if you are considering using any natural products or alternative medicines when living with depression, as not everything is suitable for everyone.

In recent times, my boyfriend has been behaving very weirdly. He seems very indifferent to me and to all our friends. At first I thought he was cheating on me but this isn’t the case. He is just not interested in anything anymore. His appetite is also bad now and he just lives on beer and peanuts. I am very worried doctor. Do you think he needs psychiatric help? If so, how do we go about meeting you if he agrees?

This could be a result of Anxiety or Depression. There could be other reasons as well for loss of appetite or lack of interest. May I suggest you consult a family physician or seek an appointment with a psychiatrist. You are most welcome to bring him to see me. Appointment details may be sought from the editorial team at Pune365.

Dear Doctor, I don’t know if this has anything to do with your subject but for the past two months my libido is at its lowest. The mere mention of sex turns me off. I am getting irritated by every single thing. All this is beginning to affect my relationship with my wife. She even suspected me of having an affair with someone. Who do I consult? A sexologist or a psychiatrist? Please help.

In India for such cases, psychiatrists often advise the patient to consult a physician. I would however recommend going to a psychiatrist. Reduction of libido could be a sign of depression, Diabetes Mellitus or consuming excessive alcohol. Ideally, you should go in for couple-therapy and get the problem evaluated.

My 14-year-old daughter is always on the internet and mobile and this is now really affecting her studies. She stays up late to chat online with her friends (so she says) and doesn’t get enough sleep. She has become very lethargic and doesn’t help around the house either. Just two days back I happened to wake up at 2am and found her room lights on. I was so shocked when I noticed that she was watching some explicit movie on her laptop. I really don’t know what to do. If I tell my husband he will lose his temper with her. Please advise me on what I should do doctor. I really need your help.

I think in your case the best constructive solution would be to talk to her and also have a disciplined family outlook. It does get hard to question adolescents on their irregular sleeping patterns. Being lethargic could be a sign of Anxiety or Depression.You should consult a family physician and take the required steps as per his advice.

Dr. Manish BajyapeeDr Manish Bajpayee is a consultant psychiatrist in Pune with over 20 years of extensive clinical experience in assessing and treating clients with a range of psychological problems and other mental health related issues. He is currently a consultant with Inamdar Hospital and Ruby Hall Clinic.

Dr Manish Bajpayee