How to deal with depression caused by TB diagnosis?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 22-year-old female. I weigh about 52 kg. So from the last one year, right after my graduation, I am at home as I was diagnosed with TB. So being at home I feel depressed. My mood changes every minute. My behavior from the last six months is irritating and arrogant. The people around me make me feel helpless like I am of no use, just wasting my time. I know from inside how much I feel lonely and weak like there is no energy left. Nothing excites me. These days I am noticing that I get so negative. I get very easily attached to strangers. I cannot sleep at night. What kind of illness I am facing?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your description and symptoms are typical of major depressive disorder. This happens very commonly, one in four women can have this at any point in their life. Due to any prolonged stresses, sometimes the stress handling capacity of the brain gets reduced due to the reduction of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. The medicines will just replace these chemicals and make you feel better. Medicines start taking the effect in about a week or so and show full effect in about two weeks. Medicines are usually continued for two to four months and then tapered off.

Please consult with a psychiatrist for the same. He will start you on SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) type of medicines such as Escitalopram 10 mg for example and with some other medicines if needed to augment its effect.