How can someone overcome random mental breakdowns, mood changes, and sleep problems?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 20-year-old woman. I have not been feeling well for over a year. Recently I kept having random mental breakdowns. Sometimes I feel fine, and then the next thing I know, I am just sad, anxious, and crying. I had suicidal thoughts around the age of 18. I want to understand what is going on exactly. I do not want to get back to where I used to be. I cannot sleep much and had to start taking pills for that.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand that what you are going through must be very difficult because you do not understand what is happening. However, you have adequately expressed your problems. Coming to your problem, what you are currently facing is depression. These random mental breakdowns and crying spells that you speak of are all part of the illness. You will need both medications as well as therapy to recover. You can start with the tablet Escitalopram 5 mg in the morning. You can consult your specialist doctor, talk with them, and take medications with their consent. Along with medicines, try to maintain a balanced diet, regular sleep hours, and exercise regularly. Also, it will be supportive if you explain what you are going through to a family member or a friend. Please get your thyroid levels checked once. Also, does anyone in your family have a similar problem? Are these symptoms associated with your menstrual cycles?

Thank you.