Suffering from depression. Next neet pg?

What you're describing — low mood, anhedonia, worthlessness, appetite loss, exhaustion, and loss of purpose lasting for weeks — is a recognizable clinical pattern. As a fellow physician, you'll recognize the constellation: this isn't "just feeling low." It's diagnosable depression, and it deserves the same clinical respect you'd give any of your patients presenting this way. Direct answer to your question: yes, there is real hope. Depression is one of the most treatable conditions in psychiatry. Response rates to standard treatment (medication and/or psychotherapy) are 60-70% in cases like yours, and substantially higher for patients who engage actively with treatment over time. Three clinical observations worth noting: 1. The chronic pain connection. Cervical and lumbar disc bulges create persistent pain, and chronic pain has a well-documented bidirectional relationship with depression — each makes the other worse. Treating one without addressing the other rarely works fully. Both need clinical attention, ideally coordinated. 2. Loss of interest in life itself, alongside worthlessness, is something I'd encourage you to share openly with a psychiatrist in person. Sometimes this is part of the depressive picture; sometimes it indicates passive thoughts that benefit from explicit clinical attention. There's no shame in stating it directly. Clarifying it with a clinician helps them help you. 3. The NEET PG context. Studying under untreated depression is an unfair fight — your brain is running on a depleted system. Treating the depression first dramatically improves study capacity in the majority of patients I see in this situation. Many physicians I've treated during PG preparation report that the exam they thought was impossible became manageable once depression was addressed. Don't postpone treatment thinking you'll handle it after the exam — that's the wrong order. You're not alone in this. Physician depression during PG preparation is well-documented and substantially more common than the medical community openly discusses. The combination of academic pressure, isolation, and harsh self-criticism creates a high-risk environment. Reaching out, as you've done here, is the first treatment step.

Please book an in-person psychiatric evaluation as soon as possible — ideally this week. A proper clinical examination will: - Confirm the diagnosis and rule out medical contributors (thyroid dysfunction, B12 deficiency, sleep disorders, the impact of the chronic pain medication you may be on) - Discuss whether antidepressant medication is appropriate alongside psychotherapy - Coordinate with your spine specialist on the chronic pain component - Build a treatment plan that accommodates your study schedule Treatment started now will help your NEET PG preparation, not hinder it. Don't wait until after the exam — by then symptoms typically worsen.

- Talk openly with someone you trust about how you've been feeling. Isolation reliably worsens depression; connection reliably blunts it. - Maintain basic structure even when motivation is low: eat at regular times (even small amounts), sleep on a schedule, get sunlight in the morning. - Avoid major life decisions (career direction, relationships, big financial moves) while in this state — your judgment will improve significantly with treatment. - If at any point thoughts of harming yourself become specific or feel difficult to manage, please reach out immediately to a psychiatrist. Self-medication is common among physicians and almost always counterproductive. Get a proper consultation.