If you think you're depressed, get a blood test.

[Tanmay]

Hi, I'm from India. After I started engineering, I began losing focus on studies and had no drive or motivation. Things got worse each semester. By the third semester I was diagnosed with clinical depression. The doctor gave me Prodep and another anxiety medicine. I took them for a year but didn't improve, so I told her I was fully recovered. My grades kept slipping. Later I thought I might have low testosterone and wanted a check, but kept postponing it. Just last week I got my vitamin B12, D and testosterone levels checked – all three were low. B12 was 167 pg/ml, vitamin D 21 pg/ml and total testosterone 447. I went to the doctor; he gave me a 1500 mg B12 injection and 60,000 IU vitamin D once a week, and told me to get a thyroid profile too. Even if you have depression, get your blood work done for B12, D, testosterone and thyroid. Sometimes it's not depression. Because of this I couldn't build muscle or lose fat.

[Devendra]

I agree. I'm on SSRIs myself, and I recommend getting these checked:
1) Vitamin D
2) B12 – especially if you're vegetarian
3) Ferritin – low levels can cause cognitive problems.

[Sakshi]

These days many men have low testosterone; doctors may say 300 ng/dL is normal, but that's actually low – aim for at least 600‑700. Here are some simple ways to boost it naturally:
• Sleep at least 8 hours each night – sleep is crucial.
• Do some exercise daily – a morning walk works well.
• Lose excess weight.
• Take vitamin D3 + K2 daily – about 80 % of Indians are deficient; take it after breakfast.
• Take magnesium glycinate – magnesium supports over 300 body functions and helps you sleep if taken an hour before bed.
You can buy these two supplements from Tata 1mg; many other brands have dubious reviews and may contain heavy metals.
• Cold showers every day can improve mood and reduce depression.

[Sahil]

Kudos to everyone who takes mental health seriously and seeks professional help. Also, vitamin D and B12 deficiencies are very common in India, so get them checked regularly and see a doctor to correct them.

[Mayank]

I went through something similar. My vitamin D was 6 ng/ml – unbelievably low – and I felt like a dead weight with no interest in anything. After getting injections and tablets, my motivation is coming back and the change is obvious.

[Akshara]

I don't know, bro – the curriculum back then was so poor that anyone would lose focus.

[Vishal]

Can I get these tests done directly, or do I need a doctor's prescription? Also, is there any lab that offers a complete panel – testosterone, other hormones, vitamin levels, HDL, LDL and all the other necessary markers?

[Shyam]

Guys, in my experience, most problems that seem like mental health issues are actually physical. Many of us think we're depressed because life is tough, but we ignore our health. Get regular blood work – not just B12 and testosterone, but a full panel. Spend 30 minutes in the sun, eat clean, keep your gut healthy, and stay active for 60‑90 minutes a day. Most mental health problems improve on their own then. About half of the happiness hormones are made in the gut; sunlight, waking up before sunrise and getting at least 7 hours of sleep can clear bad moods. Fix your health and your mind will follow.

[Shanta]

Can you suggest genuine vitamin D, B12, magnesium glycinate and zinc supplements? I got my blood test and was low in vitamin D and B12 – the test showed 375 range. The doctor gave me B12 injections and a 60,000 IU vitamin D dose once a week, but I stopped after eight weeks and don't know if my levels improved. Also, most supplements seem like scams, even from trusted brands. I tried magnesium from Naturaletin and felt extremely tired the next day; many people reported the same and some say it's fake. Which brands are reliable for magnesium, zinc and boron?

[Shobha]

I have a question – I got tested and my B12 was very low while vitamin D was borderline low. How long should I keep taking the capsules? It's been two months, but I haven't done a repeat test yet.

[Uday]

Bro, I just realized that depression is a clinical condition.