The patient is a 36-year-old- male who was bullied by peers and was emotionally abused by his father for being effeminate and preferring to play with dolls. These adverse childhood experiences made him vulnerable to depression. He told himself that he could no longer rely on anyone else but himself and took pride in his independence. He gave his best with his endeavors and did not settle for mediocrity, frequently reviewing his work. During the pandemic, he experienced several hardships such as disruption of activities, inability to meet the financial needs of his family and unemployment. He found himself struggling but surviving. While in a work-from-home arrangement, he was so frustrated about his internet connection that he complained on social media. The internet company then threatened him of possible legal charges and felt stuck in a hopeless situation. This affected his day-to-day activities until he felt so overwhelmed that he attempted suicide by ingesting multiple medications. He was then brought to the emergency room and was admitted. He was diagnosed to have Major Depressive Disorder and was started on antidepressants. Psychotherapy focused on identifying stressors and strengthening adaptive coping mechanisms while he was admitted at an isolation facility. He then followed up at the outpatient department of a tertiary government hospital in Mindanao with noted improvement in mood and functionality overtime. During admission, he was also diagnosed to have Diabetes Mellitus and COVID-19, which added to his burden as these were the biologic factors that were correlated to his depression. The case highlighted the interplay between the effects of multiple traumatic experiences in a vulnerable individual and thus necessitating a holistic management.
Depressive Disorder, Major ; Psychiatry ; Suicide