Hi Kittycat: I tried several meds before I found one that worked, and that took so many months that I was quite discouraged. The wait was worth it, even though the initial 20 mg on the new antidepressant did nothing for me. The 40 mg worked, and then in a few weeks I had to step up to 60 mg. Now I have been on the 60 mg for a very, very long time. It continues to work.

I consider that this med (Celexa) is working for my "basic" depression, even though I seem to have periodic additional "reactive" depressions. I notice that, when the additional stresses that cause my "reactive" depression disappear, I return to the baseline where Celexa takes care of my basic underlying depression. So I consider the two types of depression to be very different animals.

Before my Celexa kicked in, I had to remind myself to be good to myself, to eat well, to do something every day that I especially liked, and to set the bar for performance low enough to give me some easy successes. We don't need to make depression worse by beating ourselves up!

I'm not blessed with the ability to work. If I were, I would choose to work and/or volunteer in places where my own special abilities would be useful. I never feel lonely when I'm feeling useful. Maybe your own special abilities are being wasted at your current job.

This may be the time to think about learning new skills --- that will bring you both pleasure and improve your financial future. A lot of retired persons just love selling real estate. I could see myself out there, breezing by in my silver bullet, determined to find a cozy home for my client.

I had a lot of plans before my memory and cognitive problems worsened. Not only have I had to modify them, but many of them are currently impossible. Enjoy what you have while you have it.

Today, however, you need to take care of yourself. When you're feeling better, I'll share with you what I do about loneliness.

Adieu