Hey, nmb,

You are not alone. You share your predicament with millions of fellow Americans, including me. And you're right: it's temporary. It WILL pass. Right this moment, though, you need to help DH with whatever he needs to get another job. Harder now than usual.

My mother's parents were married in 1913. From the beginning they ran their marriage as a business partnership. Every Saturday night after dinner they'd bring all the papers to the dinner table and talk through everything that could be done or should be done or had to be done to maintain or improve their income. They were both smart, very hardworking people, though neither of them had more than a third-grade education.

And I guess they were ahead of their times without knowing it. If every couple ran their financial lives as a partnership, a lot of people would be better off.

Make his next job a joint project of the two of you. I don't know whether this is something he'd resent or enjoy. Most people agree that two heads are better than one. There's no question you can give him some ideas that he couldn't come up with himself, and vice versa. Try it. It may also help to reduce your anxiety and depression.

Take care!