I wound up having to take a low-stress job, which is hard to find in nursing. I also can't seem to handle anything close to a full-time (40-hr) work week, so I'm still drawing some unemployment benefits.

It's so frustrating sometimes to be unable to get past my limitations. I WANT to be able to take on more, but every time I even think about branching out a little more, the anxiety takes over and I'm paralyzed. I'm OK in my little corner of the working world, but I'm beginning to think I'll never be anything more than what I am today, just a nursing-home nurse who does paperwork and admissions.

Both my husband and my pdoc say that's OK. I'm at least being productive, and my moods have stabilized thanks to the much-lower stress levels (and of course, meds in the right amounts). Even the Employment Division isn't hounding me about looking for FT work because they know I have a long-term disability and work restrictions.

I wonder sometimes if too much isn't expected of us older workers. A generation ago, two generations ago, people my age (55ish) were retiring and taking life a little easier; we Baby Boomers, on the other hand, are supposed to stay in the rat race until we're 70. Well, unless I missed something, our bodies don't age any slower than our parents' and grandparents'......I'm tired and I don't want to beat myself to death slamming myself up against a wall for another 15 years.

Anyway, sorry to hijack the thread but I got on a rant there and couldn't stop.