First of all, give yourself a huge pat on the back for being brave enough to tackle this...I say this because I was off for 9 years and went back to work. I, too was in/out of hospitals and felt at age 48 that I couldn't sit anymore. Depression was manageable, and thought I would at least try it.

I took a big gamble in hindsight, as the only job I could find in my city that was hiring people was in a call center; and in customer service. I had to re-learn all of the computer stuff, new things (passwords, cut and paste, switching screens etc), since I had left the work force. I was slow and confused in the training and also the oldest in my training group. But, I got through it.

Anyways, I lasted 6 years, but depression struck again, this time major depression and had to leave this job. I actually hated it anyways! The hardest part...I hid this illness from all of my co-workers, even the people I had lunch with and even the women I went out with sometimes after work. No one knew (as far as I knew). It was lonely, very lonely. I had days where I would cry in the bathroom wondering how I could make it through the day, and sometimes sit on the bus and felt like getting off and just catch the next one and go home.

Luckily, I have a hubby who is my rock and a few friends that I called for support.

You take care of yourself, but if you find yourself slipping don't think it as a failure. This is an illness not a character flaw or something you caused.

Take care.