I have been in a very serious depression for over a year, after suffering loss in the areas of health, job/career, and beloved who abandoned me abruptly after 15 years. I feel so alone.

As a result also of having to sell my home (and place my loved dogs in homes), I have been living with friends and relatives since the end of March. And one thing I learned from that is that Nobody's phone is ringing off the hook. But knowing that doesn't always help me feel confident and competent.

Then I took it in my head to move to a new city (New Orleans) where I know no one at all, and I am isolating like crazy -- crazy seems to apply, since I know I can't get the job and income I need sitting alone in a room.

I can have a few successes meeting goals for a few days, feel a relief -- oh, good, I'm going to make it after all. I send a few job applications, I go to an AA meeting or heck, just walk to the stores. Then, there really are no big payoffs -- I don't get invited for an interview, I don't make a new friend, and I'm back to thinking that nothing I do means anything and life isn't worth living.

The forums I read here are helpful, to know that other people are suffering and trying so hard to find strategies not to.