If it helps, I've been in an episode of major depression for about a year and a half now, and am still not even close to stabilized on meds yet. Not only that, the eating disorder that hadn't been (much) of a problem for more than a decade is back full force, AND I'VE BEEN IN TREATMENT FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.

There are days when I just can't see any point in continuing to try, because nothing I've tried so far has done any good, days when I think I must truly deserve this misery, days when I think I should be put away because I'm not doing anyone any good, and then there are days when I think that I can claw my way back to health. It doesn't help that I also get caught up in those thoughts that, "gee, if I worked hard enough to recover from all this, I would be better now -- since I'm not better yet, I must not be working hard enough, so it's my fault."

Best I can tell you is that it takes as long as it takes, and the longer it took to get to this point, the longer it's likely to take to get out of it. If your meds are kicking in now, that's a great sign, and you can use that new energy to help yourself heal.

Despite the distress of unemployment, getting a job is the thing you do AFTER you get the depression into remission. Otherwise, you're likely setting yourself up for a situation where your depression interferes with your ability to succeed in that job, which might lead to losing that job, which, in turn, would lead to another opportunity to beat yourself up.

Have you considered applying for Social Security benefits? That could not only help tide you over until you really are in remission, but also provide you access to other avenues of treatment.

Good luck, and hang in.