Hi - new here. While I've been under treatment for chronic moderate depression for years (and have had a lot of 'stable' times), I spiraled down several weeks ago into the blackest pit I'd ever experienced. Long story short, I had a short stay in the psych hospital and about 10 days in the adult day hospital therapy program which has really helped and some of the most horrible moods/thoughts have brightened a little due to the intensive therapy and aggressive pharmacology possible with every day visits with the psych.

Out of the blue I was told today that I was being discharged because my insurance company decided I was no longer sick enough to need a program of this intensity. My problem is that while I might be able to get the rest of the way up to 'stable' with just a weekly therapist, there's no possible way I am ready to handle returning to work yet. Work-related stressors are at least 50% responsible for my current depressive crisis, but the psych at my day hospital program seems only willing to write me a 'doctors note' for returning to work for maybe 3-5 days after the end of my program today. When I ask my self if I will have worked through the work stress/mental depression issues well enough to go back to work (I'm a public school teacher) after seeing the outpatient therapist for one single 50 minute session between now and being forced to go back, the answer is clearly no.

I've never been a malingerer nor the kind of guy who spends his life trying to bilk the system or make as much money while doing the least amount of work possible. In fact this is the first time I've ever accepted that committing to my own mental health recovery was more important than work (temporarily at least). I don't know how long it will take for me to work through the rest of the issues and make sure I'm chemically in a stable and appropriate place but I'm lost as what to do now.

Does anyone have experience with this? Ways to work, legally and withing 'the system' for a helpful solution? I'm afraid if I return to work too early, I'll founder badly for a couple days then end up right back at the psych E.R. on suicide watch again.

All thoughts are appreciated!
Gwydion