How long have you had depression?? Do you work??

I have suffered with horrible depression for almost 17 years now.ive tried so many things and I'm just getting disgusted. I feel like their is nothing that's going to truly offer me relief. Most days I don't even want to get out of my PJ's.

How long have you all been depressed? Do you work? If so how are you able to hold down a job? Most days I just don't even feel like talking to anyone.

The only thing that keeps me going is my 3 kids.

My depression took my work from me. working as a social worker I could not bring my mood up enough to inspire the clients. so working is not an option. going to see if I am able to volunteer.my depression has become part of who I am and when it is quiet I am so glad but that never stays for long. seeking help has been away to gain some of my hope back , that things do get better and I do not have to define myself as the depression but accept it as a small part of myself.I to have 3 kids and only one at home and there are many a days when I think what would happen if she did not exist, so hold on to your kids if they keep you going, try getting more involved with them that gives more motivation to do more. I know you have it in you to continue the fight because you remind me of myself, and I am struggling but keep seeing the rainbow out there. find some small thing to invest your time in and go for it. I got your back

Depression made it difficult to work.

As long as I can remember.....(ie since I was a child)

A bit off topic, but just thought I'd mention that I'm in Northern California too (Mendocino County, about 3 hours north of San Francisco)

I'm happy that you have your kids I never had any, and there aren't many days when I don't feel sad about that. So for me it's my four Kitties (Riley, Mia, Possum and Whimsy).....

ten years now and no i don't work. I did for many years work but it was very hard to wake up every morning and get going.

In the Fall I go back to college full time and do an internship. I'm thinking about withdrawing until Spring. Right now I just don't know if I can handle all that. I'd really rather be at home all day with my toddler.

My first major depressive episode happened when i was about 14 or 15 and i've been on and off meds ever since and in and out of therapy, no hospitalizations, i know what to say to stay out. No i don't work and i'm not happy about it. I feel useless and i do nothing at all but watch tv and go to appts and do errands if i have the energy which i usually don't. I can't function, or focus or concentrate. I rarely get dressed either unless i have an appt. to go to.

I have struggled with depression since my early teenage years, I just didn't know what it was. I made it through four years of university and worked full time up until two years ago, when I had a very severe depressive episode. I am still hoping to return to my old job.
I have found that when mildly to moderately depressed, which is a lot of the time, that work is the best thing for me. It forces me to socialize and it distracts me from how miserable I am feeling.
When the severe depression hit, I no longer had the cognitive skills to remain at work, so unfortunately had to go off on sick leave.

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I would say for the past three years I have dealth with extremes. My job at the time was very understanding and lienate throughout fall months by giving me a leave of absence, fmla, or just plain ole not giving me points. However, in May I was laid off for issues with errors in my work (completely depression related). I had a hard time focusing and was always dwelling on things and think thinking thinking about everything while I was working. I now I have a new job doing the same type of work...it definetly makes life more challenging, I constantly mentally slap myself back into the now to concentrate on work, and somedays I fight not too call out or leave early.

My first major depressive episode began about 4 years ago. It remitted for about 10 months, then came back with full-force in December of 2011. I suspect that I've been depressed for about 4 years in total. In reply to your other question about work - I have consistently worked, and I have to because I own/operate a small-business. I'm working my way back to full-time clinical work.

About ten years ago i became depressed and was put on med (Celexa) i took it for eight years along with ativan at night and did very well. About two years ago i stopped the Celexa (dumb) and my depression returned about six to eight months later. Tried restarting the Celexa but didn't work this time it only made me feel sick so i have been struggling for the last year to find a new med to help tried (wellbutrion,effexor and remeron) and i am noe on zoloft for the last to weeks so its to early to tell. I work and have worked in the same job for the last 20 years. Sometimes its hard to work when you feel crappy but most of the time i would rather be in work because it forces me to do things even if i have to fake a happy face. I would be so much worse off if i was at home all day with no direction so i am thankful to have a job and feel for those who are unable to work or can not find work.

Omg totally there with you on that one. I had my first bout with depression 10 years ago. They put me on meds and that worked, along with therapy. I decided I felt better, so took myself off of the meds (Shouldn't have done that) and now it has come back with a vengeance very recently.

My kids keep me going too. I have joint custody, so the days I don't have them are the worst, I am so sad.

I do work, but it is in an office so I don't really have to deal with anyone too much, but there are nights I just go home and put the covers over my head.
I am sorry you are going through this, though, and without a break from it.

I've been depressed since childhood. I find it very difficult to work in the public. I had to give up giving piano lessons for 25yrs. I've decided to give lessons again. I only have 3 students but that's OK for now. I hope I can stay with it.

I've been depressed ever since I was a kid...I'm 22 now. I don't currently work I have attempted college and work in the past though, but I seem to get fired pretty quick. As for college I also have ptsd related to something that happened in highschool(i just don't want to bring it up here right now) so I guess being on even a college campus was triggering me too much and causing too much stress.

As for now I'd like to find part time work, of course it would have to be a somewhat low stress more slow paced sort of place...otherwise there is no way I could function because the more stressed I am and the more chaotic the surroundings the more dysfunctional I become. So if i cannot find anything I guess I'll go with SSI......or attempt that anyways.

in the bay area,contra costa county nice to have you so close by.

I have suffered from the type depression you are describing and the meds even though I took them did not seem to relieve the darkness much. Each depression lasted 2-4 years and then would clear. Each chore was a struggle and working was a struggle it is easy in my mind to recognize when the darkness leaves. I worked most all my life and went on disability close to 50. Somedays I long to work but I am grateful in this economy to be receiving help. Please just hang in there maybe you could do part-time school I do not know there.

Whoops!

I remember it as far back as age 9 or 10--so about 39 or 40 years. I grew up in a dysfunctional and my parents did not give a flying leap about me--so I pretty much handled it on my own. I remember bursting into tears alot in school in the 4th grade and not knowing why. My teacher finally had to confront my mom about it and my mom got angry at me instead of trying to help me. Plus my dad taught us that only weak people cry. So I stuffed my feelings. I dealt with it by crawling in a hole (figuratively speaking), acting tough, becoming a slob, acting goofy, overeating, cussing, and eventually getting into fights, self-medicating, being promiscous, stealing, and beating the crap out of my younger brother.

I did not get any help for it until I was in my late 20's and was married to my 2nd husband. I went for my annual physical and the doctor insisted that I look into getting help for depression.

Let's see..I'm 22 years old now, I've been depressed since I was about 7 years old. Not a day goes by that I don't consider suicide, or wishing for death. I hate everything I have ever experienced. I lucked out at getting a job, I work at the same place my brother does, and that is literally the only reason why I got the job. I don't even try to pretend I am not depressed. I never smile, and never say a word unless I have to. Thankfully, I don't have to have a lot of human interaction at this job, it is just typesetting on a computer all day. This is the only job I can do, if I lose this then I'm screwed.

Hi. i have suffered from depression for at least 10 years now. i am currently on medical leave due to some physical problems and have decided today that i really need to see a therapist and extend the medical leave because of the depression. Right now, i am just so depressed that i dont want to go anywhere or do anything or as you mentioned, i dont even want to talk to anyone. My husband and grown children and step children helps to keep me going, but i still don't want to leave the house. i have never been this depressed before and i dont understand why im feeling the way that i do. im also on 3 major depression medications that are for physical conditions that i have, but wonder how i could possibly be depressed taking those meds every day. im not sure i will be able to hold down a job any more, it really worries me. Hope i havent gone too far off topic, just wanted to let you know that i can relate to alot of what youre saying. Thanks so much for the time and i hope you are able to find some relief soon.