[caturday15]

I've posted here before and as a background, I have a family history of mental disorders but more on the anxiety / depression track.

I have never taken meds because my anxiety / depression symptoms seem to go away after some time and maybe because I always try to come up with activities that make me busy that I almost forget what I'm being anxious / depressed about.

However, starting last January, my company asked me to work from home, full-time. At first, this was something that I wanted because I don't like office politics and I've always been a shy person. Working from home means that I don't have to deal with annoying colleagues or bosses.

But as months go by, I just feel sad most of the time for no reason. It's not like something terribly bad happened. Then I realized, it may be because when I wake up in the morning, I just have to walk literally 5 steps to the computer and that's my world for the rest of the day, 5x a week. And the thing is, nobody's around because everyone is going to work in the morning (I live in an apartment flat). I only talk to people, face-to-face, at around 8PM.

Yes, I try to go out on weekends and schedule after work activities but they're not an everyday thing. I miss the regular social interaction that comes with going to the office. Then I realized that almost all of the good friends I've made in my life are people that I meet daily because we all go to some institution or organization (like classmates and colleagues).

This is the first time ever that I have nowhere to go to and talk to on a daily basis. And this makes my daily life very dull and depressing. I'd take long commute and annoying colleagues over staying inside this cocoon anytime.

Could this be the reason I'm feeling depressed? I'm still functional but I just feel like there's a dark cloud hovering me everyday. I'm usually a happy person unless something extremely bad happens. Now I feel sad & very edgy and I'm only truly happy for short periods when I'm outside the house. Whenever I go back to my room, I just feel this pang of loneliness. My room used to be a relaxing place from all the daily social interaction in the office. Now, it feels like a prison.

Is this due to my inclination to anxiety / depression or is it really because of my environment? I'm thinking of looking for another job.

[Little Lulu]

My good friend started working from home last year and she also thought she would love it. It turns out she is dealing with the same issues you are - loneliness and isolation. Her house is small. Her "office" is in her bedroom so she spends most of her time in that room. Long story short - she is looking for another job.

As frustrating as colleagues can be, they do add dimension to one's life. For better or worse, the office is a "community" of sorts and with that can come a sense of belonging. Maybe it is time to look for another job.

Best wishes.

[birdpumpkin]

I've been a stay-at-home mom for 10 years now, and the last 6 my son has been in school. I'm alone all day, and I used to like it and spent my time reading, watching movies, doing stuff I enjoyed. But the last couple years that's been getting old and I find myself getting restless and feeling terribly lonely as the day goes on. I've been thinking about looking for a job just to get myself out around some people and get some money of my own to save.

[allme]

It does sound as though it's not working out for you. I work from home but have my hubby around sometimes. I do have the odd day or a hours where it is quiet. When this happens, I come here and go on live chat. Although I am not with people face to face, it still quenches that need for social interaction. Maybe come and give us a visit when you feel lonely? I also read through posts and try to reply when I can which I also find helps me feel 'connected'.

I think working from home is a wonderful thing once you have conquered the being alone thing.

Stick around, maybe get to know people here and soon you will make friends and have people to virtually hang with! Well, it helps me anyway!

[TheOriginalMe]

My employers want me to work from home as a way of easing me back into the workplace when I return from sick leave. I think it will be a hopeless idea as I am struggling to concentrate, so with no-one there to motivate me I imagine that I'll be back under the duvet and isolating whilst in isolation. I've never liked working from home, I want the two parts of my life to be separate, work at work, home at home. However, I acknowledge the convenience of no commute and being able to keep appointments etc.

[caturday15]

I've always been a lone wolf and I can usually entertain myself but this is too much alone time. Only now I see the other major benefit of an office job (or a job that requires you to go out of the house), aside from the monetary gain.

I asked my boss and he told me he'll see how I'll be able to work in real office space again.