Feeling Depressed all the time now

[Stillstanding53]

I am 70 years old and basically all alone. No family or close friends. Just my cat. I recently became unemployed from a job I really enjoyed, paid very well and kept me busy. Not really sure how I'm going to survive financially, emotionally, physically. The chances of finding another job at my age are slim to none. I'm collecting unemployment now and the future looks very bleak. I can't sleep and I've lost my appetite. Not sure where to turn.

[Dolphin14]

Welcome to the community. I'm very sorry about the loss of your job. That's a very difficult thing to go through

I hope things turn around for you soon

We are here to support you.

🐬

[Stillstanding53 in reply to Dolphin14]

thank you so much for your understanding

[Arymretep]

Sorry to hear that, you’ll get through this, we are all here for you.

[Stillstanding53 in reply to Arymretep]

Thank you

[blackcat64013]

Hi Stillstanding 53,I can recall the feeling of losing my job. Everything feels rotten around it.

The best advice I received was to take your time looking after yourself.

For me, it was about the 4 month mark before I was ready to look for something else to fill my days.

I chose to

1. volunteer some hours to meet people and help others

2. resume researching my family history

3. get my camera out on walks to take nature pictures.

If life gets you down, check in with us for support or call 988 in the USA.

🐈‍⬛

[Stillstanding53 in reply to blackcat64013]

Thank you so much. Doing my best to stay positive and as busy as I can.

[Littleone88]

what job did you have? Is there no chance of finding a position the same else where ?? U should be happy who wants to work at 70? Start some hobbies maybe??

[Stillstanding53 in reply to Littleone88]

I was a controller and an operations manager for a large construction company and that’s what I’ve done for the last 48 years. I don’t wanna work at 70 years old but unfortunately I have to. It’s very expensive to live, I have high rent and a lot of bills. I wish I could just stay at home and enjoy life, but I can’t.

[DruBee]

WATCH THIS! INSPIRING! youtu.be/HQrQUGi7mqc?si=m8X...(Not working as expected?)

[Go9erswin6]

Dear Stillstanding53, I'm sorry to hear of your prediciment. The best thing you can do is read. Read books about principles of success, and successful people. Read about your skills and whatever type of job or career you've had.

Also exercise. If you already exercise, great! If not simply walking each day is a great start. Walk as long as you can. If it's 15-20 mins great! Do it every dsy. Slowly you'll be able to extend the time up to 30, 40 mins a day. Exercise is very important to mental and emotional health.

Reading is powerful. Very powerful. It's great for improving mental and emotional health. It'll help you relate to other people better and help you build relationships; with your self and with others

I'm a certified life coach. Reading and exercise, and diet, are proven to be the best things you can do to break out of depression and improve your character and attitude

Be strong!!

Pick your self up!!

Go9erswin6

[sunshinefan]

Hello- I'm sorry about your job. I just resigned from my job due to my depression, etc. and am applying for Social Security Disability. It is a hard process, but might be worth a try for you. We are here for you.

[Stillstanding53 in reply to sunshinefan]

good morning, i’m sorry to hear about your job as well and I know that depression can be totally debilitating. I also know how long the application processes for disability is. I hope it goes fairly smooth for you and that you’re able to collect soon. Hang in there.

[Gramas]

I understand how it can be a shock to the system to lose a job especially after you have worked so long. I’m older too and find it virtually impossible to find a job at my age. Its good that you’re getting unemployment and hopefully you have some retirement funds from your previous job to fall back on. After unemployment runs out you can apply for Social Security retirement. I believe that 70 is full retirement age so you can get your full benefit. I also have little family and friends so feel free to connect back at any time.

[Starr88]

Hello Still Sanding, and welcome, first I want to say how sorry I am for the loss of your job, that happened to me about one month ago, I loved the job it gave me purpose and I loved the owners dogs ( I am very much a animal person), thats actually what hurt the most and still to this day I miss them so much!

I have two cats and without them I don't think I would be here right now, animals are such beautiful souls, and just looking at them makes me understand true love.

I have suffered with major depression since I can remember, how I get through my episodes is learning how to embrace the depression, ( I know that sounds odd but if you can look at it as a part of you and that it shall pass it helps), also I know its hard but if you can look at your depression as an observer instead of letting it take you over that can do wonders, and your depression is definitely normal for your situation, it’s very traumatic losing a job that you love, also there are many programs that can help with money ( call your local social services and they can guide you with that part).

Also I would suggest getting into therapy, that has also helped me, I have no family, and barely anyone who I would call a true friend, so I know the torturous feeling of loneliness and isolation, I have also recently joined a couple of online meetup groups one is called drawing your stress away which helps a lot, you don't have to know how to draw but its about an hour that you can forget everything and just concentrate on what you are drawing, volunteering is also a nice thing that helps not only who you are helping, its helps you as well, I used to volunteer at a cat rescue and that was very rewarding, and now you have this community that shares your struggles and can be a support system, if you can figure out a hobby that you like or would be interested in, even coloring books are good to keep your mind off of things, puzzles etc….

I hope your situation gets better soon, and I am glad you found this community, and know you are not alone!

[Stillstanding53 in reply to Starr88]

Thank you for your very compassionate and insightful reply. We have a lot in common it would seem. I’m also an animal lover and I have a cat who thinks she’s a dog. I am sure without her I would be totally lost and I may not even be here now. Like you, I have no family left and nobody that I would really call a close friend. For the most part, I have mastered the art of being alone, but sometimes it does get overwhelming. This group seems to help and I’ve also been involved with online therapy. I have tried to look for agencies and places that can offer financial help, but believe it or not I’m above the level of help. It seems the middle-class are the ones that struggle so I continue to look for a job at the age of 70, but the pickings are very slim as you probably know. I’m doing the best I can to stay busy and positive and hopeful. Thank you again for your good thoughts.

[Starr88]

Yes, its is quite the art of mastering to be ok with being alone, it has taken me years of inner work and therapy, but once you do you see how strong you really are! And even though it would be nice to have someone, I no longer need that, and that is a great feeling, some never get there, because its so easy to be in that denial forever.

Thank you for your kind response, and one of my cats also thinks he is a dog ! Funny how their personalities are so different, but the love they show me is such a beautiful, amazing thing that I am grateful for daily, I so wish humans had a quarter of the compassion and love animals possess the world would be such a better place.

Yes, I do agree the middle class has it the hardest, because you are right in that limbo state of them saying you can’t qualify for this and that yet you do not make enough money to live, its quite sad, I would suggest in maybe looking for a library job ( I know it doesn’t pay much but if you do have other income coming in I’m sure it could help) or somewhere that has to do with animals, or maybe take out a sheet of paper and write down what gives you happiness even if its the littlest thing and see how you can put that with working somewhere.

I think another thing that would help you now that I forgot to mention before is having a gratitude journal or even just saying it either out loud or to yourself, that helps me a lot, it makes me see that even though I am depressed I have a lot to be grateful for like my cats, the ability to be alive, my sight, my hearing etc…. Sometimes when I have an episode of depression I forget all of those things, but if I can remember to at least say them to myself I become more aware of reality, I hope that helps

[Stillstanding53 in reply to Starr88]

Yes your reply does help. It brings me comfort. Thank you. I think we should both be therapists. I also believe that if people had 1 ounce of the compassion and unconditional love that animals have that the world would be a better place. And I also keep a gratitude journal. It has helped me tremendously through the years. I am a three time cancer survivor and I’m still kicking. I also buried my only child when she was 26. I gave her up for adoption because I was too young when I had her and I thought it was the right thing to do in those years, it was an open adoption, I met her when she was 12. She was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 16. I was a match so I gave her one of my kidneys And she lived for another 10 years. It has been something that I’ve never fully recovered from but I moved on with my life. I got married for the second time when I was 42 years old against my parents wishes because he had a different background. Turned out that they were right and he was unfaithful for most of the marriage. I got divorced in 2016 and never looked back. And I never really recovered from that betrayal either, but once again I tried to look on the bright side and move on with my life. I guess you could say I’m a survivor, but I’m just tired lately. Tired of things being so hard and painful. I wish I could afford to take a low paying job and still meet all my requirements, but that’s not the case. I always made a very good living, but unfortunately I was not smart with money so I don’t have too much of a cushion to fall back on, so as long as I am healthy I need to keep working . But as you know, it’s a problem at our age and nobody wants to hire someone who is 70 years old. I’ve survived so many things so far. I just have to find a way to survive this. Thank you again for your comforting words. We certainly do have a lot in common . I wish you lived around the corner. Be well and keep in touch.

[Teaching]

Welcome to the community. It's difficult to stay without a job. Hopefully, things will improve.

[Stillstanding53 in reply to Teaching]

thank you. I really hope so. I just keep plugging away one day at a time.

[Tullyanne]

Thinking of you, sending love and best wishes.

[Stillstanding53 in reply to Tullyanne]

thank you for reaching out to me. I really needed it right now. Feeling very depressed and totally alone. I don’t know too much about your situation, but I hope you’re doing OK. Some days are busy than others, but today was a very difficult day for me