Hi All!

[LizStartingOver]

Hi Everyone!

How to begin? I'm in my late 30s and I'm working my way out of my second severe bout of depression that included a fair amount of unemployment. On the downside, I'm underemployed as a temp and trying to get up the energy to restart my search for a permanent job. I know what has to be done but some days I'm just paralyzed by the anxiety I have about whole thing and by the shame I feel for losing so much time to depression. I tell myself that I'll never catch up monetarily and that I can't get my career back on track. Of course I would never think this way about a friend who was struggling but I can easily think them about myself. Damned intrusive and completely unhelpful thoughts! I'm also living in a city where I don't know many people so I've fallen in to my old habit of isolation. And I'm worried about my Dad's alcoholism and my mother's roller coaster, walk-on-egg-shells life with him. On the upside, I have a psychiatrist I can communicate with, my meds are working, I've restarted therapy, and I'm getting more exercise.

I'm a big fan of the podcast and I look forward to the new episode each week. (I've had to ration my listening to past episodes so that I can enjoy them for a while longer. I think I've listened to almost all of the episodes at least once.) I'm also touched by the kindness and thoughtfulness on this forum. I don't usually join online groups but I'm looking forward to being a part of this one.

Thanks to all of you for everything I've already learned and thanks in advance for what I know I'll learn in the future.

[manuel_moe_g]

Welcome to the forum, LizStartingOver!

On the upside, I have a psychiatrist I can communicate with, my meds are working, I've restarted therapy, and I'm getting more exercise.

This is 100% heartening to me, because it means you are being loving to yourself and doing right by yourself and your future fulfillment. I am so happy for you!

Al-Anon can be a tremendous resource for you, given your parental situation and how it set up your development:

http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/

Please feel free to use this forum as a resource, and I can't wait to read your written contributions to our threads!

All the best, cheers!

[oak]

Hey Liz welcome.

Like you, I am in my later 30s and am working a contingent job. I've also struggled with unemployment.

I am sorry you are struggling with underemployment. I am glad, however, that you know what to call it.

Underearning has beaten my soul up left and right for the last ten year. I wrote a thread about it this summer:

http://mentalpod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=8186

I wish I had some cheerful, encouraging words to share with you regarding underearning. You know: "It will get better if we just keep hoping and taking action!" [Insert pasted-on smile here]

While I can't/won't offer you platitudes about underearning, I can offer you deep empathy. I know of what you speak.