Just get in your car and drive. Walk around a store. Not always but try to do it every once in a while.

Well I do have to make a Mountain Dew run once a day so I get out to the gas station once a day for 15 min LOL =)

A comforting gas station can be an extention of your home comfort zone. I know this because I have several gas stations and nursery (plants) that I feel as comfortable in as my home.

I would like to see you get active in your local advocate group for MI. I would like everyone on this site to get involved too including me. I think it will be challenging for me, but they are cutting our services left and right. I don't receive any services yet, but my husband works in mental health and is telling me about all of the cut backs that are coming into place.

PM me if this is a job I could have too. A big part of my depression is that I can't work due to my instability. If I could work and make any amount of money I would feel better about myself and not be terrified about my husband passing any day.

I am terrified because first I would fall apart and second I would have zero money coming in anymore. I would become a burden to his parents that would also be going through the lose of their son.

I need to make money somehow someway! any suggestions would be welcomed from anyone.

I do have an interest in the funeral business. More specifically I'd like to open an amazing cemetery. I'm talking with a local funeral home owner first and then a cemetery owner. I will need to be more stable before I can face this dream occupation.

No it's not a morbid thing for me. I just want a beautiful place for people to visit the ones they have lost. It comes from losing my best friend in our mid 20's.

Tamara

I know what you mean Tamara. I'm in the same boat with not having a job and scared to work again because of my emotional state. It really affects my self-esteem and now even more than before. :-(

I'm glad you have found a way to work from home. That kind of set-up is very good for us that suffer MI as we can avoid a lot of stress that comes with a 9 to 5 job.

I am too looking at starting up my own business. I can earn an additional $600/m on my current disability payment. I'm going to teach piano. I have the experience and the piano and it pays $20/hour around here (although I might have to lower my prices as I am just starting up). I play the piano to a very high level and in my youth considered music as a career. Now it's just a passtime.

I've already had 2 inquires for beginners...the day after I placed the ad on a free stie. I've printed business cards too from a free site( if anyone is interested I'll give you the address just messagae me|)

I figure for $20/hr I could take 5 to 10 students which would mean an hour a day for me. I would be making $100/week about $500 to $550 a month.

Also there are big tax breaks in Canada for small business that I could take advantage of like my rent on my duplex here, getting my piano tuned every year, the cost of books for the students etc...Canada really tries to promote small business.

Last year my insurer told me that I could make extra money each month. They said that every fall I call them asking questions about getting back to work lol. They know I want to work it's just my bp that is preventing any full-time work at the moment...funny that I call them every year. I didn't know I did that lol. They tell me to listen to my doctor. Finally last year they gave in a little and said I could work a bit. I have been asking my support team about it and they think it's a good idea especially since I would only work an hour a day. My new doctor hasn't met with me about it though. This extra money could really help me get out of the debt caused by my marriage break-down. I would have the funds to pay for the credit cards and get my credit rating out of the toilet.

Wow sorry this is so long. Another thing I thought of was crafting...making those grocery bags that everyone is crazy about here in Canada...the non-disposible kind. Well I was going to make designer bags with a pocket so that you could fold them up and carry them in your purse or back pocket. I was going to sell them at a local craft store for less than $10. but for me the piano lessons are a better idea.

Thanks for reading this stupidly long post :)

To the other posters....

I think ont way to get back into the work force is to do volunteer work and gradually build up your hours so that you get use to it. Everybody likes volunteers and you can quit anytime you like with no consequenses. Plus it looks good on a resume. Plus you are gaining experience if you are thinking of cnhanging craeers. Plus you are making contacts and building up a network of people. There is no downside to volunteering and you can pick and choose your hours depending on how you are feeling that day. This will give you an idea of how you would do in the workforce.

When I changed careers from engineering and went into teaching I volunteered at an elementary school and they wanted to give me my own class after a few months even though I wasn't qualitied at that point. Sometimes volunteer work can lead to that if you are gifted in that sense. I got my qualification and went on to teach for many, many years....just by following my heart. Do what you want to do and the money will follow is an adage I think is very true.

To get back to working I would suggested to do it gradually first with part time work...maybe an hour or so a day or a week and gradually build up from there.

I have worked from home as an accountant for years. Right now my BP keeps me from working much.
When i started working from home I made a few rules for myself to keep myself productive. The first rule was no TV during the day.
I put the work first and let everything else fall in place. Work first, then chores and walking the dog. I do work with the radio on; I like that.

To make money, I divided my time into 3 hour segments. When I sat down to work it was with the intention of doing three hours of billable work. Each day consisted of 2 3 hour work segments.

Coming up with a game plan for intergrating your work with the rest of your life is essential when you are working at home. It's too easy to be distracted by laundry, house cleaning and other chores.
Susan

Congratulations, Tim! I hope the job works Great for you.:)

As far as interacting - well, just get Out there, man! Talk to people you pass by when you're out walking the dogs. You know, Hi, How ya doing, is it gonna rain??

Or in the store. Go get a bunch of bananas right away, the ask Every person in there if they look ripe enough yet. Or go to the zoo, and stand in front of an exhibit with other people, and say, "Gee, wish I could see those guys having SEX!!"

you know - "communication". :P