Well, .. you should find friendship and support here in this group .. for what it's worth.

>>I am 72 and live alone and have no family in the area. There is no one to talk to, confide in, give me a hand when I need help with something, or give me a hug.

I am (going on) 70 and in the same situation you describe. I had one good neighbor friend (close) and we helped each other out with life's challenges. He has very recently moved quite some distance away. I am in the same boat as you.

I do believe that (by definition) you are clinically depressed (and angry). 3 years is a long time for 'normal depression' to go on. I suggest you consult with a different medical professional .. because clinical depression is treatable. I think the first consult was 'out of order'.

The other things you miss, .. someone to talk to, give a hug . .. etc ... there is no one but you to fix it. I don't have that either, but I am VERY busy ... every day .. with one 'project' or another. I do not have or take the time to be lonely or yearn for a touch. I am a member of a charity group ... we meed once a week. I am restoring a classic sports car. I have 3 motorcycles to enjoy. I have a pet dog for whom I live my life. I fix other people's computers for free. I learn ONGOING computer skills in order to maintain my current advanced computer skills. i help other aged/disabled veterans around their homes with fence repair, construction, etc ... whatever. I have other hobbies that lend to a full day of gratification .. each day. I am lacking in romance and social activities. I have transformed from agnostic to a somewhat religious person within the last few years.

Some things ... other people cannot do for us. We must do them ourselves. I recommend you take on something new and interesting to you .... recreational drone (quadcopter) flying, or? or? or/ ... where you spend time LEARNING from it. You need to occupy your time with living. The romance, hugs, and confidence will come when it comes. Meanwhile, there are other occupy9ing factors you can generate.

One comment about a pet. If you get one, .. keep in mind its life span. My GREATEST fear is that my dog will out live me.

Believe it or not, I PRAY that does not happen. That is my greatest concern ... I do believe.

Depression dos not always come from loss, although it can. My depression is a good example of not having a cause that can be identified. In fact I should be the happiest person in the world with all that I have and yet I struggle every day just to have basic functioning once I get out of bed, IF I get out of bed. Ithink you get what I am saying. Yes keep busy and you won['t feel so lonely. But also you can come here to socialize 24/7..

By all means, make us a regular part of your life! Get to know people, look for people you share interests with. And the neat thing about the internet is that we don't have to stick to people in our age group! I've met people here young enough to be my child (or grand child if you will) and old enough to be my parent. There are so many neat people here with fun life stories to share, as well as people with struggles I can relate to.

Gentle hugs, and welcome!

Welcome! :)

DEPRESSION CAN ALSO B A RESULT OF LOSS OF GOOD HEALTH.
BY THE WAY, WELCOME 2 THE GROUP AND DS.........................
I HAVE AN INOPERABLE BRAIN TUMOR WHICH CAUSES MY CLINICAL DEPRESSION.
BEEN MARRIED FOR 37 YEARS HELPS, BUT DEPRESSION AND ON MEDS AND BRAIN TUMOR OVERWHELMS ME.
WE R BOTH FACING THE GOLDEN YEARS WITH MEDICARE AND HIS RETIREMENT............................... YUK
CANT GO ON TRIPS OR EVEN HARDLY ANYWHERE BCAUSE OF BRAIN TUMOR AND EPISODES.
HOPE U FIND COMFORT IN OUR LITTLE NICE GROUP THO.
HUBBY HAD 4 WAY HEART BYPASS 2 YEARS AGO.
HE IS GREAT REGARDING HIS HEALTH I THINK.
HE IS A TRUCKER........................
GBU
DB
;-O

Thank you for your comments, W..V I want to add no one to celebrate with when something pleasant happens to my list of No ones

I am not lonely but I do get lonesome sometimes just because there is no one talk to so I write in a journal about what kind of day I have had, or things I plan to do.

I work 6 days a week, but only 51/2 hours a day, right in the middle of the day. I cannot drive at after dark so when I get home from work I am in for the night. Chat rooms like this is perfect company for me.
I do not want a pet of any kind. No more responsibilities right now.

My depression is a result of an ongoing series of events. It has just seemed something different every month and no end to them. I get one issue resolved, then another stumbling block appears in my path, along with the expense

I have no friends that are not business related, and sometimes you just dont want to discuss things in your personal life with the people you do business with.

When the time changes again and it does not get dark so early, I hope to get out more.

I'd suggest joining a local fraternal organization, like the Fraternal Order of Eagles or the Loyal Order of Moose. They usually have dinner get-together so weekly and you'll meet new friends.

I am female and cannot drive after dark.

Hello...... Hope everything gets better for you. Depression is a very hard issue to live with and I do believe you would know the difference between anger and depression. You will find many friends here who are experiencing the same things as you are. I am 57 and have been living with depression all of my life. I always felt I was in the wrong body and this was not my world. I didn't belong here. I still feel the same way but have been on meds for about three years and that helps a little. I do hope that you get the right diagnosis so maybe meds could help you cope with what you are feeling or not feeling. If you would like another friend, I am available. Hugs.
John

welcome to the group .......this is a good group if you need to talk ..to someone ..or confide in ...I can't belive what that doctor told you ...you know if you are depressed ......what happened to you ..was enough to make anyone depressed ..especualy having to go back to work after having been on pen tigon .....is it posible for you to get a nother doctor ....a nother doctor might give you more help ....I am a loner my self so understand when you say you don't want the responsibly of a close friend ship ...I am the same ....I don't make a good friend ..I like to do diferant things ..I like to be alone. .to paint ..or just hang out with my h ....my husband and I ..do just about everything together ....and ...then we have our kids and grand kids to visit ...I have no time for a friend ....and I don't want someone comming over for coffee every day ............I am sorry to here that you have no family ...there close to you ...would it be an option to move closer to family .......................................depreshion can also run in the family ..it runs in my dads family ..and I have had depreshion all my life ...I don't know what it is like to not have some leaval of depreshion ....I am now 59 ...................you take very good care of your self ...you can message when ever you like ...I think you will like it in here ...there are good people in here ....God bless....

Thank you M. for the reply.

Yeah, I could move but choose not to. This is home and they moved away. What if they decide to move again?

I don't like drop in company and I don't like a lot of who? what? when? which? where? why? how? questions. My home is not a .
museum.

The thing I DON'T like most about meeting new people is they will start a conversation with asking a lot of questions: What is your name? where do you live? etc before telling you anything about themselves.

Depressed. That is the way I feel. Maybe there is another name for it but I don't know what else to call it. There just seems to be no end to the aggravations, frustrations, and disappointments going on. I am not "depressed" over one event like a "death" or a "divorce"

This week I did not have my weekly therapy session because of the holiday. My car broke down three times and yesterday my boss told me she is going to close the store I work after Christmas. I don't know if I can find another job in this small town at my age.


My head is barely above water financially, I have had to keep renewing loans I hoped I'd have paid off at the end of the year until this last breakdown with the car.

I wish I could cry, but can't even cry.

It is Sunday morning and I am considering NOT going to church today. Im afraid my car will break down on me again. I need to think about getting it repaired, and where I am going to get the money to do that.

I must have transportation to get to work and back.

I have a bunch of weekly chores to do. Since I live alone, they do not take long, but must be done. I write letters to one daughter and one sister on Sunday afternoons whether I hear from them or not.

I wish there were someone that would say let me take care of this for you. And do it.

I wish I could just crawl in a hole and let the world go by.

I wish I knew why sometimes we can go to the bottom of this forum and see how to go to previous posts and sometimes we cannot.

Things did get worse.\

See JUST WHEN YOU THINK.

Hey! You should make friends to fight with your depression. Living alone will make you more depressed, take proper diet and medication, you will feel better..