This is my first journal entry since I joined Daily Strength. I joined mainly to seek help for depression. The last few years have been rough. Have not had steady employment since 2001. Just temporary assignments for a few months, then layoffs. That has been a big reason for the depression. But, I have been struggling with depression for most of my life. It doesn't seem to matter whether things are going good in my life, or bad, it creeps back in on me. Of course it seems worse when life gets difficult. Even when things were great and I thought I had everything I needed in my life, I'd still feel depressed.I guess that's why I'm here. I've tried self medication, which led to addiction. I've tried prescribed medications, which led to dysfunction. I tried spending some time alone, which led to isolation. And that's where I am now. I'm isolating. I seem to be developing some kind of social anxiety. I don't want to leave the house. When I do, I end up frustrated and angry and feel a desperate need to get back home. It didn't used to be that way. I am also a recovering alcoholic. I used to attend AA meetings regularly and got involved in service work, even sponsored people. I haven't been to a meeting in over a year. I have a hard time interacting with people now. I thought that maybe joining Daily Strength and journaling and meeting some people on here with similar problems might help me to understand what's going on with me. And help me to interact with people again.