5 days on Mirtazapine 15 mg. Still depressed. How long before it takes effect?

If you have been a depressed for quite a while don't you think it might be a good idea discussing with someone why? If you see a counsellor they listen to you, they might just confirm what you say, but they are non-judgement - you talk they listen. You don't have to say anything you don't want. You don't "discuss". I can't tell you about therapy/psychotherapy as I haven't had it.

Talking theropy is very different to talking to the GP and much better. counsellors are trained to be sensitive and understanding and will give you the support you need when working through difficult emotions. 

I hope you don't mind me saying but if you are doing this through your GP you are not seriously ill (I speak as someone who was in hospital for 8 months 6 years ago).

One would hope that you will be on the road to recovery by the time you start your job.

If one is seriously ill and very depressed (as I was) it is very difficult to benefit from any talking therapies and the purpose of meds is to reduce the depression etc until the user is capable of discussing their situation. Some self-awareness is required for counselling, therapy or group work.

When I was quite ill I wouldn't have been able to participate coherently in a group like this.

Peronally I haven't worked since I had my last breakdown. I will be 61 shortly and I was advised not to work because of the stress - though the boredom and feeling of loneliness is intense - although I do volunteer.

Voluntary work is great for the soul. That's good of you.

What does make a hugh difference is if you have an understanding manager who is aware of your health and supports you. 

But overnight I lost my main social network - I didn't have an outside social life. Even though my colleagues who had one time been my friends had (not the same people) had become my enemies (not just imaginary or socially but the ways they acted towards me regarding my work).

The very next day I went to a secretarial agency, given a typing test and was given secretarial/typing work. I was driving a car at the time and so I could go anywhere. If I wanted to do that these days everybody does their own typing.

At that time PCs were new but I had quite an experience in working on PCs/Apple Macs. Very quickly it became apparentthat my skills were superior to this and I went on to doing PC Support. At no time did I have to give references - Iater I had to drag it out of my former employer and I ended up having to write directly to the Director of HR who provided me with a testimonial - my publications were a matter of public record and I was merely asking for confirmation that I hadn't worked there. I was not very good at PC Support and so I went on a series of short jobs.

Employment searching was my major occupation - on the putative Internet in It jobs - they were the first to use it for this purpose. The fact that I was able to use it showed that I had a certain knowledge though as I recall none of my employers were using it.

I ended up about 5 years later having another breakdown.

Seriously depressed I went to a Clubhouse where we had to work there and they offered work placements. I was given a 9 month placement in a HA (preceding a PCT).

This enabled to get work through an agency at a MHT on the basis that I had worked in the NHS and had knowledge of MH.

This led to me more senior jobs in the NHS and periods of employment interspersed with unemployment - I had a small pension from my former employer.

I had my most recent breakdown at age 52 and I was in hospital for 8 months.. About 3 years ago I was advised not to work - on varying grounds - the stress of the workplace (you can't walk away from all disputes there) or that even if I was to do permitted work the work for me as a professional would be clerical and therefore boring).

 Before that I was pushed in to a 2-day a week job at a charity which I eventually walked out of after the unhappiness with my work - I was effectively an unpaid intern - I had gone in to it straight after 8 months in hospital). The organisation that I was attending was for moving people to employment rather than volunteering.

I also attended a FE college for a course for people with MH issues - full-time for 3 years (in the 3rd year doing a Diploma in Volunteering).

Since then I have done various voluntary work - on the whole there is no proper management of voluntary staff - consideration of whether the person has a clear idea of what they are supposed to be doing and overlap with others - all things that an employee would expect or be able to discuss with a manager so I left these or moved).

I now visit a home for old people with severe dementia.

Yesterday I was told that the 94-year-old man who I visit through AgeUK no longer wished me to visit him because I was unwell. My manager didn't qualify this to reassure me on this - last week I had rung up to say that I wouldn't be going in as I was very tired - I hadn't slept the last 2 nights. Apparently she had said I was "unwell".

Sitting at home even using patient.info I have gone stircrazy. I play in an orchestra (now on vacation) and sing in a choir.

I have stopped going to MH daycentres because of the way that they have treated me but I also feel that they drag me down.

I emailed my pdoc and he said had I tried U3A. I had briefly and I am still considering it. In my area it is badly managed but I am 60 - not 80.

Might I add that I don't think that I would have been advised not to work if I had been 40 - not 55.

I manage financially only because I inherited from my father and so I have been able to pay off my mortgage.

I am sorry for the lengthy post. Our situations are all different and therefore I thought I would show you from where I come.

I am still looking for more volunteering roles. In principle in volunteering I can opt not to go in if I don't "feel" like it. I would not do that too much because obviously the charity will not be interested in me if that is the case.

I will not do things that I think they could be paying me for - even on a forum. I often find myself doing things in an Internet forum where I realise that I am giving professional advice and therefore after an hour I should be paid for!