To feel so depressed at being unemployed at 35 years old 😢

[UnwellANDannoyed]

So after a long few years of battling through, I’ve found myself unemployed due to ME as an after effect of long covid

Day to day life is now utterly depressing and I don’t know how to find a light in the very dark tunnel of being unemployed / lonely but too unwell to work or even to meet friends for a coffee at times as that can set me back massively so now I try not to do things I don’t HAVE to do, such as getting the kids to school etc.

Waiting on UC / PIP and just feel like this is adding to the soul destroying aspect of being so unwell at a relatively young age

Teen children are pretty independent so I feel I have literally no role anymore in any sense as work was a big part of my character as well as my income

Anyone been through similar?

I'm sorry to hear you're feeling so low.
I am the same age as you and also struggle with my health - it can be absolutely soul destroying and it has had a massive impact on my mental health as well.
I'm lucky in that I can still work, albeit reduced hours, but I'm a shadow of my former self. All of that said, I try not to look at it that way... it is what it is, and I try to get excited about what I can do, rather than hating myself for what I can't.

Is there any way you could look at doing some work from home - even if it's volunteering?
Do you have any hobbies that might help to keep you busy?