How do you answer 'What do you do?'

[RiaOverTheRainbow]

How do you answer 'What do you do?' type questions when you're long-term unemployed due to mental illness (and the truth is that on a good day you walk the dogs, on a mediocre one you don't wash or dress)? Be honest? Lie? Change the subject? I know people are usually just being polite, but I dread being asked :(

I'm hoping to start getting out more, which means seeing people and (the horror) making polite conversation.

How about "I'm not currently working, I'm taking some time out. What do you do?" If you feel you absolutely HAVE to give a reason, just say "health reasons." There is no need to give more detail.

I used to say that I don't work for health reasons, most people don't pry but I know how horrid that question can be. Hopefully you won't get asked it too much.

I say I'm retired (am 35) and then turn the question back onto them and let them rabbit on about their career. I do get nervous when asked and sometimes am asked how I retired so young - I normally say something along the lines of "I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you" then laugh, but it's very uncomfortable for me.

Thanks for all your replies. That's exactly it Iwas, the reminder of what I've lost, as much as worrying what other people think. Rehearsing vague answers seems like the way to go.

I haven't worked for almost all my adult life due to MH issues, except a few years doing low-skilled work alongside studying. I think the question about weekends was a bit odd, surely even schoolchildren look forward to the weekends off school?!

Anyway, I did a creative degree and if asked I'll say that I'm working in that field (where it's common to be self-employed), regardless of whether I'm actually doing it or not (I do it as a hobby when I'm feeling able, though not really making money from it.) But usually I try to change the subject as quickly as possible.