I don't know if my PMs got to you or not, Woolie. The database keeps throwing errors at me, so to summarize:
It is very unsettling to lose one's job, one's mobility, and one's ability to associate freely with others. In your case, the latter might be a problem because it's hard to get to places where you can socialize regularly. In my own case, isolation is forced because I can't afford to be around the general public, because frankly almost everybody is bathed in fragrance chemicals and I'd end up dead if I were not cautious. I am lucky that I have a loving wife that comes home every night after work - without her, life would be horrible, especially in the long winters when I am essentially house-bound except for the times when I can get out and walk, take pictures, and do physical work. Mood-swings can be a problem for me when I'm feeling isolated and I have to work at that lest I fall into a state of lethargy or depression. I have some pretty dark days when I'm so ticked off at the whole health-care system, Social Security, etc. I have worked as much as possible since I was in my early teens, and have sometimes defined myself (to some extent) by the work I was doing, and my importance to the businesses of others. Seems like a silly thing to have to let go of, but there it is. I hate collecting a check for doing nothing when I could have continued working with reasonable accommodations.
You may be on some long-term medications, and though they might be touted as having "a low risk of side-effects", you need to see a doctor or two to see if the medicines could be implicated in your perceived symptoms. I know you hate going to doctors, but you really have to consider breaking down in this case.
Good luck, friend. Take care of yourself - you have family that needs you.
