Hi DCS, Tony, and everyone else,
I'm new here too (though not to depression), and probably in a similar place to you. I stopped working just before Xmas (I did go in for one half day in January but didn't last the day).
To be honest for me losing my job is a relief, it had got to the point where I was feeling suicidal on the way in, and had even started fantasising about taking my hands off the steering wheel, shutting my eyes and pushing foot down. The only thing that stopped me was the stronger sense of responsibility to others, I could harm them.
I have no idea why I felt that way about work, people were kind, very supportive despite it becoming increasingly obvious to all that I was struggling.
Not long after that, I discovered that I had had a number of strokes (which explains the memory loss, speech and cognitive problems that I was experiencing).
I am trying to take each day as it comes, I try not to look forward (in my case the future is not bright, it's horrific), some days are so full of suicidal thoughts that I work to a 30 minute rule. I make a deal with myself to do nothing to hurt myself for 30 minutes, I give myself a simple task (make a cuppa, wash cup and go to loo etc.), and then make a new deal 30 minutes later.
I also keep a journal, and have a very poor attempt at some craft on the go to distract me. If all else fails I'm afraid I resort to over medicating so I go to sleep for a bit!
For the good days I have some really basic, easy targets; get dressed, open curtains, and on a really good day walk around the park (we happen to live in the grounds of a stately home).
Without my husband, I really don't think there would be much reason to live, he is a pretty amazing person, and I love him dearly. My children are all grown up now.
Big hugs xxx