Hi Brenda,

I understand your concern and anxiety and also your need to get back to work. It will be natural for people to want to know how you are so it will be hard to get away from that. Ask yourself why you are so reluctant? I'd suggest that you craft a short answer you feel comfortable with and then quickly turn the conversation back to the person asking about them. This takes the focus off of you and onto them, and people typically typically like talking about themselves.

Another approach is to look for another job, and not return to your previous employer. This way you start out with all new people so the questions will not be the same type. if asked what you have been doing the last few months, you can always say that you took some time off to focus on yourself (this can also work in the first instance as well if you don't want to share information).

Either way, it sounds like you are ready to go back to work both physically and psychologically, so start moving toward that goal. As an interim step, you may also want to do some volunteer work which will certainly ease the depression you are feeling from staying at home.

Take that next step and you will find that it is positive and offer many more benefits...

Warm regards,

Judi