to hear that you think she may never want to travel anywhere ever again. That does not sound like a good sign regarding her state of mind. Even though she was burned out, as our healthcare system burns out many healthcare workers, she probably feels like she lost a big chunk of her identity when she quit nursing. I know that you don’t think about your jobs that way, but many people lose more than their income when they lose their job. She’s probably using a chunk of her savings right now, something I know you understand all too well. Most of us realize pretty quickly that we don’t have enough savings to live on forever. Do you know what her financial situation is regarding the roof over her head? Does she have a mortgage to pay?
All you can do is be a supportive friend. And I hope she is being a supportive friend to you. Do you feel like you could talk about being worried that she’s depressed with her? Maybe even bring up the possibility of her seeing a professional therapist? Depression can feel overwhelming and hopeless. But life is a roller coaster. The good times don’t last forever so we should try not to take them for granted. But the bad times don’t last forever either. It’s important for us all to keep that in mind. Anyway, if you can’t get her to consider seeing a therapist, maybe you can get her to have a real heart-to-heart talk with a friend.
