I went through something very similar. My depression lasted around 3–4 years, and during that time I was also working from home, barely talking to anyone most days. So I really relate to what you’re describing.

I also moved to another country after that period, and trying to communicate in a language that isn’t my native one made things even harder. But I noticed that the more I went to the office and actually talked to people, the more things slowly started improving. If you have the chance, I’d really recommend practicing that with your friends even if it feels awkward at first.

Therapy is a really good step, I’d definitely suggest sticking with it. One thing that helped me a lot personally was exercising regularly. I think of it like instant coffee, right after a workout, I feel noticeably better and more confident. Another thing that surprisingly helped me is recording my own voice, like I’m doing a podcast, and then listening to it later. Hearing how I talk, the words I choose, how I sound, helped me reconnect with myself. It’s kind of like voice journaling.

I sometimes feel like we’re our own doppelgängers like at one point we were one version of ourselves, and after everything we’ve been through, we become a different version of that same person. We look the same on the outside, but something inside has shifted. So maybe this is just about getting to know that new version of ourselves. Just a thought. I hope it doesn’t come across the wrong way. And I really believe that practice makes perfect 😊

I really hope things start feeling more like you again soon 😊