Dawn, I have been in counselling for over 5 years because of clinical depression (cd). In our local area the mental health professionals have created (or copied from somewhere else) a series of workshops/counselling sessions which are designed to help people recognize the signs of their problems. This helps us to see the beginning of major changes in mood, or mindset. For me I began to notice that when my cd is pronounced I lose my ability to find joy in anything. I cannot laugh at jokes, find delight in children, see the beauty in a flower, or any other type of joy. Also, I can no longer become angry over anything. I do not seem to care what happens to myself or anyone else in the world. Everything fades to gray and all I want to do is leave this world. With the awareness of these changes I am beginning to be able to control some of the cd, to change my reactions and hopefully keep me from reaching the bottom again. don't forget how to laugh (and do it often) Marling McReynolds [log in to unmask] http://members.tripod.com/~marling