I think I must be learning a few things, finally, from my life experience. Among these is that one often most needs others at the time when one least wants others. (I am generally in agreement Sartre when he said, "Hell is other people.")

Of course I also spend absurd amounts of time in my office alone playing web boggle and ignoring the ring of the phone.

But by trying not to cut off entirely, I have at least succeeded in realizing that I am depressed before getting to the "totally unable to function" stage. Normally I recognize depression when I start having fantasies of being hit by a bus so my family can live a happy, normal life, and those fantasies seem very logical, a rational moment of clarity between bouts of sobbing. Not so this time -- I picked up on it sooner, which must be progress, right?

So yes, Lynn, let's climb out together!

Shaun
www.homeschoolblogger.com/shaunms