Dear rhon, Vickie from Phoenix, as usual, puts it well, above. I see your need to have your family and friends prepared and able to understand what is actually happening when "there she goes again," happens. Can you sign a release and ask your counselor to call one or more of them in for a family session. Or the person who gave you the Diagnosis? You are fortunate that you can treat your condition with supplements and relaxation, but I know that that makes it even harder for family to understand that you have a medical condition. I would try and make your diagnostician and/or your counselor your advocate with your family. I have some idea as to how you feel. I am actually on disability and multiple medications for depression/anxiety, but my Dad, who knows all of this, persists with, "you can cure depression if you just get out among people." If I wasn't too anxious to "get out among people," I probably wouldn't have depression. When you start chattering nonstop to auditory hallucinations, yelling and swatting at visual hallucinations occasionally, the family catches on pretty fast that something is amiss and we need to get some help off in here. When you have a mood disorder - not so much. Use your couselor/pdoc for family session. "Normal" people are just blissfully ignorant, and they work to stay that way. - billieJ