Sue' I hardily agree with you that people around you influence your actions and reactions to stress of many forms. Their inputs, as my wife reminds me so ofte, can be, as Gary Smalley calls them, in his Loving Relationship series, a pebble to the sayer and a rock to the hearer. People can be stoned to death by pebbles if they feel like a rock. On the other hand if the people around you cannot give you a feather bed, maybe if they at least give you a feather, and not a pebble you can make it.

I would like to recommend that you read the book "The Lion of Wallstreet" by Jack Dreyfus. It may give you some insight into depression that can be of help to you and those around you. I found the book riveting, it is the first book that I've read thru in a long time, then I found Dr. D's bool which I also read thru and found fasinating. For what it's worth. AlGe