by Drew Tewksbury

The stock market's already-brutal start to the new year grew even worse today, driving some major indexes into bear-market territory, as fear of a recession triggered another barrage of selling.

Some have called it a dark cloud on the horizon, while others see it as the invisible elephant in the room. Economists and politicians are reluctant to give it a name. But one thing is for certain, we all know it's here.

It's recession and Michael Grynbaum of the New York Times puts it best:

"The Dow Jones industrial average plunged 306.95 points Thursday as investors confronted new chapters of a well-worn story: the economy is in trouble."

With the tumultuous housing market and the plummeting stock market, the symptoms of this impending ailment are already being felt by people around the country.

So, how have you been affected? Have you felt it in dramatic ways? Did you sell your house, lose your job, or have to move to another town?

Or have you coped with it in smaller ways— spending less by not going out, driving less to avoid high gas prices, or even second guessing that lavish Valentines Day vacation?

Tell us your story...