Transitional depressions have been less thoroughly studied than full-blown depressions. Transitional states are characterized by characterological or pseudoneurotic symptoms, regressive phenomena, and pre-breakdown phenomena which may be overlapping. The direction taken from the transitional state will depend upon a number of factors including external circumstances, internal dynamics, congenital and hereditary determinants. This paper focuses on some of the pre-breakdown phenomena, especially illusions, repetitive dreams of death, and the spontaneous emergence of traumatic childhood memories. The spontaneous emergence of memories of trauma is determined by dynamics and has a dynamic significance different from the uncovering of memories in an analytic or therapeutic setting. Three illustrative cases are presented.