Thanks so much for posting that--I'm sure it will illuminate a number of other dark corners out there, and for the better.

My sweetie has had several episodes of severe depression over the years.  The last one hit while I was at a low emotional ebb myself (having just weathered the end-stage-cancer and death of a parent).  The surprise good thing about the situation: I had absolutely no energy to "cover" for him or try to hide what was happening (as I had in previous episodes)--so I just didn't.  I let people know what was going on.  If there was some expectation I couldn't meet or handle, I let people know why.  If I was having a rough day, I was upfront with friends about the reason for it.   To my amazement, the world didn't end.  In fact, people were kind and supportive--and I discovered that my sweetie and I were far from alone in wrestling with depression and its related fall-out.  

Bless you.  

(Been reading for a while, first time I've responded.  We've met IRL--at Jane's place in the country.)