My depressive episodes I have realized happen every 4-6 weeks and last 2-3 days. I just wake up and can't function. I don't go thru the crippling depression like several. I usually call in for usually one day, sometimes two because I just can't put that fake face on, get out of bed, etc. Then I tell myself it's time to get moving again, I can do this. It takes me hours to do this by the way, maybe even a day. I then put the fake face on and go into work and act goofy like I normally do so nobody asks me "what's wrong", I hate that. I know they mean well, but I just don't want to deal with it over and over again all day long. That's how it works for me.