I feel a bit awkward giving my thoughts to someone who's been here since 2003, but here goes :P

I've found often that the reason our loved ones don't accept this as real is that they're either ill-informed or else willfully ignorant. The willfully ignorant, well, I think they know somehow that it's much easier to just "snap out of" whatever they perceive our psychosomatic problems are. In other words, they have to believe it's nothing or else accept the reality that it's something and a large, potentially threatening monkey on your back.

Ill-informed is MUCH easier to combat. I've recommended folks print out the forum postings they make on the subject and give it to their loved ones. In your case, you'll end up cutting down a small forest to do this, so as an environmentalist, I can't allow it. I would pitch it to him as an alternative to the hospital. If he doesn't want you going there for reasons which are, frankly, opaque to me, then you can say: "ok, I won't go there if I can expect to get similar treatment here at home which might involve additional responsibilities with the kid, and above all, understanding of the situation." Then give him the appropriate book, pamphlet or manual. Alternately, remove whatever Tom Clancy or Robert Ludlum book he's got in the bathroom and replace it with something like "What is Depression?" by R. U. Sad. We guys will read ANYTHING in the john.

Seriously though I do hope you feel better. Some of the worst pain from this comes from our loved-ones reactions to it, but you can't let that stop you from getting the treatment that is appropriate for you. This sounds somewhat glib, too, but try to take care of yourself. It's hard to get back into it after letting yourself go (believe me), but see if you can find some way of getting your hair done, a manicure. Sometimes if there's a beautician school around, you can get your hair done for cheap or free.

Thinking of you - keep us posted, k?