Most of the time when I read something like this, the responses gravitate around ”I took X weeks off, it was really good, you should do it.” I want to point out that the problem is unfortunately much worse and more complicated than that. I won’t even mention the many people who can’t do that, period (because their job does not have that affordance and/or they are the main/only source of income for the family). But even those who in theory could, the point is that some of the worse consequences come subtly and invisibly. Many of those who pat you on the back and say ”hey bro, take a week off” are silently judging you after you do that. Many might even be actively using that to get an edge on you. Those who are still on the team for that week will invariably ask themselves ”where is that guy when I need him” or ”why can’t he just take the pressure like I do?”. Then three months later after the dirt has settled you find yourself in the wrong end of a ”sudden downsizing”. Unfortunately we as a society don’t deal with depression with honesty and seriousness; most of the time all we say is ”you gotta take care of yourself” as if the blame/weight of the entire thing is on the person. Maybe it is? I don’t know. But personally, the only thing that really helps me when I have my events is to remember: it’s a war out there, most people are not my friends, but I have the strength to win, and I can do it. I’ve survived so far and I’ll survive again.