@breadloafy
I think dealing with the stigma surrounding mental illnesses is very difficult. We just need to keep talking about mental illnesses and not isolate ourselves because not everyone understands what we're going through. Joining a support group could be useful too! 
I usually link this article on "spoon theory" but it's not as specific to depression as it could be. https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
It ideally would state that people with depression could have 10 spoons one day and sleep perfectly fine and then all of a sudden wake up with only 3 spoons despite being well rested. It's very hard for people with major clinical depression to pinpoint how many spoons are there currently and therefore very hard to predict tomorrow or the next day's spoons even if that person has done all the self-care they are capable of.
I also battle it through activism, signing petitions and advocacy wherever I have the energy to put it to use...which can make it look like I have more spoons than I do but if the extra spoon is there at the end of the day it's better used there than on being self-destructive or beating myself up for not being able to do other things.
To be honest, not many people know about my depression other than my daughter and my ex. I went to a new doctor and while filling out the form, it asked about depression, to which I didn't check the box. I guess I don't like being asked about it. Yet I want to talk about it. But only to someone who may understand.
I do the opposite of hiding.