Has worked better than antidepressants for me in the past. Difficult part is the excruciating process of forcing yourself into a consistent exercise routine when you're very depressed.
Depression effects different people in different ways and this No True Scotsman BS ends up with people who exercise regularly not seeking help. I knew a man who exercised every single day and hanged himself at 37.
Not everyone's depression takes the form of "can't get out of bed."
This is an awful mindset that prevents people from seeking help they need. The only prerequisite to having depression is having depression. If you can keep up a daily routine, that's good, but it doesn't mean you don't have depression.
The idea that you can just exercise yourself out of depression can make people suicidal. They think if other depressed people can do it and I can't, then I'm hopeless. The reality is that depression can be minor or severe and those are such wildly different experiences they might as well be different disorders.
I had awful depression years ago, and to be honest, even if someone's lying about being depressed to cheat someone out of money, I'd rather that than them being depressed. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
cosigning this. I quit effexor a few years ago and started doing cardio in the morning and strength training in the afternoon. I've never felt more stable.