Much of that pushback is because that same advice can be twisted into a sort of "just will the depression away" suggestion that's kind of tone deaf and insultin

Much of that pushback is because that same advice can be twisted into a sort of "just will the depression away" suggestion that's kind of tone deaf and insulting to people suffering from depression. It's not uncommon for people to say exactly that, as if it's little more than a light switch that needs to be flicked off. And most of the time, those sorts of comments are pretty patronizing, along the lines of "just man up and get over it." Not yours, but I can see how people might interpret it that way based on the way others have acted towards them in the past; basically, your suggestions were judged by the words of others. You're looking at exercise, social activity, and other lifestyle changes as a means of combating depressive symptoms. That's absolutely true, and there's a wealth of peer-reviewed evidence to support that. Almost anyone with a depressive disorder would benefit. For that matter, almost anyone would benefit. And the social aspect, with friends and family pushing and supporting you as you set out on those efforts, can absolutely play a profound role in mitigating those symptoms (assuming those around you notice; it's quite common for people even with severe depressive disorders to be able to mask their feelings from even those closest to them). But for the worst cases, and even many that aren't as severe, those first steps are the difficult on a level that those who don't suffer from depression can't really conceptualize. Imagine a mental pain so severe that it cuts through to your very soul; an existential despair so pervasive that simply envisioning a life without it is nearly impossible. I remember a professor of mine discussing a former patient of his: the patient described her depression as an overwhelming hopelessness so great that even suicide was too much of an effort despite wanting to do just that. Obviously, she managed to get help at some point but I remember feeling goosebumps along my spine as those words were repeated to us. It was a chilling description of an inner hell that nobody realized this woman was living in. At some point in their lives, almost every single human being will feel a sense of hopelessness, despair, sadness, etc. Even the shitty emotions are part of the human condition. It's when they start to interfere with your ability to function in everyday life, and/or they persist for a longer period of time, that you start to look at a problem beyond the norm. Depression isn't about simply hitting rock bottom; it's more about not being able to see anything but. But even that's a bit of a generalization.