I went through mild (and not professionally diagnosed) depression a few years back. No suicidal thoughts, no pit in the stomach, just a complete lack of desire

I went through mild (and not professionally diagnosed) depression a few years back. No suicidal thoughts, no pit in the stomach, just a complete lack of desire to do anything at all. Crystallized apathy. Before seeing my doctor, I figured I would anticipate his questions: he would ask, "Do you get any exercise?" And I would say, "No, I walk up two flights of stairs and back down those flights of stairs each day and that's about it." And my doctor would say to me, "Get some exercise, and see what happens." So I got some exercise. I bought a bike and put it on a trainer. I rode a few times. I loved riding my bike when I was young. That helped, a little. I think it helped me take my next step. I'd been coaching my 9yo son at soccer for a year or so, but I never played soccer myself. So I decided I'd try playing a local soccer pickup game. That was the trick for me. I don't know why. But suddenly I found motivation. Just enough to play soccer. Once a week, and then twice a week, and then three times, and now as many times a week as I can fit into my schedule. I lost 10#, 20#, 30#, even made it to 40# before the pandemic and found more motivation in other areas of life as well. Soccer hurts. A lot of games I can barely shuffle through my garage after driving home. I was 39 when I started playing and I'm 41 now. I'm no spring chicken. But the mental and physical engagement of playing soccer, even just pickup soccer, has thoroughly enriched my life. I have a friend who's a psychiatrist. I talked to him about this. He told me that I correctly anticipated my doctor's response. Exercise is the first line of defense and the first treatment suggested for depression. And it doesn't take much to try it and see if it helps. Your depression sounds worse than mine. Maybe you can walk before you run. You shouldn't be afraid of the drugs: let the doctors handle that. But if you prefer to try something before drugs, exercise is the clear choice.