Quote Originally Posted by OakLeaf View Post
You're absolutely right, but personally I think the statistics highlight the well-known fact that antidepressant pills are effective for a minority of people who take them, and convey only modest benefits to most of those who benefit at all. It wouldn't take much for exercise to be more beneficial.

I have a lot of days when I can't drag myself out. I have days when I want to cry every single step of a run, and days that I do cry. I have days when I just can't push myself to a real workout, and all I can muster are junk miles. But I usually feel better if I can make myself do it. Same with journaling, or going to therapy, or whatever you want to name.

Yes, it IS often difficult for someone with depression to do ANYTHING. That doesn't mean that doing whatever they're able to, won't help. Nothing can "cure" depression, and some people have a really vicious attitude toward people with depression (and obesity, and diabetes, and, and, and...) - but some things can help.
Very true. And this is true for other mental/emotional disorders. My son suffers from ADHD. He is on meds for it. There are people who have said "oh, remove dyes from his food and processed foods and his ADHD will go away." Bullcrap. We'd love to let him move in with these "helpful" people for a week. I guarantee they'd be changing their tune. We don't eat garbage, as is. The kid's idea of a perfect snack is a giant bag of baby carrots and string cheese. And he doesn't lack for exercise...hello, he's getting a jr. cyclocross bike for Christmas. ADD/ADHD are just highly genetic in my family. And I have a nephew with Autism. Their brain scans are different than the brain scans of people without these issues. And there is some evidence that these conditions are actually caused by some abnormal genes.

DS's "therapy" is in the form of meds and a healthy diet, but also exercise. He'd be getting the exercise and healthy diet even if he weren't ADHD. His meds aren't a cure, they are a tool and treatment...just as meds are for a diabetic or asthmatic. They temporarily restore appropriate function for a specific organ.