I’m not sure that “too depressed to exercise” is a medically recognized state short of being bedridden and comatose, so unless one is unable to get out of the bed to go to the bathroom saying “i’m too depressed to exercise” is just words being used to justify not going for a walk
What you are describing is absolutely not “mild depression”. I have seasonal and mild depression and exercising is absolutely a cure-all for me, when winter is running a bit too long i start getting back into running to get out of having to otherwise be on antidepressants seasonally.
My wife, on the other hand, has depression like you describe, and she requires a lot of support to keep her afloat. This article is definitely not talking to target your situation. I am so sorry you have to experience life the way you do, i hope for the treatments and support you find to bring the right balance for you to experience the full breadth of the joys of life
If exercise doesn’t work for you then you can now deduce with more confidence that your depression is not mild.
Exercise works for me, my depression is mild. I require a lot of running, no amount of power walking pulls me out of a funk, i need 3 or 4 days of doing 20-40 minute runs to get to the good place. If it’s not helping or you can’t then you definitely need medical and social support to get out of the hole. This article, and thus the discussion was not intended to belittle anyone who finds exercise does not help them.
I, personally, found the article encouraging because it reminds me that i need to be better about my exercise routines to stay in better mental health. This article is trying to talk to my circumstance, hence the words “mild depression”