If you are too depressed to exercise, try humming.

No amount of exercise ever helped my lifelong depression. Maybe it's the generic mutation that keeps me from metabolizing vitamin B correctly, or maybe it's the childhood (mostly psychological) abuse, or the need for actual antidepressants and mood stabilizers to keep me from wanting to kill myself.

But sure, maybe fucking jogging could fix it.

Oh wait, it did say "mild" depression. Well carry on I guess.

Well you seem to be doing alright now so there's that.

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

Ever since I've made time every week to do like 3 of my hobbies, I've been amazing

You don't even have to be depressed, exercize is great for your mood, energy levels, and feeling of well being. I started running distance again some ten years back and felt way better, and also quit drinking, not that I was trying to quit, but it just doesn't go well with running. I didn't want to drink after doing 10 miles, got a dog to bring along, it did wonders for my well being.

The first 20 minutes is hard to get going, after that then endorphines kick in, and you feel great. Just start slow, and the speed will come later.

What is this connection of B vitamins to mood and depression? I never learned them all, I know there are a bunch of them and they are hard to get enough of on some diets. They add some of them to flour for that reason, the enriched part.

There's a mutation that's not too uncommon that prevents you from metabolizing one of the B vitamins correctly. I need to take l-methylfolate to work as basically a middle step that the body can't do properly. The vitamin effects how you well absorb and therefore respond to antidepressant medication.