I’ve been tracking my mood daily for two months, and the days I skip a walk outside are noticeably worse for my anxiety. But when I suggest that exercise might be as effective as therapy for mild depression, people call me naive. We’re so quick to medicalize every feeling, yet the evidence for lifestyle interventions is pretty solid—some studies show running matches SSRIs for mild cases. Still, I’m not sure if pushing exercise risks blaming people who genuinely need medication, which is a real concern. Does relying on self-care like this undermine the seriousness of mental health struggles?