You really have to know your enemy when it comes to depressed moods.

I've realized that depression isn't just being overwhelmed by negative thoughts (more precisely, discouraging thoughts about negative things). A lot of pop-psych type articles seem to imply that it is. If I were to delete every negative thought in my mind when depressed (anxiety often makes an appearance there too, for me) I realized ... wait, there's nothing there ... where did all the POSITIVE thoughts go? because ... well, there aren't any. Confidence? Ambition? Optimism? Planning for rewarding things? Zip. Nada. Suddenly conspicuous by their absence.

Another thing that comes to mind is the behavioral aspects of depression. I tend to "do" depression, as if it's an active process. Shoulders holding in tension and hunched, face firmly staring at the ground, "couch potato mode" activated. Effort? Hahaha what's that, again? I don't like moving. You can't make me, nyah nyah.

Perhaps these factors are why deliberately thinking about and engaging in things normally enjoyed, and staying physically active, are suggested as anti-depressive methods.