Im sure this is nothing particularly revelatory, but it has struck me for a long time  that my  depression is caused by and feeds off absolute inertia and lack of movement. Sometimes this can be expressed physically in, for example,  not getting out of bed, always taking taxis everywhere rather than making the effort to walk, and eating out rather than taking the trouble to MOVE to the shops, buy ingrediants, and cook them. Sometimes the inertia is more symbolic; always seeing the same people, being stuck  at the same university, studying the same things. I know some people experience depression as a result of an opposite problem; they are addicted to change, rootless,  constantly seeking something or someone better - eg cant hold down a job cos they keep changing, go through hundreds of partners etcI guess what unites both types of individual is their addiction to ingrained patterns of behaviour which do not ultimately help personal development.  For myself though, it is undoubtedly movement and change which I need to work on. One of the only effective tools Ive learnt in trying to counter depression if Im literally paralysed on the bed is to get up, get dressed - depression seems to be associated for me with being in pyjamas! - and to have a shower. And whilst in the shower, to try very hard to think of nothing (I just enjoy the sensation of hot water, and that positive clensing feeling!) On getting out of the shower, I will make a list of very very simple tasks to accomplish. The first tasks will involve physical movement. Its amazing how virtuous you feel after having washed up, hoovered and dusted. Having worked on these tasks for an hour or so, I will have a cup of tea, then keep going another hour till ive finished them. I find that by the time ive finished these physical tasks, im far more motivated to get on top of my more demanding mental tasks (academic work in my case). I guess its kind of tricking a brain which, when paralysed on a bed, is totally convinced it is incapable of doing anything other than  lying on a bed.   Im sure none of this is particularly revelatory, but there we go! Hope everyones ok :)