So put all that stuff aside. There are plenty of Buddhists around who don't pay the slightest attention to this.the more I read up on Buddhism the worse I feel. All the stories of being trapped in hell realms, animal realms, hungry ghost realms is making me feel so depressed.
And exercise. In Britain, exercise is routinely now prescribed instead of medication for mild to moderate depression and it's been shown (by researchers at Duke, I seem to remember) to have better long-term results than medication alone. I've been hospitalized for depression in the past so I've got some experience of this and also an interest in how to avoid recurrent episodes; since I started doing weights, I've had nothing but positive moods. That could, of course, be pure coincidence but it's also in keeping with the research. And also, just hang on. Depressive episodes end and people get better. In the end, even the longest, darkest night gets broken by dawn.