I agree that the world is a messed up place. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you are powerless over your own mental health. The op asked for productive tools to deal with depression, and i provided my anecdotal response. Not everyone is going to be able to deal with their problems in the same ways that i am able to, and that is okay.
That’s a good question, and the answer will be unique to you. My answer to not letting myself continually get sucked into lethargy over and over again was to tell myself “What good is free will if i am not going to do anything with it?” I make the decision everyday to keep my intertia towards delaying that dark cloud from consuming me. It’s not easy to do, and took several breaking points to get there. Heck, i may fall back into it, but today i decide for myself to delay it.
I like to deal with mine by:
Work out almost daily, Be in nature often, Eat healthy, Get good sleep, Therapy, Socialize, Hobbies.
I know all that is easier said than done. Exercise really is my primary medication. If i take more than 2 days off, the dark cloud starts engulfing me.
Medication helped me out of my deepest pit, but i am off that now.
Hollow Knight