I think the only people who think exercise solves depression are those that have never suffered clinical depression. Dopamine from exercise is pretty much a temporary relief. Just like drinking, smoking, or binging netflix - they provide temporary relief and let us ignore the root problems.
Therapy is what finally taught me how to actually process my thoughts and feelings, and let me make real progress against depression.
And now, when I go for an outside run or walk, I can spend that time focusing purely purely on my internal thoughts/feelings. Done like this, exercise can be a great therapeutic activity - but it's not the dopamine or act of exercise itself, it's creating the time for self-therapy.
Therapy is what finally taught me how to actually process my thoughts and feelings, and let me make real progress against depression.
And now, when I go for an outside run or walk, I can spend that time focusing purely purely on my internal thoughts/feelings. Done like this, exercise can be a great therapeutic activity - but it's not the dopamine or act of exercise itself, it's creating the time for self-therapy.