When You Feel Too Exhausted to Move: A Gentle Way Through Depression

(Counselling for Depression in Surrey, Haslemere, Guildford & Online)

I remember the irritation I felt when my own counsellor gently suggested going for a walk to help with my depression.

“She doesn’t get it,” I thought.
“I’m exhausted. Getting out of bed already feels like a marathon – how can I possibly go for a walk?”

If you’re here because you’re struggling and looking for counselling for depression in Surrey, Haslemere, Guildford, or online, you might recognise this feeling.

That deep, heavy exhaustion.
The sense that even the smallest things feel like too much.

The Catch-22 of Depression and Energy

Depression has a way of slowing everything down.

Your body feels heavy.
Your mind can feel foggy – or painfully overactive.
Even basic tasks can feel overwhelming.

And yet, you may have heard that movement helps depression.

Which can leave you stuck with a frustrating question:

How am I supposed to move when I can barely function?

This is something I hold very gently in my work as a counsellor offering support for depression in Surrey, Haslemere, Guildford and online – because it’s not just about what helps, but how we get there. Reach out today.

When Even a Walk Feels Like Too Much

I remember that feeling in my own body so clearly.

Like being covered in cement.
Like every movement took effort.
Like even thinking about doing something was exhausting.

At the same time, my mind would swing between:

• brain fog – slow, hazy, disconnected
• anxiety – fast, loud, overwhelming

I knew I needed to get out of my head and into my body.

But I had no idea how.

A Gentle Starting Point: Qi Gong

Then one day, through mindless scrolling, I came across something simple: Qi Gong.

A gentle, flowing form of movement.

I watched someone standing on a hillside, slowly moving their arms, shifting their weight, swaying slightly. It looked calm. Soft. Doable.

No pressure.
No intensity.
No “push yourself”.

And something in me said:

“I can do that.”

So I tried.

What I Noticed (And Why It Matters)

The movements were so gentle they didn’t overwhelm me.

Instead, something began to soften.

My mind quietened.
My body felt less rigid.
My thoughts started to flow rather than feel stuck.

It felt like something inside me was slowly loosening.

Even when my mood only shifted slightly – from very low to neutral – that shift mattered.

It gave me just enough energy for the next step.

Sometimes, that next step was simply getting through the day.
Sometimes, it was going for a walk.

A Bridge, Not a Pressure

What I’ve come to understand – both through my own experience and through working with clients – is this:

When you’re living with depression, jumping straight into “exercise” can feel impossible.

But gentle movement can become a bridge.

A bridge between:

• feeling frozen and beginning to move
• feeling overwhelmed and finding a little calm
• feeling stuck and discovering even a small sense of possibility

This is something I often explore with clients looking for counselling for depression in Guildford, Haslemere, Surrey or online – because healing doesn’t come from forcing yourself, but from finding what feels possible. Reach out today.

How I Work With Depression

In my counselling work, I don’t expect you to suddenly feel motivated or “better”.

We go at your pace.

We start where you are.

And together, we gently explore what might help – whether that’s:

• understanding what your depression is holding
• finding ways to work with low energy, not against it
• introducing small, manageable practices like gentle movement

For some, Qi Gong becomes a helpful starting point. For others, it’s something different.

There’s no one-size-fits-all.

What matters is that it feels supportive and not overwhelming.

If You’re Looking for Counselling for Depression

If you’re feeling stuck, exhausted, or lost in depression – you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

I offer counselling for depression in:

• Haslemere
• Guildford
• Surrey and online

So wherever you are, support can be accessible to you.

We can start gently.
We can go at your pace.
We can begin to soften that feeling of being stuck- together. Reach out today.

P.S If you’re curious to try Qi-Gong yourself, here’s a 5minute video to get you started:

Release TENSIONS, STRESS, and ANXIETY | 5-Min Qigong for Beginners: Cleansing Breath