How would you deal with crippling depression?

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^^ I obtained much relief by learning how to live on less.

Been around for 6 decades and suffered from chronic depression most of that time. I gradually found coping methods to help, including nice music, funny movies and TV shows, reading books, and other interests that can distract you from whatever is bothering you.

Sleep, exercise, and a better diet help too.

Also, several years ago I started taking mood-boosting supplements which have put me at an almost normal mood level. Among them are the B complex vitamins and vitamin D and C. You have to take higher doses than the docs recommend. These supplements have really helped me a lot--even more than the distraction therapy, although that's definitely a big help, too.

^^ I've never had to pay out of pocket for counselling. Their rates would be out of range for me without insurance. Actually, the Eliza program covered most of what most counsellors do, just less convincingly. I've gone to lots of leaderless groups where a dollar or two is the usual donation, and gotten some of the same process.
When you talk about your stuff to another person, it becomes more organized in your mind, and you get more perspective on it. If you are lucky, you might get some pertinent advice, but encouragement is usually sufficient.

The answer to the title of the post:

Me (personally):. Socially withdrawal, eating, doing nothing, sleep, counseling

Someone else:. Alcohol, drugs, felonies. Noise pollution ("talking"). Creative outlet. Ssri, maoi, support group

My bipolar disorder emerged in my teenage years, and depression was definitely the harder condition to beat. How does one do something about depression when depression robs you of the impetus to do anything about it?

What questor said is very important. Sleep, exercise, good diet, B-complex vitamins are all crucial. Lacking any one of them makes hard problems insurmountable.

I also successfully used meditation, for several years, to work on my mood swings. I would start with breathing exercises and then conceptualize the behavior I wanted to exhibit. For the manic phases, that meant staying calm, doing responsible things and working hard on what I was supposed to accomplish. Before the depressive phases, I imagined taking some of the impetus I was feeling at the moment and packaging it up, to be unpackaged later when depression took my impetus away, so I could keep doing things. It sounds cheesy and "woo", but it helped.

Eventually it wasn't enough, and I went on medication to even me out. I found that with the medication's help, the techniques and self-discipline I had cultivated in the years prior were vastly more effective. What had been "almost good enough" before the meds was nearly "overkill" with the meds. I no longer have to meditate every day, but still practice meditation now and then when I feel myself slipping up. It's just a useful way to do "emotion work" and shape my mind (and thus my habits and behavior) in deliberate ways.

Good luck I hope you find what you need!