Just possibly, your low engagement and low interest are symptoms of depression or similar.
1. anti-depressants
2. therapy / exercise / diet changes
3. a perspective change
4. ignoring it
"Another proposed mechanism of action is that the seizures induced by ECT cause a profound change in sleep architecture (a reversible inhibition of REM sleep); it is this change in the state of the organism that drives the therapeutic effects of ECT and not any simple change in the release of neurotransmitters, neurotrophic factors and/or hormones."
So a small percentage of patients not relapsing after one sleep deprivation would actually make it the best available cure with reduced risks compared to ECT.
Other treatments possibly aren't curative and have not as serious side effects as ECT, more similar to sleep deprivation.
I'm not really interested in giving anyone medical advice, etc, based on my selective reading of pubmed, I just think it is important to list treatment options neutrally and with more consideration of what self treatment patients are probably very effectively applying if managed medical treatment is supposed to have a safer and better outcome.
In any case, those 4 things you've mentioned are well enough already.
- Optimizing the microbiome. There’s tons of studies around various strains and methodologies etc. You could benefit from just eating no sugar and more fiber, or you could be in need of a fecal matter transplant. Unfortunately the microbiome and its effects on health is still not that well understood.
- Light therapy, or photobiomodulation with near-infrared light has some promising studies. I’ve personally used it to great effect.
- Magnesium supplementation has been shown to work in some treatment-resistant cases (obviously only works if you’re deficient). Mg is quickly eliminated via kidneys, so lower doses spread over the day might work better.
- Check Glycine levels (or just try a supplement, it’s cheap). Low levels are linked to depression. It also improves sleep usually, a nice side effect.
- Anything that lowers inflammation in the brain could work well in treatment resistant depression.
I was sitting on a small hill in the grass and was feeling depressed like the weeks and months before that. I figured, a little bit of dirt couldn't hurt. I licked my finger, stuck it in the sand, and ate it.
This is of course anecdotally, but I'm certain it helped me.
It may not be a dead cert cure for depression but all of the above has accumulative effects over time and it is more difficult to feel bad mentally when you are feeling really good physically.
This is not necessarily good advice, overtraining is a thing and actually causes depressed mood. Check heart rate variability to make sure you are rested enough to exercise.
People with depression should really try to keep inflammation low, and preventing overtraining is an important part of that.
Everyone should get regular exercise. Worry about overtraining after you’ve started training at all.
I don't disagree at all with doing regular training. I'm doing 10km walks almost every day now. But everybody's metabolic capabilities are different, and rest periods are highly individual. Rest isn't optional, ask any bodybuilder.
You do mention inflammation in a previous comment and overtraining increases it but does the negative consequence of inflammation due to overtraining on how one feels subjectively outweigh the cascade of endorphins and neurotransmitters in response to exercise that correspond to an uplift in mood or an alleviation of stress? I'm not sure but in the given context (original post) your point is valid but of much less concern probabilistically and physiologically.
I do grant however that that is only my opinion and very much up for debate.
Usually exercise in overtraining doesn’t feel good in the way you are describing it. It creates extra stress and the body won’t be inclined to release endorphins to encourage that behavior.
None of this is going to be "overtraining" and/or earn me medals.