When training for a mental sport like chess, the foundational step is stabilizing energy by managing glucose metabolism, perhaps via intermittent fasting. Many athletes jump to "smart drugs" and stimulants, but this is ineffective if the underlying energy system is volatile and prone to crashes.

In its rush for the next breakthrough, the field of psychiatry often discards older, effective treatments due to historical stigma. For instance, MAO inhibitors and modern, safer Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) are highly effective for specific depression types but are underutilized because of past negative associations, a phenomenon driven more by politics than science.

Ferriss notes significant physiological changes while in ketosis, including needing 2-3 fewer hours of sleep and at least doubling his breath-hold time. He also experiences a dramatic reduction in ruminative thoughts, improving mental clarity and sleep onset.

Molly Carlson, who has Generalized Anxiety Disorder, finds that the three seconds she's in the air during a high dive are the most silent her brain ever is. The extreme physical risk and focus required create a temporary state of pure presence, making the dangerous act a powerful mental escape.

The anxiolytic effect of ketosis has a clear neurochemical basis. Elevated ketones increase the levels of the enzyme GAD (glutamic acid decarboxylase), which converts the brain's primary excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate, into its primary inhibitory (calming) neurotransmitter, GABA, creating a more stable neurological state.

A moderate level of blood ketones, around 1.2 to 2 millimolars, can have an anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effect. However, spiking ketone levels significantly higher, often through large doses of exogenous supplements, can paradoxically increase anxiety and lead to a subsequent crash.

Horror can act as a tool for managing generalized anxiety. It hijacks the mind's vigilance cycle, which looks for a threat but can't find one, and provides a specific, identifiable, and controllable fictional threat on screen. Once the movie ends, the threat disappears, triggering the body's relaxation response and calming the nervous system.

Methylene blue, an old dye used for malaria, is a powerful but overlooked nootropic. It crosses the blood-brain barrier and helps mitochondria move fuel more efficiently, boosting brain energy. Its effectiveness is proven by its ability to dye the brain and heart blue at autopsy.

Marcus Aurelius's "view from above" is a concrete technique, similar to cognitive behavioral therapy, for managing anxiety. It involves visualizing yourself zooming out from your immediate situation to a cosmic scale. This mental drill provides perspective, shrinking overwhelming problems to a more manageable size.