> That's going to give back the productivity gain and more, while also decreasing my quality of life.

Unfortunately though, what does that matter? Your employer does not care how do you feel. You are paid to bring them benefits, they aren't running a charity. If you do feel down, that is your issue and you shouldn't let that influence how you work.

Just to be clear, I don't like that either. But it is what it is.

Mental health is health. Negative mental health impacts are particularly significant when your job is to perform mental labor.

It's not defiance, it's reality: if you drag down my motivation, that's going to drag down my productivity. I don't really have much active control over that.

That is when you unionize and make them do what you want.