Unsure what's going on told it could be a mood disorder but I don't have manic episodes. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
I've been dealing with this pattern for years. I'm genuinely exhausted by it not just physically but emotionally.
Here's my cycle: I'll have a period of maybe 6-8 weeks where I feel like myself. I'm working out 3x a week, eating well, productive at work, motivated. Life feels manageable and I feel capable. Not euphoric, not reckless (a lil bit impulsive but nothing that gets me in trouble) just genuinely functional and good.
Then out of nowhere my body just... stops. For weeks (if very lucky a few days) everything shuts down. I can’t barely work, travel, exercise nothing. The exhaustion is full body, not just "I don't feel like it today." It's like someone pulled the plug. I also get anxiety that wakes me up in the middle of the night during these periods.
The frustrating part: I actually LIKE working out and eating healthy. This isn't a motivation problem. When I'm in my good phase I genuinely enjoy it.
I've had all the bloods done thyroid, iron, B12, vitamin D (slightly low, now supplementing), everything else normal. Consistent sleep schedule. Magnesium before bed. I've tried everything I can think of.
Someone suggested this could be mood-related but when I looked into bipolar I don't relate to the manic episodes at all. My "good" periods just feel normal, not elevated or out of control.
Does this resonate with anyone here? Did any of you get a similar picture before diagnosis? What actually helped?
EDIT: I don’t have the need to sleep less hours either, during my lows I do need an absurd amount of hours but when I’m “normal” I just need the normal ones (i.e 7 hours) I don’t need less sleep, if I sleep 5 hours I will feel crappy the next day.