Best nootropics/supplements for burnout after extreme stress + thyroid issues? Feeling emotionally numb and worse after gym
Hey everyone,
I’m looking for input from people who’ve dealt with burnout or post-stress brain changes and whether anything actually helped.
A bit of background: I went through a period of extreme, prolonged stress that really pushed my body and mind past their limits. It eventually led to a mild thyroid issue, and I’m now on 25 mcg Euthyrox (levothyroxine). The thyroid part is being managed medically, but my mental state still hasn’t returned to baseline.
What I’m dealing with now feels less like “normal fatigue” and more like a blunted emotional and cognitive state. I feel kind of numb, slightly depressed, and like my brain reward system is just not responding properly anymore. Motivation, pleasure, and emotional reactivity are all significantly reduced compared to before.
One of the most confusing parts is exercise. I used to feel great after the gym, but now it does the opposite. Instead of endorphins or mental clarity, I feel a strong post-workout crash — intense mental fatigue, low mood, and a sense of cognitive depletion that can last for hours or even a days. It almost feels like my nervous system isn’t recovering the way it used to.
I’ve read about burnout, HPA axis dysregulation, stress-induced anhedonia, etc., and I’m trying to understand what might actually help at the biochemical level.