u/SkirtPractical3718

I’m curious if anyone with a neuroscience, sleep, or aphantasia background has insight into this.
I used to have extremely vivid mental imagery (hyperphantasia).

Around 2021, during a period of depression/stress, my visualization gradually disappeared and became close to aphantasia.

The strange part is that it fluctuates. I still dream visually, occasionally regain some voluntary imagery, and my autobiographical memory/familiarity seems to fluctuate alongside it.

Mornings are particularly bad. I sleep well, but sometimes have severe sleep inertia where I’m awake and functional, yet following basic information and retrieving things I know feels extremely difficult. Even my normal internal feeling of familiarity/self can feel inaccessible. I still know who I am, recognize people, know my history, etc.—it’s the automatic feeling and accessibility that disappears.

Interestingly, espresso often seems to bring me back online. As I become more alert, memory retrieval, associative thinking, familiarity, and sometimes imagery improve together.

This makes me wonder whether this is less about losing memories/imagery and more about state-dependent access to them.

Could prolonged sleep inertia or altered arousal temporarily affect communication between memory, executive, and self-referential brain networks enough to produce something like this?

Not looking for a diagnosis—mostly interested in possible neurological mechanisms, relevant research, or hearing from anyone who has experienced something similar.

Thanks so much in advance. Also please be encouraging and insightful. I’ve noticed this sub can be kinda negative and it’s just not what I want to talk about.

I’ve taken it before on smaller doses, mainly more for weightlifting and exercise but I’ve read some really compelling articles of people upping their dose to 10 or 15 mg and have noticed sharper thinking, reduce brain fog, better, memory, etc.

I know the science is there around the psychological and mental health benefits of creatine and I’m just curious what your experience with this has been?

Thank you!! 🙏🏽

I lost my corporate job last October. Had to move back home. Took a part time retail job that barely pays for food and gas.

I’ve been interviewing and applying to jobs non stop since October and still nothing despite having 11+ years of corporate marketing experience.

Having to do long distance with my girlfriend and she’s starting to get fed up with it.

Had to leave my car across the country because I couldn’t afford to ship or drive it. Been borrowing a friend’s car which is nice but I know that won’t last forever.

I’ve had to borrow money from some friends which feels awful. I have very minimal debt (~$2k) but even that feels unbearable with my current income.

If you’ve stayed with me so far I appreciate you. I’m just so soo sooo tired and feel like a failure.

I’ve accepted what’s happening and continue to keep going but it’s so defeating some days especially seeing so many people just living their lives, having jobs and taking vacations.

I know a lot of people are struggling and a lot of people are out of work. I’m just not sure how to keep going like this.

I have a mild disability so it’s hard for me to work and grind non stop even though I want to achieve my dreams and basic needs.

I guess I’m just seeking empathy (and a job) lol.

Appreciate you for reading ❤️

I lost my corporate job last October. Had to move back home. Took a part time retail job that barely pays for food and gas.

I’ve been interviewing and applying to jobs non stop since October and still nothing despite having 11+ years of corporate marketing experience.

Having to do long distance with my girlfriend and she’s starting to get fed up with it.

Had to leave my car across the country because I couldn’t afford to ship or drive it. Been borrowing a friend’s car which is nice but I know that won’t last forever.

I’ve had to borrow money from some friends which feels awful. I have very minimal debt (~$2k) but even that feels unbearable with my current income.

If you’ve stayed with me so far I appreciate you. I’m just so soo sooo tired and feel like a failure.

I’ve accepted what’s happening and continue to keep going but it’s so defeating some days especially seeing so many people just living their lives, having jobs and taking vacations.

I know a lot of people are struggling and a lot of people are out of work. I’m just not sure how to keep going like this.

I have a mild disability so it’s hard for me to work and grind non stop even though I want to achieve my dreams and basic needs.

I guess I’m just seeking empathy (and a job) lol.

Appreciate you for reading ❤️

I’ve grown up most of my life in Columbus and coming back as an adult helped solidify my view on how often and how badly Columbus people stare!!

I’ve lived in a lot of major cities and out of the country several times and no one stares harder than Columbus.

It’s super and super obvious and they don’t even care. They’ll even talk about other people that are right in front of them in public.

I know I’m not the only one who notices this.

Typically I’d ask “am I the only one or” but I’m confident to say in all my varied years working brick and mortar retail that retail holds some of the most toxic people in any industry.

I’ve been in corporate the past 8 years, was in stores for fashion brands 4 years prior to that. Due to the inconsistent job market I took a part time job at and another clothing brand to make ends meet and my god people there are just toxic.

Rant over. Do you agree?

Hey everyone! I’ve lost a little faith in manifesting and could use your collective help.

Can you help manifest a job for me? Maybe a pray or something?

It would mean world to me as someone who has been searching for a job for 8 months

Thank you 🙏🏽

I usually don’t mind it because some commentators give great advice and insight but I feel like the talking has become nonstop from them and it’s driving me nuts.

I also can’t stand when each then say “XYZ player should have done this” or “they should have hit the shot this way.”
Just reminds me of out of shape people commenting on Olympic athletes.

Other than Jim Courier and Paul Annacone I really don’t want to hear their commentary lol

Danielle Collins hasn’t been as prevalent with match commentary and thank God.

Anyone with me?

I'm a 31 year-old senior level guy in fashion/beauty/retail marketing and social media and have been out of work since October.

I've tried everything and I mean EVERYTHING to get a job:

• Working with temp agencies like SyndicateBleu, 24Seven, Motion Recruitment etc to find contract work. I've been getting the most momentum and callbacks here.
• optimized my linkedin using AI to position myself for the jobs I want/are aligned for optimized it for SEO and recruiter discoverability.
• optimized my resume using AI to bypass ATS
• worked with two resume professionals and both said my resume is solid
• comment and plug my portfolio on hiring managers' posts on linked
• warm intro emails and messages on linkedin to hiring managers
• in-person networking events
• I've interviewed consistently up until about a month ago
• had to do several project assessments where they just stole my work and told me take a hike.
• I still occasionally apply on linkedin/company job posts but not much comes from it.

Honestly, I'm at the point where idk what to do. I took a BS retail job selling athleisure to cover basic expenses and it simply doesn't even do that.

So I just don't know what else to do. What else am I missing? and please be kind and don't make me feel stupid if there is an obvious route I'm missing.

Thanks in advance!

I'm a 31 year-old senior level guy in fashion/beauty/retail marketing and social media and have been out of work since October.

I've tried everything and I mean EVERYTHING to get a job:

• Working with temp agencies like SyndicateBleu, 24Seven, Motion Recruitment etc to find contract work. I've been getting the most momentum and callbacks here.optimized my linkedin using AI to position myself for the jobs I want/are aligned for optimized it for SEO and recruiter discoverability.
• optimized my resume using AI to bypass ATS
• worked with two resume professionals and both said my resume is solid
• comment and plug my portfolio on hiring managers' posts on linked
• warm intro emails and messages on linkedin to hiring managers
• in-person networking events
• I've interviewed consistently up until about a month ago
• had to do several project assessments where they just stole my work and told me take a hike.
• I still occasionally apply on linkedin/company job posts but not much comes from it.

Honestly, I'm at the point where idk what to do. I took a BS retail job selling athleisure to cover basic expenses and it simply doesn't even do that.

So I just don't know what else to do. What else am I missing? and please be kind and don't make me feel stupid if there is an obvious route I'm missing.

Thanks in advance!

I'm a 31 year-old senior level guy in fashion/beauty/retail marketing and social media and have been out of work since October.

I've tried everything and I mean EVERYTHING to get a job:

• Working with temp agencies like SyndicateBleu, 24Seven, Motion Recruitment etc to find contract work. I've been getting the most momentum and callbacks here.optimized my linkedin using AI to position myself for the jobs I want/are aligned for optimized it for SEO and recruiter discoverability.
• optimized my resume using AI to bypass ATS
• worked with two resume professionals and both said my resume is solid
• comment and plug my portfolio on hiring managers' posts on linked
• warm intro emails and messages on linkedin to hiring managers
• in-person networking events
• I've interviewed consistently up until about a month ago
• had to do several project assessments where they just stole my work and told me take a hike.
• I still occasionally apply on linkedin/company job posts but not much comes from it.

Honestly, I'm at the point where idk what to do. I took a BS retail job selling athleisure to cover basic expenses and it simply doesn't even do that.

So I just don't know what else to do. What else am I missing? and please be kind and don't make me feel stupid if there is an obvious route I'm missing.

Thanks in advance!

I'm a 31 year-old senior level guy in fashion/beauty/retail marketing and social media and have been out of work since October.

I've tried everything and I mean EVERYTHING to get a job:

• optimized my linkedin using AI to position myself for the jobs I want/are aligned for optimized it for SEO and recruiter discoverability.
• optimized my resume using AI to bypass ATS
• worked with two resume professionals and both said my resume is solid
• comment and plug my portfolio on hiring managers' posts on linked
• warm intro emails and messages on linkedin to hiring managers
• in-person networking events
• I've interviewed consistently up until about a month ago
• had to do several project assessments where they just stole my work and told me take a hike.
• I still occasionally apply on linkedin/company job posts but not much comes from it.

Honestly, I'm at the point where idk what to do. I took a BS retail job selling athleisure to cover basic expenses and it simply doesn't even do that.

So I just don't know what else to do. What else am I missing? and please be kind and don't make me feel stupid if there is an obvious route I'm missing.

Thanks in advance!

I'm a 31 year-old senior level guy in fashion/beauty/retail marketing and social media and have been out of work since October.

I've tried everything and I mean EVERYTHING to get a job:

• optimized my linkedin using AI to position myself for the jobs I want/are aligned for optimized it for SEO and recruiter discoverability.
• optimized my resume using AI to bypass ATS
• worked with two resume professionals and both said my resume is solid
• comment and plug my portfolio on hiring managers' posts on linked
• warm intro emails and messages on linkedin to hiring managers
• in-person networking events
• I've interviewed consistently up until about a month ago
• had to do several project assessments where they just stole my work and told me take a hike.
• I still occasionally apply on linkedin/company job posts but not much comes from it.

Honestly, I'm at the point where idk what to do. I took a BS retail job selling athleisure to cover basic expenses and it simply doesn't even do that.

So I just don't know what else to do. What else am I missing? and please be kind and don't make me feel stupid if there is an obvious route I'm missing.

Thanks in advance!