u/Tall_Chair2209

I recently started supplementing with ionized salt due to being deficient in iodine and using ashwagandha to help blunt cortisol. I started experiencing hyperthyroidism(assuming from ashwagandha) and dealt with insomnia and being wired for 20+ hours a day. I did however notice my libido was better and my skin stopped looking dull and dry.

I've been doing this for a week and have had insomnia the entire time. I plan on stopping both and hope my levels normalize next week. I want to maintain good levels but don't want to experience negative sides again.

I'm assuming my levels are currently higher artificially now due to the KSM66, but how can we benefit from the positives, without suffering from the negatives(insomnia/anxiety/sweating)?

How does one begin working out with chronic stress? If I go relatively intense, I get headaches, insomnia, and poor libido after a while. It seems like the most I can get away with is 1 set per exercise 2-3× a week. I can't even do a full routine without issues. My body doesnt relax despite working out earlier in the day.

I'm coming back to the gym once again and I'm curious about work capacity and stress? I tried an intermediate powerlifting routine I used to run consistently and it kicked my ass. Half way through my body was fried and I see now that my work capacity isn't what it used to be. This would mean stress would increase rapidly due to that.

I think I should just do a beginner 5x5 routine now or 1 set per exercise if I do a split to limit stress and fatigue.

My question is, Is time the best way to increase overall work capacity to deal with fatigue and cortisol? Meaning stick with a beginner program with very low overall volume regardless of the numbers I can hit, until my body gets used to the volume/fatigue.

Or should I stick with a higher volume routine normal periodization built in and let my body get used to the total volume per week?

Seems like both can work. I assume one gets more gains and higher cortisol, but a faster adaptation while the lower volume grants more recovery/less cortisol, less gains, and slower adaptation. Maybe the adaptation is the same rate and I can do a newbie routine for 3-4 months. Sorry for the long post.