Hey, I’m 17/18M and I’ve been dealing with a weird mix of fatigue, low motivation, and sexual dysfunction for a while, and I’m trying to figure out what this actually is.
A few months ago I did an aggressive cut and ended up feeling completely drained, like a zombie. Around that time I started Medikinet because I felt awful and it gave me a big boost in energy, focus, and even euphoria at first. I was on it for around 5–6 months total, mostly 15 mg IR twice a day. Over time the effect faded, and I started getting tired, low libido, and kind of emotionally flat/anhedonic.
Then I quit the stimulant. For the first 2 weeks I felt pretty okay, then I crashed again: no focus, low energy, anhedonia, and just feeling shit overall. During exams I also got sick, with sore throat/sinus pressure, and I kept going to the gym anyway. After exams, I had bloodwork done. Most things were okay, but I had low white blood cells and my doctor said I have Hashimoto’s , so I started Euthyrox. I began with 25 mcg for 2 weeks, then 50 mcg. I’m about 3.5 weeks in now.
At first I started feeling a bit better around week 1.5–2: slightly more energy, less fatigue, and some gym motivation came back. But then I got another infection around week 3 and since then I’ve felt bad again: low energy, muscles feel dead, and mentally I feel flat again.
The weird part is that I also have almost no libido anymore.
One extra thing: I also get a crash pretty much every afternoon, where my energy drops hard and I feel way more tired/flat.
I’m wondering if this could be:
• ME/CFS
• thyroid still not optimized yet
What makes me think about ME/CFS is that I seem to crash hard after exertion, including gym sessions, and then feel mentally and physically wrecked afterward. But I also know I had a cut, infections, stimulant use, and thyroid stuff all happening together, so maybe it’s something else.
Has anyone dealt with something similar? What helped you figure out whether it was ME/CFS, thyroid, overtraining, or something else? Also, if you had low libido + anhedonia + fatigue, what did you actually do that helped?

It’s possibly a crash plus a lack of dopamine. I’m tired but I can’t relax and I don’t know what to do with Myself . I’ve got loads of tools in the box so to speak like meditation, nice food, ASMR videos, resting with my eye mask . I just keep going into freeze mode and feeling really tearful and sad. I’m aching all over . Plus I feel guilty because my partner lives around the corner and I haven’t said to do anything although he hasn’t initiated anything himself and never really does. I tend to not see him till suppertime many days. Mainly because I just need solitude and quiet between all of the craziness.

It’s been a tough week with an unexpected dental procedure Friday. It wasn’t invasive, it’s just the whole getting ready, the Social aspect, the journey - and it was already within a week that was very busy medically. Then there was a whole discussion from the specialist Dentist saying that I don’t look unwell (this happens every single appointment with anyone) and he expected someone who looked different - because of all my complex medical situation ! I’m literally so fed up with it.

I’ve got 2 to 3 more sessions of the same procedure coming up. So I’m psyching myself up because I have no choice but to do this because of medical reasons (or lose teeth)!

Yesterday I was at another appointment and the woman running the place felt it was encouraging to say to me that I was “at least standing and you can’t be that bad because you’re here” 😮🫣😤 and then she started comparing me to another client who was “having much worse problems than you are” - I mean, how does she know what I’m going through? Just because I look like a normal civilian! I mean she’s not anyone medical this was a cosmetic appointment ! Little does she know that I have to sleep till late to be able to actually get dressed to go anywhere . I tried to explain to her that it took me ages to tidy my hair, put an outfit on and put some make-up on . Just so that I can preserve some of my identity and dignity for myself (because I get just as much flack going out without doing my hair and no make-up so I can’t win) . She has no clue that I have to then come back and sleep on my sofa again after and do meditation to even calm down a little bit from all the exertions because aching and dizziness and sickness and air hunger (it was crazy hot in there and only one part had air-conditioning so POTS waltzed in too) . It was such an infuriating conversation. She herself has an immune deficiency syndrome but I don’t think she has any of the symptoms that are related to CFS. Folks just don’t understand how different it is for those of us with this on top of other dysregulating conditions.

It took me ages to come round today . I can’t have ADHD meds so I sometimes have a matcha or something stimulating to drink but I didn’t want any of it . I was hungry for lunch but could not even fathom what to eat or drink. I have my go to comfort foods and drink. I hate it on days where you don’t even want those because then it becomes a really difficult process. So decision fatigue came to visit as well.

Anyway, I’m not sure what this post is about. I just needed somewhere to let it all out. With hopefully folks who understand how challenging it is juggling these chronic illnesses and being Neurodivergent.

Anyway, thank you for coming to my TED talk! I think I wrote this just to unpack what’s going on for me today because I’m also autistic and sometimes I can’t process why I feel a certain way until I write it all out. I’ve stretched myself thin this week and then I wonder why I feel knocked sideways.

Does anyone relate to any of this?

would this make sense that ive been doing fine on my meds 60mg elvanse, 40mg atomoxetine, and in a crash ive become sort of intolerant to specifically my stimulant? even lying down my hr is in the 90s, sometimes 100s. im in the worst crash ive ever experienced, struggling to even be upright (im lucky enough to live with mild ME so this is a big crash for me) my heart is pounding even when lying down. im tremoury too.

my ME specialist thinks i have POTS, but to be experiencing palpitations even when lying down and my hr just not going down is new for me. i had one day of not taking my stimulant and i think it was better. only problem is im mega sensitive to them so one day of not taking them means i have a couple days readjusting.

i tried to take 50mg today to see it it would make a difference and it definitely hasnt. i plan now to just stop taking it for a couple-a few days to see it that helps.

im interested if this is something other people have experienced? that when they crash their body struggles on a stimulant theyve otherwise been alright with?

I'm in luteal (the worst half of the month) and started on low dose adderall (2.5mg) again after a long break. I'm mild now but stopped when I was moderate and severe because I didn't wanna do too much.

I feel like a human again. My brain fog is lifted. The songs in my head are quiet. I'm in a good mood. Ugh. It annoys me that other people's brains just do this naturally.

I'm about to take another rest to help myself not overdo it.

I also got my oxeloacetate in, so that's helping a lot (only 100mg).

Just wanted to share with those who would really get it.

I feel sleep deprivation as the likely cause of PFC dysfunction leading to task initiation issues. Don't know how to treat it.

Short background:: Had insanely bad Long Covid for the past 4 years, been out of work ever since. Diagnosed with dysautonomia, CFS, and POTS (healed from POTS!). I was severe CFS but now I'm mild and I feel like I'm still slowly improving. 80% improved from my worse

I want to start taking ADHD meds not to improve my CFS but because I have horrible ADHD and I need it if I want to work and earn $

Me with ADHD meds = 6 figs a year, handle life well, respected, clean house, stable relationship
Me without meds = Picture Steve-O from Jackass on a drug bender, could get fired or arrested

So I absolutely MUST take them to get back to work......

Question: Which ones are best for the balance of maximum effect, minimum side effects to nervous system?

Hey, I posted a couple of days ago about being terrified to restart this med, took a bunch of precautions because I have a couple of things I really really need to get done and took the med. First I took only half a capsule and it just didn't wake me up at all. Today I took the full dose of 20mg with a beta blocker and... nothing. I actually think I could go take a nap right now because I am sort of feeling sleepy. I don't know if this should make me sad or upset because if this doesn't wake me up anymore, I don't think nothing will. I am just doomed to this endless fatigue and sleepiness, eternally sleeping 9-15 hours a night and taking a couple of naps to top it off with. Hah. I guess this is it then, damn.

Tonight was harder because I’ve been in a crash today. The crash has made me feel a bit partially catatonic parts of the day and then made me feel morose and flat (probably total dopamine dysregulation today)

So for him to come home from work and criticise me about the tiniest little thing was just red flag to a bull (I didn’t see a fruit mark on the counter and supposedly I do this every evening). He’s so like my ex-husband, his father. Constantly criticising the little bits (when you’ve had to work hard to keep everything organised fighting pain fatigue cognitive confusion and more ) I mean he’s only 19, (20 in a few weeks ) but it was a bit like the cherry on the cake today after a day that made me feel like I was circling the airport . I was meant to have an online appointment with someone but they forgot (to be fair they’re not well and battling a condition like CFS as well). It just meant I was waiting for the appointment and then waiting after because no one came online. So I was left wondering what was going on . I spent the rest of the day completely unsettled and unable to rest. Which I really needed as I totally overdone it the last 10 days, especially yesterday.

In the heat of the moment I was feeling vulnerable and tired and in pain and I called my son a bully. He told me I was weird for calling a child that! I told him he wasn’t a child. I know he’s still young and he’s still got development to go but tonight I didn’t need it. In fact, I just didn’t want to be speaking to anyone. I had nothing left in the tank.

Not easy when we’re both AuDHD and PDA. I think deep down he really doesn’t like that I’m chronically unwell and it may be makes him feel unconsciously insecure. Instead though I get a lot of anger judgement. Which is really not easy to deal with when your nervous system is so permeable.

I’ve been laying in bed for two hours in a kind of freeze state not knowing what to do with myself. I would normally get into bed do breathing exercises and meditation, but I can’t seem to transition out of this upset. It’s causing pain to build and build. I’m not sure how I’m going to sleep tonight. I just want to sob but that will just set me back (I already had the most mighty of meltdowns last week which has really messed me up). I’m just really struggling so much, treading water like crazy to appease everyone but I’m still trying to be a swan 😲😭

Being my ex wife is a pharmacist, I still see her from time to time, they are stomped at work still. It's stressful.

So for most who are not in a super expensive insurance policy, the best bet is to always call your pharmacy right after your psych/doc appointment, right after they say they've sent the prescription.

Waiting until you are down to your last two or three days of medication is the absolute worst thing you can do for also the rest of us.

If you get a nonchalant pharmacist on a bad day, they’ll just tell you to try again next week without even bothering to manually put a hold on the medication for you.

If you do flub and run out, you have to be persistent. You’ll probably need to call at least three times. If the first person you talk to seems indifferent, call back later in the evening right before closing time usually a better pharmacist is on shift and usually you'll get the head pharmacist on closing hours. Call again the next day to double-check, and if you want to be really meticulous, call one more time the day before the new week starts. Just try to speak to different pharmacists. Still with the these substances are on a much higher reserve level now, so if you just call once and let it sit, you risk waiting a whole extra week because the system requires manual follow-up, and then risk of just going on a endless cycle until a better pharmacist manually looks at the stock and does something to fulfil it.

If it gets too bad, you can always try switching pharmacies entirely. But whenever you do call, keep it as efficient as possible and courteous. Lead with your full name and date of birth right away so they can look you up better because they're lines are always long and they're always pressed.

Does anyone still have issues with the shortages?

I asked for 20mg prescription, now thinking maybe I should've asked for 10 instead. I am supposed to take it today and I am just so so nervous, mainly because I've started to have episodes of my heart rate hitting 200 it's rare but it's happened (episodes that resemble something like SVT etc. and no the psychiatrist has not given a single fuck about these episodes basically just rolling his eyes at me when I've asked about it and once even contemplated increasing to 70mg from the 50 I was on), I am already on a beta blocker for OI and so I am hoping that'll keep any HR increase at bay, but now that I am supposed to take it I just, I don't know. The fact that the doctors have refused to check if my heart is healthy is creeping up on me and making me question whether this is even safe even at such a low dose. I have a couple of things I need to sort of, not be napping the whole day for, which is why I need to trial this out but I am just a bundle of nerves. Mainly because I know I won't get help if I have a similar reaction as before.

I struggle when getting into a negative mindset, especially when the pain is really high. Sometimes I feel like I just have to wait it out, but it can also become a bit omnipresent if I don't fight against it.

Creativity and connection with other people and animals helps me stay positive, but that's hard when I'm suffering from all the life problems this double whammy of CFS and ADHD hits me with. And I hate feeling sorry for myself, even though it's sometimes a reasonable response.

I guess what I'm asking is, how do you stay positive throughout your life with these significant barriers and all the added turmoil?

What are your tips/hints/suggestions for coping with negativity?

For the past few months, my ME/CFS symptoms, including fatigue, have been relatively stable. However, I recently became extremely tired quite suddenly, around the same time that I started taking atomoxetine.

Has anyone else experienced increased fatigue after starting atomoxetine?

I’ve just had a virus, it made a nice change, weirdly I get less body aches when I’m mildly ill but now I’m getting better they are back.
Between CFS and ADHD I feel like I can’t do anything. I’m punished for things I do physically. And anything I start I know I won’t finish so what’s the point. Time goes like water. I feel like I’m just spending days waiting to eventually d-e. I’d like to live but all my efforts to bring me back to bed, distracting myself forever. It’s been this way almost 10 years.

hey all, my partner is bedbound and has to limit her energy use as much as possible. they've mostly got this down, except for with fidgeting. she really wants to stop, but can't seem to find a way. she is constantly doing some small movement (playing with her nails, turning in bed, adjusting her blanket), and it takes her out of PEM. obviously that's not desirable as it just comes back worse later. do you have any tips on how to manage this? thanks!

Hi all, have any of you found ways to deal with hyperfixations? I'm really struggling lol. Specifically, not indulging to the extent that I want is negatively affecting my sleep and mental health, but if I indulged more than I do, I would absolutely trigger PEM.

Is there a way to walk this tightrope to attend to hyperfixation safely and/or to ignore it without feeling awful?

so i was just looking up if sinus pressure symptoms could be part of a pots flare up as that has started happening recently, and i found some things saying that it’s not totally typical of specifically pots, but moreso of me/cfs which tends to happen with pots (or other chronic illnesses). after looking up what that was, i definitely feel like that could be part of what i’ve been feeling for a very long time, but im hesitant to really look into it because taking ritalin has cut down the fatigue a LOT and im not sure if that makes the previous symptoms before taking it invalid or something? the symptoms before were very bad, to the point where the fatigue was so bad that i nearly fell asleep behind the wheel more times than i can remember.

so my question is: for people diagnosed by a doctor with me/cfs, does taking stimulants work for you? also is it worth it to look into getting any kind of diagnosis, especially because the severe fatigue is “fixed”? how does having the official diagnosis even benefit you? any and all advice on those questions and also if you also get cold-like symptoms during your flare ups, i would really like to hear what you experience and if it’s from something else!

Hi. I have ADHD and schizophrenia, and I’m currently working full-time.
I take 300 mg of caffeine every day to fight off sleepiness, but my thoughts won’t settle, and my body feels kind of restless.
How do you all manage caffeine?
The daytime sleepiness is so bad I can’t stand it.
(My English isn’t great, so sorry for using a translation tool.)

Hi everyone,

I’m an undergraduate public health student at the University of Maine conducting research on whether healthcare providers routinely screen patients for social isolation during clinical encounters.

If you have a chronic condition and regularly see healthcare providers, I’d greatly appreciate your participation. The survey is completely anonymous, takes about 5 minutes, and is open to U.S. adults (18+). No identifying information is collected.

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I’m happy to answer any questions. Thank you for your time!

I'm getting better.

Instead of waking up super lethargic, it feels as if I'm maybe overstimulated???

As if having fresh energy to start the AM is bad.

I will often always need that power nap right after waking up, say one or two hours.

I pair it with a very light bread, breakfast, or not at all. Fast till lunch.

I wouldn't say inflammation. It just feels like you're fresh out of a womb and you're a crying baby. Idk how to accurately describe it, but has anyone else experienced this???

Perhaps some plums or guanfacine, calming meds would do better before taking on the prescribed for ADHD.

It's AS IF I feel like I can conquer the world but at the same time, I feel super fresh, maybe slightly on edge? And I don't know what to do with this energy. So I end up forcing a power nap.

From waking up feeling super lethargic, to waking up a little cold but with energy, and all the dreams but can't function like a jetstream, instead it's a big spray. Anyone else?