this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2023
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65
How do you deal with bad cyclic burnout? (kbin.social)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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For some odd reason I burnout very frequently, or more like I get so brain dead that I literally cannot even come up with an Idea of what to do, let alone act on it. It feels like when I even try to start I get so exhausted that I have to lay down.

It always happens after I'm the most productive, but my down time feels so much longer than the time I get to create. I'd say I have at least 4 days to a week of productivity, and about 2 - 3 weeks of burnout. It's nuts.

The cycle repeats, though it can vary wildly in how long each part is.

I'm starting to get hella annoyed since I haven't drawn a thing in over a year and I was finally getting back into the groove at least doodling daily, just to be derailed hard.

I was thinking that I just lack creativity, but it became this catch-22 of "I have to actually draw with purpose and make things that I enjoy" and "I am so fucking tired that even opening a sketchbook or cleaning makes me want to take a nap / drop into a dead sleep".

What are your thoughts?

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[–] GRENADE_MAGNET 14 points 1 year ago

It kind of sounds like you’re describing bipolar disorder. These cycles of up and down.

You said this low period always happens right after your most creative periods. Depressive cycles typically last longer than the manic phase which is what you described.

Not a doctor obviously but I lived with it undiagnosed for a very long time. Maybe read up on it and see if it fits your experience.

Whatever it is I hope you find some relief.