Idiopathic Hypersomnia

Hi everyone, I’m Jodie and I’m new to the community. I finally took the leap to make an account because I am feeling incredibly isolated and physically exhausted down to my very bones.To share a bit about my neurotype and background, I am an AuDHD (Autism + ADHD) adult. My brain runs on high-intensity logic, deep pattern tracking, and analytical execution, which means I can mask my struggles pretty heavily in the outside world. But behind that mask, I operate under extreme executive function fatigue and live with zero natural interoception.Right now, my body is in an active medical crisis. I am navigating a massive metabolic crash from severe Hashimoto's hypothyroidism (TSH 35.2), along with Fibromyalgia, POTS/dysautonomia, and Idiopathic Hypersomnia. Because of the intense deep sleep drive and nerve tracking, I manage a daily baseline of neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction, meaning waking up to heavily saturated overnight briefs is my standard reality. Managing this hidden medical gear and chronic pain while forcing my body through physically punishing manual labor has left my energy reserves completely dry.When I’m offline and resting my body, my personality is rooted in my special interests. I love deep-diving into complex anime lore, analyzing the world-building frameworks of webnovels, and hanging out with my wild co-pilot cat, MustacheCat.I joined The Mighty because I want to find a safe space where I can entirely drop the mask. I hope to connect with other analytical, neurodivergent women and chronic illness warriors who manage similar complex logistical gear with total neutrality and zero judgment. I’d love to meet some people to share comfort, swap tips on daily pacing, and remind each other that we aren't broken. Thanks for welcoming me to the sisterhood.#MightyTogether #newhere #Fibromyalgia #AutismSpectrumDisorder #ADHD #pots #neurogenicbladder #IdiopathicHypersomnia #Dysautonomia #chronicmigraines #Depression #Anxiety #Grief #catsofthemighty

Please understand that if any of the following things worked out for you or if you have written any books like the following, this is not a condemnation or judging of you. This is one single person of over 8 billion getting what they need to out of their mind and onto paper with the hope that, to quote Bob Dylan, “a trembling distant voice, unclear/Startles your sleeping ears to hear/That somebody thinks they really found you” or understands. If I am breaking any guidelines, I sincerely apologize. *

F those invisible chronic illness books that tell you how you, too, have everything you need to heal yourself in your mind.

F those invisible chronic illness books that tell you how you, too, can find everything you need to heal yourself in the grocery store.

F those invisible chronic illness books that tell you how you, too, can be fulfilled if you just let Him into your heart and life.

F those invisible chronic illness books that tell you how you, too, can get better with
supplements
supplication
exercise
herbs
sunshine or hot steam on your vagina
Or whatever Gwyneth Paltrow is selling these days.

Because you can’t. You won’t. No one does. They don’t. Yet it seems every judgmental person knows someone who has.

If no one has told you before that people pray on those who are weak, desperate, and in need of anything besides a cash loan, I am telling you.

If no one has told you that you are not a failure because snake oil didn’t cure you, I am telling you.

If no one has told you that they know hyperbaric chambers and niacin flushes and green juice diets and sweat lodges and primal scream therapy and infusions of perseverance into the blood stream and gods dying to heal your disease and fasting and rice pillows and living with nothing but organic cotton and hepa filters in your home along with the occasional cayenne pepper and lemon rind are scams, along with anything that tells you to ignore your body when it speaks to you (“please don’t do this. It hurts.”) and let it know who’s boss (“you have to feel the toxins before they can be released” or “you’re not hungry. That’s a societal construct”) can be boiled down to, at the essence, a person who saw a way to make themselves money…. I AM F’ING TELLING YOU. ENOUGH. Shhhh. Rest. You’re whole. You’re more than enough. You have learned more truths going around the sun than anyone be forced to learn through pain.

If no one has told you in so long that you forget the smile that used to shine on your face when you heard it, you should know, I am proud of you.

Photo: author’s own
“Full of Potential”

#IdiopathicHypersomnia #Anxiety #MentalHealth

To anyone else who hears me talking in my sleep, it usually sounds like mumbling, or maybe they can make out a few words, or can tell I'm upset. In my brain, in my dream, I am actually yelling at someone - usually because they seem to be ignoring me and I am trying desperately to get their attention. I'll often wake myself up when this is happening. But last night, something different happened: I had a dream in which I was happy. Laughing, in fact. I woke myself up laughing. I don't recall this ever happening before. I don't even remember the details of the dream. But it was a refreshing change of pace, and I am going to try to hold onto that feeling for as many minutes and hours as I can today. #Depression #MentalHealth #Anxiety #IdiopathicHypersomnia #Hypersomnia