Ups and downs in energy, brain capacity and creativity

[AuroraBorealis]

When I have a more long-term project that'll go over weeks, months or even years (such as my doctoral thesis), I'm not good at working consistently in predictable amounts. I have phases where I am very uninspired and struggle to focus and do almost nothing, which then are interrupted by high-energy, high-motivation phases in which I can do a lot of work in a few very focused sessions.

However, during those high-energy sessions, I never know whether I should take complete advantage of them, which would include sleeping less, resting less, and experiencing a strong crash after a few days but having accomplished a lot, or whether I should still force myself to take breaks during those phases, which would mean no crash, but less results.

I'm tempted to accept a crash right now because I'm already 2 months behind my current deadline. However, I can't really afford to crash because of work.

Do you also experience these strong ups and downs when working on long-term projects? How do you handle the unpredictability? Do you use your highly productive phases completely, accepting the crash afterwards? Or do you force yourself to pace?

Do ADHDers among you experience this? If you take ADHD medication, has that changed anything about it? I mean those extremes between no focus/motivation at all, and short spurts of almost hypomanic brain capacity.

I'm not really looking for advice on how to handle my current, specific situation. I'm simply interested in how others experience and handle this.

 

[TBRS1]

To me, it seems as if you are describing symptoms that I tend to experience. In my case, it is due to low grade bipolar (requiring careful self management, not medication).

In my case, it gets much, much worse when under stress, and follows predictable seasonal/weather cycles (I can predict my mood using weather forecasts ).

I can self-manage by a) knowing the cycles, b) being very careful at certain times in the cycle, c) leveling out via a meditation practice, d) light therapy, e) always having something to do that I want to do even when "down" (in my case, I finger harp strings).

My daughter is using an ADHD medication (don't know which one) for similar issues. She is very pleased with the results - it is working for her.

P.S. - almost forgot... Yes. Use the ups if they aren't dangerously uppy. Run any iffy decisions through trusted others before committing, though.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

To me, it seems as if you are describing symptoms that I tend to experience. In my case, it is due to low grade bipolar (requiring careful self management, not medication).

In my case, it gets much, much worse when under stress, and follows predictable seasonal/weather cycles (I can predict my mood using weather forecasts ).

I can self-manage by a) knowing the cycles, b) being very careful at certain times in the cycle, c) leveling out via a meditation practice, d) light therapy, e) always having something to do that I want to do even when "down" (in my case, I finger harp strings).

My daughter is using an ADHD medication (don't know which one) for similar issues. She is very pleased with the results - it is working for her.

Interesting. I would rule out bipolar for myself because I don't feel like my mood is affected. Just my ability to focus and my energy level.

Thanks for your input!

 

[FayetheAspie]

I have high energy/low energy cycles as well. They seem to coinside largely with the extroversion/introversion cycles. High energy and higher extroversion typically going together and lower energy and higher introversion typically going together. The high energy phase does seem to affect mood seeing as how there are frequent bouts of euphoric mood during these phases. The low energy phases; however, do  not necessarily involve depression and I can often enjoy doing a lot of research during these phases.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I am mostly okay in the mornings, alert, my brain and body work well, I can get things done at a moderate pace.

By the afternoon this is all gone. I am tired, sleepy, cannot do any task that requires actual brain work, only mild physical stuff.

If I don’t rest in the afternoons, I can “crash” into exhaustion and increased pain that could last for weeks. This is mostly due to the chronic illness I live with.

But I have been interested to learn throughout the years of reading forum posts that aspies do seem to have inconsistent levels of performance across skills (of course) and across time.