August 20, 2025
I saw the sleep doctor today, and she was amazed at how awake and present I am. We talked about my diagnosis—adrenal insufficiency—and how my problems are hormonal, not a horrible sleep disorder after all. This latest diagnosis has felt like the final piece of the puzzle that was missing.
All those times last year when I “crashed,” literally falling asleep, weren’t about willpower or laziness. The extreme depression, the fog, being so out of it—it wasn’t a character flaw. It was hormonal. I’m not crazy. I’m a person with an invisible illness that many people don’t know about—one that, untreated (and even treated, if not managed well), can be serious.
Now that I’m being treated, things are far from perfect, but I’m getting my life back. I have energy—honestly, a little too much sometimes—and it feels like someone turned on the light. I’m not ready to go back to work yet, and I’m not “fixed.” But every day is a work in progress, and every day is better than the last.
I’m learning. I’m also grieving the misdiagnoses and the time lost, but I’m grateful for the doctor who is helping me get my life back. I don’t know exactly how far I can go from here, but I have a roadmap and treatment, and that means hope. This week I drove twice. I have energy. I’m starting to do “normal things” again. The meds aren’t dialed in yet, but we’re getting there.
Who knows where I’ll be in two months? With a plan and support, there are endless possibilities. I thought doors were closing, but you know what? They’re opening. Praise God.
With treatment for adrenal insufficiency, life is no longer passing me by. I’m learning to accommodate and modify so things become possible again. I’m alive.