I'm hoping someone can give me an idea if this is common and how to manage it, or if it might pass.
For the past 2+ weeks I've been feeling extremely calm and euphoric most of the time. It's like the feeling you normally get when you sleep in, and start waking up in a warm bed, like a warm suppressing lazy content feeling. It sounds nice, on paper. When I first started HRT, I felt calmer but still motivated enough to get things done. Then things seemed OK for a couple of months, though I never regained much motivation.
Now, I sleep 12 hours a day and am always cloying at my husband for cuddles (the best-feeling thing in the world right now). My libido kind of died months ago and I don't feel any sexual component. When I'm awake, I just want to curl up on the couch, so nothing gets done. I have had a cold for the past week which I would like to blame, but has anyone else experienced this? Did it pass or how do you manage it (caffeine?)?
I found I needed to "reframe" my motivation in order to get things done. A lot of the manic drive I had was diminished - a good thing really but it did result in a drop in my output of work for a while.
I can't speak to that particular hormonal effect, but I'll suggest what I do when I'm depressed and have zero motivation: Force yourself to do things anyway. I find that if I force myself to do things when I'm depressed, eventually, as long as I keep the "momentum" going, it helps pull me out of it. Maybe the same thing will work for you. Maybe if you force yourself to do things, eventually your motivation will return.
I certainly found an inner calmness, I also found so much more confidence in myself... Much more confident in presenting to people / audiences.... Even in risk taking! Have not noticed any differences in hours in bed, motivation etc.... But did occasionally find a little mind wandering... Which I just turned my mind to re-focussing on the object of focus at hand....
Today, after all this time, and not having transitioned as yet, my Dysphoria is certainly banging on my door again, and with no work my calmness is starting to deteriorate!!!
No one is the same, we all act differently during massive changes within our bodies, whether HRT or other major changes.
Just keep focussed on the important stuff, if it's income generating, be especially focused ;)
Good luck
L Katy :-*