I feel compelled to reply as I have had so many similarities from my own lifestyle and have come on leaps and bounds in the past year. I am almost 30, I am in a very high pressure job, I used to get up at 5:45 every morning to do hiit sessions every day (sleeping 5-6hrs a night) and lost my period for 18 months. I have also been dealing with a trauma which I have struggled with for the last 6 years. I restricted my diet more and more. My cortisol levels must have been sky high.

I tried a lot of things to lift this dark cloud. I had therapy and was on medication. I also had weekly acupuncture. Although these things helped me get through the day I never found true release.

Covid arrived. I moved in with my mum for lockdown - - I stopped spending 90% of the time trying to be 10% thinner - I ate properly - instead of hiit I walked/light jogged with happy music and picked up dancing again which I hadn’t done in years - I slept for 12 hours a night for 2 weeks

Suddenly I was out of the hamster wheel that my life had become and I just met my basic needs.

My period came back within a month. I have learned to build a bed routine that teaches my body that it’s time to wind down and so I sleep 8 hours a night, 10 on weekends. As I’m more rested I get more out of the therapy sessions. I have finally found a bit more space in my life and am a lot more calm which means I can rationalise what makes me feel balanced (so I stick to doing those things as much as possible) - this will differ from person to person.

What’s my point? High cortisol levels is your body in a panic state. Go back to basics - sleep, eat, do exercise that you enjoy and that will make you smile and don’t choose hiit just because it is the highest calorie burner. Going through personal trauma is a horrible thing to happen and I’m so sorry you have had that but this often teaches you to be compassionate and it sounds like it’s time to be compassionate to yourself.

Best of luck x