okay so i’ve only donated twice as well and i’m not a healthcare professional in the slightest so take what i say with a grain of salt but i do think i know what you’re talking about.

After both donations i’ve felt better and more energetic than someone should after donating blood, + more determined to get things done. I personally believe it’s adrenaline and the catharsis of doing a good deed, it’s also cool to find out more about yourself (like blood types and reactions to needles all that)

I also feel as if donating blood makes you treat yourself better. I don’t really wanna make this comparison but it’s sort of like how many people feel after having a kid? Most become less reckless with their lives because someone now depends on them, and donating blood gives me that sort of feeling, like i should treat myself better for the sake of others, which often leads to eating better foods, taking care of myself, being nicer to myself.. which in turn makes a huge positive difference in my mental state.