Great writing, Brian!
Wish I was there IRL to give you a hug and tell you it’s all going to be okay, everything will work itself out. Truth is I don’t know for sure myself if all will really be okay. I too have been feeling discouraged about Medium, writing, life, etc.
Sometimes I can shake myself out of the down cycles by doing something different. Doesn’t have to be big like moving to a new city. Could be going to a new restaurant, road tripping to a brewery or cleaning out a closet. Organizational activities make me feel better and yes, I know that’s weird.
Point is, take a break and treat yourself to something different. This won’t fix Medium, but it might make coping with Medium easier.
Hang in there!