Can't Follow Anymore Followers

Please help me figure this out. It's driving me crazy.

I cannot follow anymore followers, unless I unfollow. Yet my follow count is at 968 (not 7500). I will unfollow some, then go follow a bunch of accounts (both private and public). I then go back a bit later and unfollow the private accounts. Yet my follow count continues to drop and I cannot follow anymore?!

Ok example with numbers.

Following Count: 968 - Can't follow more at this point
Unfollow 10
Follow 10 new ones - 5 private, 5 public accounts
Unfollow (or unrequest) those 5 Private accounts
Following count =963
Try To follow More- Cannot

In Crowdfire, I get an error saying I'm following the max limit of accounts. So the only thing I can think is that I have 6532 following requests out to private accounts that have not done anything with my request. But why is it that if I go and "unrequest" some of those private accounts, I cannot try to follow the same amount again?

How do I get those private account requests removed so I can free up some room to follow more again? Soon enough, I won't be able to follow AT ALL! EEK!

I hope this makes sense. Thanks in advance for your insight.

Did you follow private accounts? If yes, then it is your problem. You'll have to wait till your requests expire - approx. one month.

As longdouble said, following private users always gets you to this point, You'll have to wait for your pending requests to expire. don't follow private accounts, same results than publics, but messy.

Ok, Thanks. However, I don't understand why this scenario doesn't work then: I am at my follow limit. I unfollow one private account (click on the grey requested button) and then try to go follow a public account and I can't? Wouldn't that have freed up a single follow spot?

Guys, nothing has changed. I still can't follow. And barely have any left to unfollow. Please help. There is no way I have close to 7k private account follow requests out there.