Fatigue is Not Normal

So many things can contribute to being exhausted, or chronically fatigued.

“By the time I get up in the morning, shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, and am finally ready to leave for work, I feel like I need to go back to bed again…”

Having worked with hundreds of patients, dealing with symptoms of low energy and fatigue, I can only begin to estimate the number of stories I’ve heard that mirror the previous scenario.  More and more patients are arriving in a state of complete “burnout”. This may be caused by a hormonal imbalance, adrenal fatigue, a diet rich in sugar and/or processed foods, a sleep issue… a myriad of problems may cause fatigue. Fatigue is an unrelenting lack of motivation and energy, not a day or two of feeling tired or drowsy that can be cured with a few good nights sleep.

The symptoms can vary, and for those who have let the situation go on for sometime before seeking assistance, the symptoms can be down right extreme.  If you have one or more of the following symptoms, it’s time to pay attention and learn what you’re body is trying to tell you:

•  Even after a full night of uninterrupted sleep, do you find yourself waking in the morning feeling tired or flat out exhausted?

•  Do you feel you need a cup of coffee to even begin moving each day?

•  Do you feel sleepy or tired after meals, or crave something sweet?

•  Do you have difficulty falling asleep, despite the fact that you’re really tired?

•  Do you sometimes feel like you have a “rock” in your stomach after you’ve eaten (as if whatever you’ve just eating is sitting there, and not getting digested?)

•  Do you startle easily or tend to be a “nervous” type?

•  Do you often get irritable or feel overly tense?

•  Are you beginning to feel as though the amount of fatigue you’re currently experiencing is really problematic?  Is it starting to make you really worried that something bigger is going on?

While it’s perfectly normal to feel a little tired from time to time, we’re now living in society that values “burning the candle at both ends” and rewards A-type personalities that simple push themselves to the brink of exhaustion. Clearly not only is this not a sustainable way of living, but overtime can have dire consequences to the physical health and mental wellbeing of the exhausted individual.

In cases of chronic or extreme fatigue, it’s important to note that no one winds up in this state overnight.  Usually, those suffering from fatigue have realized they were caught in a downward spiral but had little idea what to do to improve their situation. Others may attempt to make dietary or lifestyle changes in an attempt to alleviate their symptoms, but find they’re dealing with a much bigger problem than they imagined.

If you answered “YES” to any of the questions above, it’s important to recognize that your body is sending you messages and that you could have a much more serious underlying condition.  If a serious condition is present, and not being treated, not only is in unlikely to go away on its own, but can escalate from “feeling a little tired” to extreme debilitation.

If you or someone you love is suffering from symptoms of fatigue, please make an appointment with an integrative physician who can help get to the bottom of your issue and find a path back. Feeling tired occasionally is normal, but unrelenting fatique must be checked.