What Do You Do About Constant Fatigue?

[divided_sky]

This nonsense is awful. Has progressively gotten worse and now I feel like I am dragging myself through life and I can't even keep up with the most basic things. Forget actually being productive and making something of my life. I usually sleep terribly, but even if I sleep well, I get up and feel like I haven't slept in days very quickly. I can't focus on anything either

 

Anyway, what are some things that you have found helpful? Taking something, behavior patterns, whatever. I don't seem to get any effect from caffeine anymore. It no longer makes me anxious like it used to, but I feel no energy from it. I can drink a large energy drink and be asleep in 30 minutes (only during the day, of course. I am never sleepy at night, although tired)

 

I want stimulants like I used to have, but that will never happen. Nor should it. lulz

 

I have been much more active of late, and while regular exercise (probably not enough still) and sunshine do make me feel better and seem to make my sleeping habits a bit more regular, it isn't getting that much better. I think the worst feeling is feeling like I have to take a nap a few hours after waking up. And if I do get out early, before that feeling hits me, I will still become unbearably sleepy as soon as I come back and sit down

 

 

[RoseGoesToYale]

This happened a lot to me in middle and early high school. My mother still enforced lights out time at 9:30 (when she and my stepdad go to bed), and I'd toss and turn awake in bed for hours on end because my mind was still going and my body wasn't tired. I'd usually fall asleep at 1-2am. But I'd have to wake up early for school, which started at 8am in middle school and 7:30 in high school, so I'd only 5 hours of sleep. I'd be walking dead my first and second classes. If I drank caffeine, I'd go straight to sleep.

 

As soon as lights out time was repealed, my quality of sleep improved dramatically. I'm a natural night owl, like 99% of my dad's side of the family, and my body doesn't get tired until about 1-2am. If I try to force myself to sleep before this time, I'll have insomnia all night. I stay awake until I feel that lull and sleep 6-8 hours, and it makes a big difference. Everyone needs different amounts of sleep, so it's possible you need more, or maybe even less. Oversleeping can also cause the same grogginess. If you have some schedule-free days, see how long you stay awake before your body naturally starts to feel tired.

 

(If this has happened suddenly, it's also worth having a doctor check out. Insomnia and fatigue could be a sign of something else going on)

[Epitaph]

I'm probably not going to give the best advice here, since I live in a constant state of fatigue and have been for years. The only thing that ever made a slight difference in me was examination of my nutrient intake, which found that I was deficient of some things. Stimulents have never made a dent in me so I dropped them all a long time ago with the exception of coffee(which I drink because I legitimately like it). What keeps me moving are thoughts. My jobs, responsibilities and tasks don't care if I'm tired. So I focus on that and zone out into my work without feeling tired as I work.

 

My second trick is to work to physical exhaustion.(Told you there wasn't going to be superb advice) I do find that if I work until I actually drop, it's the only time in my life that resting actually feels like it's done me some good. I wake up feeling better and can actually go about the day feeling like I'm 100%. But at most, that'll buy me one day of feeling okay. It's also how I deal with my random bouts of occassional insomnia and my inability to sleep in the summer if temperatures are above 20c. I can't stay awake at night if I've forced myself to the physical limit.

 

Sorry I can't give you anything a little better to work with.

[Grimalkin]

The problem with fatigue is there could be any number of causes. Diet, exercise, everyday rituals, mattress quality, depression, undiagnosed medical conditions...

 

It is for that reason that I suggest you work with a doctor. It sounds like your sleep patterns are irregular, and you might benefit from a sleep clinic. Constant fatigue isn't normal, it's caused by something, and if you can figure out what it is you can take steps to ensure that it gets better.

 

Remember, if one doctor can't help you, go to another. You have options.

[Guest]

I'd definitely get a nutritionist to test you, as well as a doctor.

 

Case in point. I know several people who had sensitivities to foods, all their lives. Completely oblivious to them. Their medical tests cleared. No issues. However, the nutritionists, determined the issue. I'm not saying this is the case with you, but in theirs, the sensitivities varied. Could be dairy, wheat, or the like. Cutting two food groups out, spiked their energy levels, and caused them to start losing weight.

 

When I was a teen, I never had to worry about any of this. I could scarf junk food, and was still muscular and energetic. At my current age, I have to watch every single nutrient I put into my body, or I gain weight and fast. I've noticed certain foods, make me feel fatigued.

 

Diabetes runs in my blood line, and I used to have an addiction to sweets, I could go through an entire McCain cake, in one sitting. Boggles the mind I don't have diabetes, but was starting to show symptoms (I.E Tingling feet, hands, and throbbing tingling sensations darting up my legs). A couple health scares later, and realized I really needed to put heavy attention into what I put in my body.

 

I realized eating certain foods, made it painfully difficult to get out of bed. A lot of foods are in fact poisoning your body.

 

I've always been athletic, so it was incomprehensible to me.

 

Energy drinks, and tons of coffee was my product of choice to stay sharp. You then have to deal with the crash afterwards. You're better off eating well and balanced, and having a natural spike of energy from it.

 

Everyone I know who've made slight modifications to their diets based on sensitivities told me the same thing. Their energy levels have spiked. They no longer need coffee, etc.

 

We're not designed to eat certain processed foods, but do anyways, and profusely.

 

I'd definitely get it professionally looked at. It could be something silly, like a sensitivity to milk, so best knowing right away to correct it.

[Claire-123]

I'm not the best sleeper myself but better than I used to be. I found that I was tired all the time, exhausted after work, not sleeping and generally feeling weak and drained of energy. My doctor found my calcium and vitamin D levels were very low. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium so a vitamin D deficiency stops the body absorbing calcium. A lack of both of these can cause a lot of problems. I was prescribed a lot of vitamin D and have to continue taking it. I still have trouble sleeping but have felt so much better generally. I'm not saying you have the same problem but it's definitely worth going to your doctor to get it checked out. It could be an easy fix as a deficiency in your diet.  

[divided_sky]

Thanks everyone

 

I have had some things checked out by a doctor. So far everything has been normal. Be back at the doctor soon to see what else they want to do

 

Have been getting better and better about my diet, as well as always staying hydrated (ugh makes me feel horrid). But that definitely needs to be improved

I should definitely see a sleep specialist. Was brought up my doctor last time if nothing else seemed like an obvious cause

 

I seem to be out of words at the moment. That's new