Extreme Fatigue
If you want to crash out all the time and find yourself slinking away somewhere quiet to close your eyes, you probably have extreme fatigue.
Extreme fatigue could also make you irritable, anxious, and depressed, give you a wicked headache or migraine, and have you relying on caffeine and other stimulants like energy drinks and sugar to get through the day.
Some people get extreme fatigue from poor sleep, diet, or social anxiety, which can strip all your energy reserves before you know it.
However, it can also come from underlying medical conditions like diabetes and glandular fever and as a long-term symptom of the dreaded COVID-19 virus, referred to as “long COVID.”
What are the red flags of extreme fatigue?
You can’t stay awake.
If you need a daytime nap and don’t have any medical conditions that could explain it, extreme fatigue could be the cause.
Ask yourself: How well do you sleep? Do you feel your energy reserves depleting when meeting people? For many of us, poor sleep and social interactions lead to fatigue and that inevitable crash by lunchtime.
You get headaches
Headaches are a prevalent symptom of extreme fatigue.
If you stay hydrated, eat well, and don’t live in a highly polluted area, you shouldn’t get many headaches other than the odd one every week. Of course, pregnancy, menopause, and bugs and viruses can also give you headaches.
You turn events down.
Extreme fatigue does a funny thing – it turns you into a recluse.
You’ll have no energy to go anywhere unless it offers something special, and you’ll look for ways to get out of events so that you can rest.
If you’d rather crawl into bed than go out for meals, meet friends, or do anything that makes life great, consider whether fatigue is to blame.
You crave sugar and caffeine.
Whether it’s coffee, sweets, chocolate, energy drinks, or jam on toast, extreme fatigue will make you crave things that can boost your energy.
Some of these aren’t too bad – caffeine can improve alertness in low doses – but they can also impact your sleep and give you the jitters in high doses.
You’re highly irritable.
We can all get irritable, but extreme-fatigue-irritable is on another level.
When extremely tired, you’ll flip your lid quickly and lash out at anyone, with instant regret afterward. Fatigue could be to blame if you’re always angry and struggling to maintain your composure.
Here are the signs and possible causes of extreme fatigue as provided by the NHS:
- Sleep apnea: You experience daytime drowsiness due to disrupted sleep, often with nighttime episodes of gasping, choking, or snorting. Partners may report loud, persistent snoring. You wake up feeling extremely tired.
- Iron deficiency: You have persistent fatigue, unusual heart sensations, difficulty catching your breath, and a noticeably pale complexion.
- Diabetes: Unexplained exhaustion coupled with increased fluid intake, frequent urination (especially at night), and unintentional weight loss.
- Hyperthyroidism: Constant fatigue paradoxically paired with restlessness, heightened anxiety, irritability, and unexplained muscle weakness.
- Myalgic encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Debilitating fatigue lasting over three months significantly impairs daily functioning, accompanied by cognitive difficulties (often called “brain fog“) and symptoms resembling a persistent flu-like state.
Lifestyle suggestions for fighting fatigue
There are seven steps you can take to improve your symptoms:
- Eat small, frequent meals with balanced nutrients every 3-4 hours.
- Start with gentle exercise like short walks, gradually increasing intensity.
- Establish a consistent sleep schedule and bedtime routine.
- Practice daily stress-reduction techniques like meditation or deep breathing.
- Stay hydrated and limit caffeine and alcohol.
- Improve your sleep environment with a comfortable mattress.
- Consult a doctor if fatigue persists to rule out underlying conditions.
But most importantly, recognise when you are fatigued and try to understand why so you can find a suitable solution.