Fatigue often feels distinctly physical — and it is. But the mind, spirit, and emotions can still be driving causes. Long periods of overwork, significant personal loss, and mood disorders can all change how the brain allocates energy.
In burnout, physical and emotional resources become deeply depleted by chronic stress. It can feel as if our body and emotions have gone on strike, refusing to keep up the breakneck pace. “We don’t thrive when we’re constantly in survival mode,” says functional nutritionist Jesse Haas, CNS, LN. “Sometimes fatigue is the body saying, ‘Hey, dude, I can’t do what you’re asking of me. We need less.’”
Fatigue is also a common element of grief. Feelings like sadness and anger consume substantial emotional energy, and after a big loss, the mind has to remap a world that’s changed — which is a lot of work. Expecting too much from ourselves too soon, before our energy stores have had time to replenish, might lead to prolonged feelings of depletion.
Depression comes with its own challenges, including imbalanced neurotransmitters, increased inflammation, and disrupted sleep patterns. All these are treatable, but motivation to do so can be hard to find.
How to address:
“Exercise is really important in [treating] depression, but when you’re really fatigued, it’s hard to do any exercise,” notes functional-medicine physician Gregory Plotnikoff, MD, MTS, FACP. “Part of the goal is to break that spiral and reverse it upward so people are getting dopamine hits from small achievements.” (Try these five tips to start moving if you’re struggling with your mental health.)
In cases like these, the basics of self-care — stabilizing sleep, moving the body, eating wholesome and nourishing food — provide an important foundation. Maintaining reasonable expectations and celebrating the small wins can help; so can patience and self-compassion.
Finally, working with a trusted care provider can be extremely supportive when energy is brought low by life’s challenges. You don’t have to do it all alone.
Fatigue, Explained
About one in five adults struggles with general fatigue and one in 10 experiences chronic exhaustion. Pinpointing the root causes can be challenging, but doing so is essential for effective management — and long-term relief. Learn more at “8 Reasons You Might Be Exhausted — and How to Recharge,” from which this article was excerpted.
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