Physical exhaustion signs
Fatigue - Better Health Channel
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Summary
Read the full fact sheet- Fatigue can be caused by a number of factors working in combination, such as medical conditions, unhealthy lifestyle choices, workplace problems and stress.
- Fatigue is a known risk factor in motor vehicle and workplace accidents.
- Always see your doctor for diagnosis if you are suffering from chronic tiredness.
Fatigue is a feeling of constant tiredness or weakness and can be physical, mental or a combination of both. It can affect anyone, and most adults will experience fatigue at some point in their life.
Each year, around 1.5 million Australians see their doctor about fatigue. Fatigue is a symptom, not a condition. For many people, fatigue is caused by a combination of lifestyle, social, psychological and general wellbeing issues rather than an underlying medical condition.
Although fatigue is sometimes described as tiredness, it is different to just feeling tired or sleepy. Everyone feels tired at some point, but this is usually resolved with a nap or a few nights of good sleep. Someone who is sleepy may also feel temporarily refreshed after exercising.
If you are getting enough sleep, good nutrition and exercising regularly but still find it hard to perform everyday activities, concentrate or be motivated at your normal levels, you may be experiencing fatigue that needs further investigation.
Symptoms of fatigue
Fatigue can cause a vast range of other physical, mental and emotional symptoms including:
- chronic tiredness or sleepiness
- headache
- dizziness
- sore or aching muscles
- muscle weakness
- slowed reflexes and responses
- impaired decision-making and judgement
- moodiness, such as irritability
- impaired hand-to-eye coordination
- appetite loss
- reduced immune system function
- blurry vision
- short-term memory problems
- poor concentration
- hallucinations
- reduced ability to pay attention to the situation at hand
- low motivation.
Causes of fatigue
The wide range of causes that can trigger fatigue include:
- Medical causes – unrelenting exhaustion may be a sign of an underlying illness, such as a thyroid disorder, heart disease or diabetes.
- Lifestyle-related causes – alcohol or drugs or lack of regular exercise can lead to feelings of fatigue.
- Workplace-related causes – workplace stress can lead to feelings of fatigue
- Emotional concerns and stress – fatigue is a common symptom of mental health problems, such as depression and grief, and may be accompanied by other signs and symptoms, including irritability and lack of motivation.
Fatigue can also be caused by a number of factors working in combination.
Medical causes of fatigue
There are a number of diseases and disorders which trigger fatigue. If you experience prolonged bouts of fatigue, consult your doctor.
Common lifestyle factors that can cause fatigue include:
- Lack of sleep – typically adults need about eight hours of sleep each night.
Some people try to get by on fewer hours of sleep. - Too much sleep – adults sleeping more than 11 hours per night can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness.
- Alcohol and drugs – alcohol is a depressant drug that slows the nervous system and disturbs normal sleep patterns. Other drugs, such as cigarettes and caffeine, stimulate the nervous system and can cause insomnia.
- Sleep disturbances – disturbed sleep may occur for a number of reasons, for example, noisy neighbours, young children who wake in the night, a snoring partner, or an uncomfortable sleeping environment such as a stuffy bedroom.
- Lack of regular exercise and sedentary behaviour – physical activity is known to improve fitness, health and wellbeing, reduce stress, and boost energy levels. It also helps you sleep.
- Poor diet – low kilojoule diets, low carbohydrate diets or high energy foods that are nutritionally poor don’t provide the body with enough fuel or nutrients to function at its best.
Quick fix foods, such as chocolate bars or caffeinated drinks, only offer a temporary energy boost that quickly wears off and worsens fatigue. - Individual factors – personal illness or injury, illnesses or injuries in the family, too many commitments (for example, working two jobs) or financial problems can cause fatigue.
Common workplace issues that can cause fatigue include:
- Shift work – the human body is designed to sleep during the night. This pattern is set by a small part of the brain known as the circadian clock. A shift worker confuses their circadian clock by working when their body is programmed to be asleep.
- Poor workplace practices – can add to a person’s level of fatigue. These may include long work hours, hard physical labour, irregular working hours (such as rotating shifts), a stressful work environment (such as excessive noise or temperature extremes), boredom, working alone with little or no interaction with others, or fixed concentration on a repetitive task.
- Workplace stress – can be caused by a wide range of factors including job dissatisfaction, heavy workload, conflicts with bosses or colleagues, bullying, constant change, or threats to job security.
- Burnout – can be described as striving too hard in one area of life while neglecting everything else. ‘Workaholics’, for example, put all their energies into their career, which puts their family life, social life and personal interests out of balance.
- Unemployment – financial pressures, feelings of failure or guilt, and the emotional exhaustion of prolonged job hunting can lead to stress, anxiety, depression and fatigue.
Psychological causes of fatigue
Studies suggest that psychological factors are present in at least 50 per cent of fatigue cases. These may include:
- Depression – this illness is characterised by severe and prolonged feelings of sadness, dejection and hopelessness.
People who are depressed commonly experience chronic fatigue. - Anxiety and stress – a person who is chronically anxious or stressed keeps their body in overdrive. The constant flooding of adrenaline exhausts the body, and fatigue sets in.
- Grief – losing a loved one causes a wide range of emotions including shock, guilt, depression, despair and loneliness.
Diagnosing fatigue
As fatigue can present a vast range of symptoms and be caused by many different factors working in combination, diagnosis can be difficult. Your doctor may diagnose fatigue using a number of tests including:
- Medical history – recent events such as childbirth, medication, surgery or bereavement may contribute to fatigue.
- Physical examination – to check for signs of illness or disease. Your doctor may also ask detailed questions about diet, lifestyle and life events.
- Tests – such as blood tests, urine tests, x-rays and other investigations.
The idea is to rule out any physical causes, for example anaemia, infection or hormonal problems.
Treating fatigue
Fatigue is a symptom –something you can feel and describe – not a condition or disease. To reduce your fatigue you first need to understand what the underlying reasons for your fatigue are.
If fatigue is having a negative effect on your quality of life, or causing you distress, then consider speaking with a health professional. By asking questions, they will help you work out why you are experiencing fatigue, and offer some suggestions on how to find relief.
If necessary, your doctor might suggest certain medical tests if there is a reasonable chance the cause of your fatigue may be an undiagnosed medical issue (for example, anaemia or thyroid dysfunction).
Fortunately, for most people fatigue will get better over time on its own or with some simple and practical lifestyle changes.
Where to get help
- Your doctor
- Wilson J, Morgan S, Magin P, et al.
2014, Fatigue – a rational approach to investigation, Australian Family Physician, vol. 43, no. 7, pp. 457-461, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. More information here. - Fatigue, 2013, MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine. More information here.
- Fatigue, Mayo Clinic, USA. More information here.
- Fatigue in the workplace, WorkSafe Victoria. More information here.
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
Department of Health State Government of Victoria
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
Department of Health State Government of Victoria
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Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.
Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.
Reviewed on: 30-06-2015
4 Signs To Look For
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
Medically Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on December 03, 2020
In this Article
- What Is Exhaustion?
- Signs of Exhaustion
- Treating Exhaustion
What Is Exhaustion?
Feeling tired is a common experience.
It can be caused by disrupted sleep habits, a change in routine, or the appearance of stressors in your life. No matter the reason, tiredness can push us to our limits emotionally and mentally. In some cases, extreme tiredness sets in. This is called exhaustion.
How can you tell if you’re tired or exhausted? Learn the signs of exhaustion and ways to prevent it from affecting your life and the lives of those around you.
Exhaustion, also known as fatigue, becomes a problem when it continues day to day, affecting your health and safety.
Exhaustion isn’t a mental disorder. But it can be caused by anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, neurological and sleep disorders, anemia, electrolyte abnormalities, diabetes, obesity, and/or an infectious disease or cancer.
Common reasons for fatigue could be lifestyle choices you should address. Here are frequent reasons for fatigue:
- Alcohol or drug use
- Too much physical activity with no rest
- Jet lag disorder
- Lack of physical activity
- Shortage of sleep
- Some medications, like cough medicines or antihistamines
- Unhealthy eating habits
Exhaustion isn’t normally a cause for concern.
But it is when accompanied by:
- Lack of physical or mental energy
- Inability to stay awake or alert
- Accidentally falling asleep, such as when driving or operating heavy machinery
- Inability to maintain or complete an activity
- Tiring easily
- Difficulty concentrating, memorizing, or maintaining emotional stability
If exhaustion starts affecting your daily life, it’s time to talk to a doctor to determine underlying causes.
Signs of Exhaustion
Exhaustion can impact your daily activities, especially if you’re too tired to take care of average tasks. The good news is that exhaustion is treatable; however, here are some signs that you or someone you may know is experiencing it:
Symptoms of Depression or Anxiety
When you or a loved one is dealing with depression and/or anxiety, it can have a draining effect.
Depression can affect your sleep cycle. It may make you unable to sleep.
Or not you may not be able to sleep for long periods. A lack of energy associated with depression may keep you from completing normal activities.
Anxiety can be crippling for people who experience uncontrollable worry all day long. The symptoms include irritability and extreme fatigue.
Lack of Goal Making
Exhaustion can leave you tired and without energy to set goals and stick with them. You might be able to make goals, but you’ll set them aside and be unsure of when you’ll return to them.
Lack of Concentration
Lack of concentration happens when you’re exhausted and can’t focus on a task you had started. You may have a big task to complete, but you can give it only five minutes before you become frustrated and give up.
Disconnecting Relationships
Exhaustion can lead to inability to nurture relationships. This could mean giving your children time-consuming activities so you don’t have to deal with them.
Or perhaps your significant other is requesting attention you don’t have the emotional capability to give.
Treating Exhaustion
If exhaustion begins to leave you drained and unable to complete anything, you should talk to your doctor. They may run tests to find underlying health causes.
Determining the cause of your exhaustion will help you identify what you need to do to alleviate its symptoms. Common treatments include:
Sleep Habits
Getting enough sleep is extremely important. Make sure you’re sleeping enough for your body to feel rested. Keep a normal sleep schedule, and go to bed only if you’re tired.
Make sure your bedroom is prepped for deep sleep — a dark room, comfy furniture, and minimal distractions. You might also try writing about your worries in a journal before bed, so you can let them go while sleeping.
Dietary Changes
Cut out caffeine to reset your body. It’s found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, and some pain killers and herbal remedies.
After a month, take note of how you feel. Caffeine withdrawal can include headaches and irritability at first.
Physical Changes
Consistent physical activity can improve symptoms. Beginning to exercise can seem like a big obstacle if you feel exhausted, but moving for just 15 minutes a day can boost your energy levels.
Carrying excess weight exhausts your body. Eating healthier, exercising, and weight loss can improve your symptoms too.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, might include counseling to discuss the underlying causes and stressors in your life. These could include stress, anxiety, or low mood.
Burnout syndrome
Burnout syndrome is a state of emotional, mental exhaustion, physical fatigue resulting from chronic stress at work. May be characterized by impaired productivity at work, fatigue, insomnia, increased susceptibility to somatic diseases, alcohol or other psychoactive substance use, and suicidal behavior.
The development of this syndrome is typical, first of all, for professions where the provision of assistance to people dominates (medical workers, teachers, psychologists, social workers, rescuers, law enforcement officers, firefighters). Work with “heavy” clients also predisposes to burnout (gerontological, oncological patients, aggressive, suicidal patients, patients with addictions. nine0003
EBS is seen as the result of an unfavorable resolution of stress in the workplace.
Signs of burnout:
- Behavioral change: boredom, resistance to work, tardiness, substance use, accident susceptibility, reduced creativity.
- Change in feelings: depression, gallows humor, feelings of failure, guilt, bitterness, irritability, nit-picking. nine0016
- Changes in thinking: decreased concentration, rigidity, suspicion, incredulity, victim mentality, callousness.
- Changes in health: sleep disturbance, fatigue, reduced immunity.
Questionnaire
Evaluation of the syndrome of emotional burnout.
Phases of development of the CMEA (according to Selye).
- I Voltage phase.
It is a harbinger and a “triggering” mechanism in the formation of emotional burnout. The development of CMEA is preceded by a period of increased activity, when a person is completely absorbed in work, refuses needs that are not related to it, forgets about his own needs. If these efforts of an employee are adequately assessed and supported, if a person receives a sense of the importance and significance of his work, the CMEA does not develop. If not, and there is a collapse of ideas, then the CMEA gets its development. nine0016 - II Phase resistance.
A person strives for psychological comfort and therefore tries to reduce the pressure of external circumstances. - III Phase of exhaustion.
It is characterized by a drop in the overall energy tone and a weakening of the nervous system.
"Burnout" becomes an integral attribute of personality.
Metastases of "burnout" penetrate into the value system of the individual. There is an anti-humanistic attitude. The personality claims that working with people is not interesting, does not give satisfaction, and does not represent social value. nine0003
Prevention and treatment of burnout syndrome.
What protects against the development of EBS can also be used in the treatment of an already developed syndrome.
Two aspects can be distinguished here: individual protection and organizational approach.
Consider the qualities that help a specialist avoid professional burnout.
Firstly, these are the following individual personality traits of a person:
- Conscious, purposeful care of one's physical condition (for example, playing sports and maintaining a healthy lifestyle). nine0016
- High self-esteem and confidence in oneself, one's abilities and capabilities (working with unstable self-esteem, reading psychological literature or contacting a psychotherapist who will point out directions in this matter).
- High professional self-esteem (the need to constantly improve one's professional level).
Secondly, burnout is avoided by people who have experience of successfully overcoming professional stress; capable of constructive change under stressful conditions. nine0003
Thirdly, an important distinguishing feature of people who are not subject to CMEA is the ability to form and maintain positive, optimistic attitudes and values in themselves, both in relation to themselves and other people and life in general. At the end of a brief review of personal protective equipment, I would like to say that "Calllessness to yourself is also a mutilation."
Be attentive to yourself. At the first manifestations of SEB, take action: take a break, meet friends, change the environment, discover your creative abilities. If improvised means do not help, seek help. This can be attending trainings (from personal growth training to creativity training), individual or group work with a psychotherapist.
Remember, the CMEA will not go away on its own, you must take steps to protect yourself. If you feel that you cannot cope with the problem yourself, do not delay the trip to a specialist. nine0003
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By sending your personal data to the Limited Liability Company Research and Production Association "Volgograd Center for Disease Prevention" YugMed ", you confirm that you are familiar with the rights and obligations in accordance with the Federal Law "On Personal Data". nine0003
15 signs of burnout syndrome - KP.RU
Komsomolskaya Pravda
HEALTH Be healthy
Oleg KOLESOV
June 4, 2017 21:16
Do you have real fatigue from work?
Mostly subordinate employees suffer from the syndrome. Photo: Valentin DRUZHININ
The beginning of the working week is the best time to take a test and understand: is it temporary fatigue from work or a real professional burnout syndrome? To do this, you just need to honestly compare your condition with the fifteen signs listed below. nine0003
"Usually, burnout syndrome occurs when exposure to overload is sufficiently long - from a month to a year ," says psychologist Ekaterina Trofimova .
- And although to a lesser extent it affects people who are able to quickly adapt depending on the situation. In most cases, without special purposeful work, it is difficult to overcome the consequences of professional burnout syndrome" .
In fact, this is a danger that threatens, first of all, workaholics (do not confuse: if you just do not like your job and are not doing your own business, then this is a completely different case). nine0003
Burnout does not come on suddenly. It is impossible to wake up one morning and understand what has “covered” you, burnout syndrome creeps up gradually, which is why it can be difficult to recognize for a long time. And yet, our body and mind give signals that cannot be ignored.
All signs of the burnout syndrome can be divided into three groups and correlated with the above conditions: physical and moral exhaustion, out of nowhere cynicism and detachment, an inferiority complex and failure. Symptoms worsen as stress builds up.
nine0003
If some of these signs are characteristic of you, it is worth analyzing the situation and getting off this crooked path before it's too late. Burnout syndrome is not a cold, it will not go away on its own.
The sooner you recognize the danger, the easier it will be for you to cope with this condition.
.Photo: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS
So, the main signs of physical and moral exhaustion:
PERMANENT FATIGUE
In the initial stages of the syndrome, a person may feel a lack of energy and constantly feel tired. The last phase is characterized by complete physical and moral exhaustion, accompanied by a sense of fear for the future - whether the contract will be extended or not, whether the salary will be enough to cover the loan or not, and so on. nine0003
TROUBLES WITH SLEEP
It all starts with the fact that from time to time you find it difficult to sleep, or you wake up in the middle of the night a couple of times a week.
Over time, insomnia gets worse.
Over time, insomnia increases. Photo: Evgeniya GUSEVA
APPETITE PROBLEMS
At the initial stage of the burnout syndrome, a person stops feeling hungry, starts eating less, skips lunch or dinner. In the future, the appetite may disappear completely. nine0003
However, there is also the other side of the problem – when a person stops getting pleasure and joy from work, he tries to get it from something else, for example, from food. That's where cola chips come from in front of the TV while watching multi-episode series and long lunches with a change of dishes.
FEELING OF ANXIETY
At the beginning, there may be a slight tension, fears for some reason. With the development of burnout syndrome, anxiety can increase so much that you will be unable to work productively. This can also affect your personal life. nine0003
Loss of appetite - one of the signs of "burnout"Photo: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS
FORGETTING, REDUCED CONCENTRATION AND ATTENTION : a person cannot cope with the work, there is a feeling that everything is falling apart.
HEALTH PROBLEMS
Symptoms may include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, epigastric pain, dizziness, fainting, headaches. nine0003
.
Physical exhaustion leads to a weakened immune system, which causes frequent colds, flu and other infections.
DEPRESSION
In the initial stages, you may feel sadness, hopelessness, guilt. All this can lead to the development of a serious depression, accompanied by thoughts that the world would be a better place without you. In this case, you can not do without the help of a specialist.
IRRITABILITY
The source of irritability can be failures in work or personal life, a feeling of being useless and the realization that you are no longer as good as before. Such an attitude can destroy not only a career, but also a personal life.
Outdoor activities will help relieve stressPhoto: Timur SHARIPKULOV
ANGRY
It all starts with tension in communicating with some people and irritability, which develops into outbursts of anger and serious quarrels, conflicts in the family and at work.
nine0003
LOSS OF JOY
At first, this is not very pronounced. For example, you do not want to go to work. But gradually the loss of a sense of joy spreads to all spheres of life, including family life. It ceases to please not only work, but also communication with friends.
PESSIMISM
It all starts with a loss of motivation. Then there is distrust of colleagues and relatives. There is a feeling that in this world you can not rely on anyone. nine0003
Irritability and anger appearPhoto: Evgenia GUSEVA
ISOLATION
At first, you just don't want to leave the house, participate in some kind of event. Sometimes you want to lock yourself in a room and not let anyone in. In the future, even the fact that someone just spoke to you begins to annoy you. You try to avoid any society.
DISCLAIMER
Detachment can take the form of isolated behavior described above.
Attempts to isolate yourself from society may manifest itself in the fact that you stop answering calls and letters, often taking sick leave, or intentionally being late. nine0003
Decreased attention and forgetfulness are just the first signsPhoto: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS
FEELINGS OF APATHY AND HOPEPLE
These signs are similar to the depression and pessimism described above. It seems to you that everything is wrong, or nothing matters. The result is a loss of meaning in life.
INSUFFICIENT PRODUCTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE
Chronic stress prevents you from being productive as before. This leads to the accumulation of unfinished work, missed deadlines. Sometimes you feel like you're trying your best, but nothing works. nine0003
Vitamins can no longer solve such a problem Photo: EAST NEWS
ALSO RELATED:
Most of all, work exhausts secretaries and salesmen you won't take it! For the sake of money and career heights, many employees are downright "burning" - the tension is accumulating, and you just can't discharge it.
This is the so-called "burnout syndrome". The extent to which residents of the regional center are covered by this syndrome and how they cope with it, employees of the recruiting company Headhunter recently found out. We polled about 400 citizens via the Internet and found out that almost 70% are familiar with the state of "burnout"! (next)
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