Extreme Fatigue And Frustration

[SeekingAfrica]

Hey everyone,

So I know that fatigue does come with PTSD and anxiety to an extend, but I feel there's something more going on with me.

When I was in university I was always more tired from people doing the same things as me. At the time I thought it was from sleep depravation. Later I thought from depression. Then I thought it's because I'm busy and overwhelmed. Then I thought it's because I've been working out a lot. Then I thought it's anxiety. Then I thought it's the meds I started.

But the bottom line is I always got tired easily, at least for many years, unnaturaly so. From before PTSD, before depression, before anxiety. And lately I think the anxiety combined with it is making it even worse. I get really tired just on regular weeks, where I have something between 20-40 h weeks at work, on good week(self-employed) and 10-20h on bad week. 8 years ago before all this, I had summer with working 16h/day and I was okay. Tired, yes. But not like now. Now I can barely function like a normal person without getting tired all the time. And just with keeping up with chores and occasionally seeing people and going to dance classes and so on.

This week I've had to go to physiotherapy for my wrist. In one week I've been to 7 physiotherapies and 1 psychotherapy. It takes me 2 buses to get to the therapies, and 2 buses to get to the apartment I use for office. This week I also saw few different friends. And today I feel sick of everything and extremely tired. I've been so tired I've been taking unusual amount of taxies. And walking half-asleep everywhere.

Yesterday and today I'm only watching my dance class, because I can't make myself do more than somehow get to the studio. Dancing is not an option. I slept in the bus on the way back. And last night I was pretty much laying down from 7PM. I'm too tired to even go do blood tests yet. I feel like sack of potatoes transported from 1 place to another. I'm exhausted. I'm planning to spend the next 24h resting(other than the next therapy of course), drawing and more resting. But this is just an unusual week.

Still- I get so tired, so fast. I sleep for 10h and wake up as if I haven't slept at all. I have a day with less than full day at work and I'm drained. I need naps during the day. Also my hair is falling too much lately. Something is off. Might be adrenal or thyroid, might be iron deficiency...I'll do hormone tests as soon as I'm a bit rested. I hope it's one of those few things. If it's physical, then there will be some treatment. It's hard to regain my life mentally if I'm constantly this tired. It will be nice if it's something simple and physical which I can treat and improve.

Anyone else having similar issues? Sorry this is so long, I got sick of feeling this tired.

 

[UnKnown-Self]

I have always struggled with bouts of extreme tiredness. This last run has lasted about 2 years.
First you should get a complete physical.
Anemia, thyroid, magnesium and vitamin D levels could be culprits. I recently had some blood work done and my vitamin D which should be around 60-70 was 12. I am now taking a combo of vitamin D K& A and I soak my feet each night in epsom salt and vinegar. This helps with leg cramps. The feet absorb the magnesium in the epsom salt. Often people with PTSD have trouble absorbing nutrients.
Also it might help to keep a journal. Anxiety pulls out a lot of energy. Maybe you will see an emotional connection

Alice

 

[jaccat]

Yeah, I've struggled with it. Get the tests to rule anything else out. In my case they found nothing, I think it was literally the sheer amount of stress I was under at the time coupled with lack of sleep, but it was nothing like just being 'tired'.

 

[shimmerz]

Yes, this is me as well. It displays differently in me and it took me a long time to figure out I was tired, but this is definitely me.

 

[SeekingAfrica]

I have always struggled with bouts of extreme tiredness. This last run has lasted about 2 y...

Thanks! Some of these I didn't think to check. I'll add them to the list. For a long time I thought it's normal tiredness or overwhelm, but now looking back...I don't know, with the years more and more things add up that just makes me think it's something else. Probably not serious or else there would have been more obvious symptoms, but whatever it is, I need it solved.
It's really interfering with my healing process. I need to rebuilt so much in my life, and being tired all the time is not helping at all. I have physiotherapy for few more days, but I am hoping I'll squeeze in the bloodwork this week too.

 

[UnKnown-Self]

Log its interfering with your healing process, it's serious :sleep:

 

[UnKnown-Self]

I heard this somewhere so I can't take credit for it.

Imagine you have a backpack and each one of you traumas, fears, pain, anger and sorrows are rocks that you carry constantly in that backpack. Plus you are always adding new rocks making the load heavier and heavier.
It takes a hell of a lot of energy to carry it. That used energy uses up not only your nutrients needed by your body but it also steals your joy.
Take care of yourself physically but don't ignore your emotional self. Life is all about balance.

 

[Penny C]

I don't know if you are on any medications, but the only medication that helped my symptoms also made me severely fatigued. I did not realize it until much later. Maybe you are not on medications though. Also, sometimes I would under-eat and that made it worse too.
I also know someone who didn't know that they were holding their breath in their sleep when they were in times of high anxiety. and that was causing severe fatigue in the daytime. A sleep doctor was able to tell him the problem. Those suggestions are specific and might not apply to you so I am sorry if they don't. But there are solutions so don't give up! It just might take some time.
I'm sorry this is happening because I remember my fatigue being very hard to deal with. I really, really, really hope you feel better soon.

 

[UnKnown-Self]

@Penny C

Thank you! A sleep study is something I should look into. I always wake up feeling tired.

 

[SeekingAfrica]

I don't know if you are on any medications, but the only medication that helped my symptoms also made m...

I do have medication for anxiety I take. When I first started it for couple of months it improved my energy levels, but then it went back to regular fatigue.
I also had period when I exercised a lot(like a lot a LOT - 2.5 h daily, I was training for something) and that did improve things slightly as well. After the training itself I was so tired I would practically have to rest for half hour. But, overall it did increase my energy levels the rest of the time.

These 2 instances make me think it's something hormonal, which does get affected by things that are good or bad for me(adding stress, or adding exercise) like it is for anyone, except the starting energy level is a lot lower. For whatever reason. I just have this hunch. Something is off. Or may be it's wishfull thinking that there is a reason that I can just find and easily fix. Because it that is anxiety fatigue, it will take a lot longer to get it under control.

I need it to get better faster. There are days when having a full work day is pretty much all I have energy for. Or if I have one doctor's appointment and one meeting with a friend that's all I can do that day. Or if I have to shop, go to bank or administration, etc. I don't have energy for work or anything social...you get the picture. It not good at all.

As far as eating goes, I'm sure I'm not undereating. Plus I have had this tiredness through long time, and I have had it when I eat more, eat less, eat junk food, eat normal...of course when I highly concentrate on very strickt healthy eating, that has helped a bit, but it's not something I can sustain right now. Sleep doctor is a cool idea, but I am not sure such thing even exists here where I am right now. How do I find that??

 

[Silver.]

Well I am in the States, so I am sure it's different, but my doctor had referred me to a sleep specialist, it's not something (here) that you can just call up and request. (a lot of people are highly active in their sleep and are not aware of it, just a thought. if you sleep alone and no one else sees you sleeping to make a comment about it, you would have no idea eh?)

I am totally with everyone here, adjusting your diet and definitely visiting the doctor because there could just be so many reasons for what is going on and it can become emotionally draining. Do keep us updated though eh?

 

[SeekingAfrica]

Well I am in the States, so I am sure it's different, but my doctor had referred me to a sleep speciali...

Of course! Thank you for all the answers. I tried my own little research and also got all the answers from you guys. It's one of these issues that you don't quite pay attention to until they are so big that you have no choice to...So I finally reached that point I guess- I am ready to deal with it.
And to a point where it has to happen soon.

So the things I have thought of so far:
- I am going to go for bloodwork to check some hormones, vitamin levels, thyroid, kidneys etc.

- I will make a list of things that can potentially affect this one way or another(diet, exercise, stress, bio-levels of high and low energy, what I do
before sleep, do I worry right before, what I dream and so on) and try to work on these things- although this might take longer time, as I am currently up to my ears with things to work on

- another potential- talk to neurologist. - I didn't find sleep specialist, but I found neurologist who had an article on potential sleep issues(like sleep apnea) and I may have consultation with him or something...

I just reached a point where I'm ready to deal with it I guess.
Will keep you guys updated. Wish me luck to manage to go for blood work tomorrow, it scares me so I think I am avoiding it, but I will try tomorrow morning.