Is Anyone Else Constantly Tired?

[Shellbell]

Hi,



Another thought, as it's forming in my head, I believe this 'crash' I have experienced and subsequent landing area to which I seem fixed, is the result of twenty years (at least) of trying to obtain affect regulation by all sorts of means that have mostly taken my life in a variety of disadvantageous routes. Coming to a stop like this is the 'end of the line' in attempting external/maladpative adjustments or distractions (skipping school, smoking, drug taking, trying to be cool with the 'bad' kids, high level effiency, academic/career mania, exercise, constant 'mediator' in situations, helping others to the detriment of my own advancement, shopping, appearance, sleeping, avoiding patterns, general living for the weekend, non-agency promiscuity) . The reason I have stopped, (including work) is that I physiologically can't take the emotional-neuro-biologoical-ANS (mental) strain anymore. The only options my body will accept from now on are those which are positive regulations even if in 'sensible' terms they appear to an outsider to be 'not in my best interests'. So in a weird way this is what I've been aiming for. It' just its knocked the crap out of me getting here.

I totally empathise with this - as this is so similar to my experiences. It is 20 years since the most severe trauma and since then I did similar to you - live to high level efficiency - push myself constantly with regard to work, exercise and so many of the things you have quoted, whilst dealing with chronic insomna, avoiding triggers, managing anxiety etc.

Over the last 12 months this started to fall apart and within the last couple of months everything has crashed down around me - like a breakdown - and I cannot work. Work was my rock for a long time and I pushed myself to be the best - like you stated to the point of mania - mediocrity was not an option. Now I am unable to work, I don't even want to leave my house. My body only tolerates activities that involve the least amount of anxiety, which doesn't leave a great deal of options right now.

 

[Springer80]

Over the last 12 months this started to fall apart and within the last couple of months everything has crashed down around me - like a breakdown - and I cannot work.

Hi Shell Bell,
You know I've had breakdowns before and whist I've been off work occasioanlly I've wondered what the office gossip is about my long absence. I thought I bet they think I've had a breakdown. But that doesn't feel right to me and you said 'like' a breakdown, not actually one.

I think this is a breakout. I finally have been let off the rollercoaster, the drag act has left the stage etc etc. And the only thing this true and more vulnerable bit can take is what I actually need and I've been denying that for a long time.

I don't want to get back in drag!!! :D

 

[p-no]

Oh yes. Very tired most of the time. But also not able to sleep (well) most of the time, due to "physical anxiety" (I don't feel anxious, have no nightmares, nothing). Hope this will get better at some stage.

 

[Springer80]

Oh yes. Very tired most of the time. But also not able to sleep (well) most of the time, due to "physical anxiety" (I don't feel anxious, have no nightmares, nothing). Hope this will get better at some stage.

Hey p-no,

Get yourself to the docs, get checked for vitamins (d and iron), minerals, cortisol and dhea levels etc. Do you mean twitching, itching, burning, aching muscles? Don't leave it to hopefully go. Long term adrenal gland probs can also cause low blood pressure which is why I found it so hard to get up sometimes but lying down also lowers blood pressure, so if your dissociating and sleeping a lot it makes it worse. Sorry you feeling rubbish and I don't mean to sound preachy but I just feel eager to share some solutions that have given me a better quality of life. Hope you can get some nice rest too! :)

 

[p-no]

Get yourself to the docs, get checked for vitamins (d and iron), minerals, cortisol and dhea levels etc.

Hi Springer,

I read your other exchange re this with Junebug in another thread and already decided to do just that. Thanks! Cortisol is fine; doc said: You have excellent cortisol levels, a very good level of the "good cortisol". I liked that. But what is dhea?

Do you mean twitching, itching, burning, aching muscles?

No. I have trouble explaining this well in English. ... I lie down and I think I get into the exact same position as I did as a young child when sexually abused, just "cramp up", put the head back as much as possible, raise the shoulders and freeze. Hate it. There is so no feeling of anxiety, but I can't get my body to relax. I have taken muscle relaxants and they are great! So they give me such a relief I will wake up, lol, because I so enjoy not being "cramped up"! Then I will not sleep for another hour or two because it's just such a good feeling. When I do go to sleep, guess what happens... sigh. Body memory re-enacted yet another time.

Don't leave it to hopefully go...

No, I won't. I know things don't just change because I'd like them to. ;)

What are gland probs? I'll check the dictionary, are these the full words?

I did have low blood pressure, always had it. Docs love it (now, because it has never changed but for my current age it's the perfect blood pressure, it seems).

My t says (I do too) that I don't dissociate. Also, I don't sleep a lot. Does this often appear together? What I have noted though is I sleep way more relaxed if I go to sleep at nine in the morning on a weekend. Sometimes I do that when I really need to catch up on some quality sleep. Just a few hours.

Springer, you so don't sound preachy! You sound helpful and eager to help, and I like that. Thanks very much for caring. I am glad you have found some solutions that have given you a better quality of life! It's worth so much! :inlove:

 

[Traumagirl]

Shellbell and Springer, I too have experienced this crash. Before the PTSD, I was stressed all the time and constantly in motion. I could accomplish more then anyone else. Then, the PTSD took over and I now work part-time. I drag myself through work and then sometimes only tolerate my children. My doctors seem to be completely baffled as to why I'm so tired. My cortisol and thyroid are very low, and I have very little energy. It makes having a good attitude toward life and my PTSD nearly impossible. Although I don't wish this on anyone else, it's great to see that I 'm not the only one. I hope we all start feeling better soon.

 

[Shellbell]

Although I don't wish this on anyone else, it's great to see that I 'm not the only one. I hope we all start feeling better soon.

I know what you mean, I also wouldn't wish this on anyone, but it's reassuring to know that what you are going through is 'normal' for PTSD. I've seen a few posts now about PTSD 'crashes'. Makes me feel like I'm not just going mad :eek:

I also hope that we all start getting better soon. Although the phrase baby steps is said a lot, so it may not seem like progress, but progress of any kind is positive :)

 

[Lionheart]

I too am tired constantly but for me, the cause is chronic fatigue syndrome, (also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis). Initially, I tested positive for Epstein-Barr Mono, later I tested positive for cytomegalovirus mono and after that, I tested positive for both. I never fully recovered and after 18 months of medical tests I was diagnosed with CFS/ME.

Several years later, I was also diagnosed as having fibromyalgia, which causes "brain-fog" (also called "fibro-fog") This is slow mental processing (that comes and goes), making it difficult to retain what is read, difficulty with word-finding, etc.. I am including a link to a site to help me explain the symptoms: http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/symptoms/a/brainfog.htm

I think it's true that stress wears one down physically, but I don't know if I would accept it as the only cause or not...my suggestion is to talk to your doctor about your symptoms and see if there is something they can do. There are many things that can cause brain-fog and fatigue besides stress alone and hopefully there is something that the doctors can do to help.