Feeling more depleted than ever – unless you’re a key worker or are now attempting to home school a year 3 while working full time – sounds counterintuitive. Theoretically, now that you’re not driving to the office every AM or socialising multiple times a week, you should be resting more than ever?
Well, no. The symptoms of exhaustion could well be coming for you in this time, thanks to an overactive mind; if not body. According to clinical psychologist Dr Emma Hepburn, aka @thepsychologymum, bring strung out right now is a pretty typical reaction to what’s going on.
‘In the current situation, your brain is expertly detecting all that extra threat and predicting you need more energy to manage it, which means your body is guzzling up extra energy to help you get ready to respond,’ she said in a recent Instagram post.
So. How to know if you are exhausted – and what to do about it? Scroll on for the information you need.
How do you spot the signs of exhaustion?
‘Exhaustion is overwhelming,’ says nutritionist Jennie Gough, who has herself suffered from – and overcome – the condition.
‘It’s not like normal tiredness. It’s like you’re trying to move through thick mud, and think through thick fog. All you want to do is lie down and sleep – and then sleep some more, after that. You can’t function because everything leaves you wiped out.’
So, potentially all you multi-tasking, high achieving, Type A women could be at risk. ‘We’re seeing an increasing number of women with symptoms of exhaustion,’ says Dr Sarah Brewer, GP and Healthspan medical director.
‘Perhaps because they are more likely to juggle different aspects of life and have less time to prioritise their own health.’
What are the common symptoms of exhaustion?
1/ You can’t think straight – or at all
2/ You are more than stressed out
3/ Your usual healthy go-to’s have been replaced by chocolate bars, chips and coke
4/ You find yourself counting sheep one too many nights in a row
5/ Your lips are constantly cracked and dry
6/ You can’t bear the thought of the gym – and when you do manage to drag yourself there, your PBs have significantly dropped
7/ Your mood is tumultuous, to say the least
8/ You feel short of breath – even when you’re doing nothing at all
9/ You seem to permanently have the office cold
10/ Your sofa is fast becoming your new BFF
When does exhaustion become a medical diagnosis?
If your exhaustion has continued for over four months, then you may be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, per the NHS.
According to the NHS, CFS is a long-term illness with a wide range of symptoms including extreme tiredness. Sometimes it’s referred to as ME, which stands for myalgic encephalomyelitis, however, the syndrome is the same. There is no specific test for it, so a diagnosis is based on the symptoms you’ve got, and by crossing other potential issues off the list.
CFS/ME can affect anyone, including children but it’s more common in women aged between mid-20s and mid-40s.
The common symptoms include sleep problems muscle or joint pain, headaches, feeling dizzy or sick and fast or irregular heartbeats (heart palpitations) but there are many more, which can often be exaggerated by exercise.
‘Chronic fatigue syndrome occurs when energy delivery mechanisms in the body are down, or energy is being used by the immune system to, say, fight a chronic infection,’ is the belief of Dr Sarah Myhill, author of Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalitis. Which means? ‘There is no energy left to live.’
‘The symptom of stress occurs when the brain knows it does not have the energy to deal with the demands of life,’ Dr Myhill continues. ‘If we mask that symptom – with a prop such as sugar, alcohol or caffeine – then we ‘sail close to the wind’ and a minor viral infection could be all it takes to flip the body into a CFS state.’
It’s important to note, however, that there the medical profession is not united on the root cause or trigger of CFS. The official NHS stance is that a few theories may hold the truth, including that could be triggered by:
When should I be concerned about fatigue?
If you think you might be at risk – or already showing symptoms of exhaustion – it’s time to call your GP.
‘When someone is showing signs of exhaustion,’ Dr Brewer says, ‘a GP should ask questions to help pinpoint the cause (for example, could it be the result of lifestyle, stress, depression, post-viral fatigue, medication side effects or pregnancy?).
‘They should also examine you – checking your blood pressure, heart rhythm, temperature, thyroid size, liver, and look for any obvious intra-abdominal lumps).’
Still at odds? ‘Request a screening test to rule out conditions such as a hidden infection, anaemia, diabetes, thyroid or other autoimmune diseases, kidney liver or heart problems,’ Dr Brewer suggests.
⚠️ If you think you could be suffering from symptoms of exhaustion or extreme fatigue, see a GP. They’ll be able to assess your symptoms and prescribe medication, if necessary.
Can high blood pressure cause you to feel more tired?
In a word, ‘yes.’ High blood pressure can play a role in tiredness. But, why? Well, high blood pressure increases pressure on vital organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys, which causes tiredness.
Often, unexplained tiredness that doesn’t appear to have a cause can be a result of high blood pressure.
OK, so how do you deal with fatigue symptoms?
While your symptoms of exhaustion may point to the need to take a solid week of rest, the following, from Gough, may help you to feel more energised.
It’s pretty simple – out with energy-zapping foods, in with energy-pumping alternatives, and make a few – minor – adjustments to your current lifestyle. Oh, and don’t break the following rules, says Gough. You’ll thank us for it in the long run.
1. Eat smaller, more regular meals
AKA get snacking. ‘Eating every three to four hours can help reduce sugar cravings and prevent blood sugar crashes that can stress your body and make you feel more tired,’ Gough says.
2. Get 7-8 hours of (quality) sleep per night
‘It’s important to establish good sleep habits and a regular bedtime routine,’ Gough says. Feel like your five? Suck it. ‘Avoid stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol in the evening, unplug electronics and adjust your bedroom temperature to a be bit cooler.’
3. Control your cortisol
‘Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone,’ Gough says. ‘For some people, chronic fatigue may be linked to a disruption in their normal cortisol rhythm. Rebalance yours by managing your stress levels.’ Easier said than done? Try this technique for relieving stress in three minutes and read up on what happened when our editor took a cortisol test.
What are the best foods to eat when tired?
1/ Eggs
Well, anything rich in protein, to be honest – chicken, fish, quinoa, the list goes on.
Nutritional therapist Libby Limon steps it up a notch. ‘Combining proteins with healthy fats is the best way to give a sustainable energy supply to the body,’ she says. ‘Have poached eggs with avocado, for example, or trout with a quinoa salad.’
2/ Spinach
Popeye had it right. ‘Being low on iron can make you feel tired and breathless,’ says Gough. ‘Eat plenty of leafy greens, red meat and fortified foods. If symptoms persist, ask your GP to check your iron levels to rule out anaemia.’
3/ Butternut squash
Can’t bear the food prep faff? Any other slow-release carb – think brown rice, lentils, chickpeas – will do.
4/ Turkey
It’s time to rethink your relationship with this festive favourite. ‘It’s rich in B vitamins such as B6 and B12, which help support normal energy metabolism and can help reduce symptoms of exhaustion,’ Gough says. Veggie? Wholegrain cereals like oats and brown rice, will also do the trick.
5/ Nuts
They’re pretty much good at everything so no wonder they’ve made the cut for combating fatigue. The reason? They’re a solid source of magnesium. ‘Your body needs magnesium in order to manufacture energy so if levels are low, you’ll be persistently tired,’ Gough says. Other sources of the mineral include green leafy vegetables and seeds.
What shouldn’t I eat if I have the signs of fatigue?
1/ Double espresso
‘Yes, they make you feel great initially,’ says Gough. ‘But they can be too stimulating, and lead to a ‘crash and burn’ effect – adding significant stress to your adrenal glands and depleting your body of vital energy.’
The same goes for anything containing caffeine. Soz. Really can’t go without? ‘Try organic green tea,’ says Limon. ‘Unlike coffee, it slowly releases caffeine due to an amino-acid called L-Theanine, which counters with a calming effect.’ Magic.
2/ Biscuits
Highly processed or sugar foods (such as cakes, chocolate and biscuits) send your blood sugar levels on a rollercoaster ride to fatigue, anxiety and cravings. ‘Choose fruit and slow-releasing carbs to keep energy levels more stable,’ Gough says.
What is the best supplement for tiredness?
There are a few supplements on the market, however, these three are famed for their fatigue-fighting properties.
B-Complex
B vitamins are co-factors for Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), your body’s energy source. Look for a supplement that contains all the B vitamins – these nutrients work best as a team. But watch out. ‘It is important not to consume too much so always consult your doctor or a nutritionist before taking any supplements,’ Gough says.
Panax ginseng
‘Panax ginseng can boost physical energy, prevent fatigue and improve endurance,’ Dr Brewer says.
Should I exercise when tired?
Chances are exercise is going to be the last thing on your mind but, when it comes to fending off signs of exhaustion, it’s important to keep the body moving.
Personal trainer and yoga teacher Emily Cohen suggests going back to basics: ‘Take the stairs when you can, walk around the block in your lunch break and do a few stretches before bed.’ Combine that with Limon’s mindful exercises for the optimum fatigue-fighting approach:
Meditation or 2:4 breath
‘Close your eyes and breathe in for a count of two, then out for a count of four,’ she says. ‘Breathing out for longer than you breathe in, soothes and relaxes the nervous system.’
Body reading
‘Focus on one part of your body at a time, starting with your toes,’ she says. ‘With each breath, work your way up your body. This is a fantastic way to relax the mind and switch off from stress.’
Yoga for tiredness
‘Opt for passive techniques that focus on breathing to revive and energise,’ she says. ‘Yoga nidra, for example, is very nourishing for the body. If you can’t find a class, there are lots of recordings to follow online.’
‘Choose a restorative type such as bridge pose, with a yoga block placed under the sacrum to support and take the weight, and hold for 3-5 minutes,’ she says.
This article originally appeared on Women’s Health UK.
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