Exhausted

Understanding Exhaustion

Exhaustion, sometimes referred to as fatigue, is a feeling of extreme tiredness and lack of energy. It can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender. You may feel very tired for a couple of days if you aren’t getting enough sleep, but if you experience feelings of extreme fatigue and tiredness, and fatigue symptoms, for a long period of time, or if your symptoms of fatigue are having an impact on your daily life, you may be experiencing exhaustion.

If you find yourself thinking “I feel exhausted” during the day or during routine tasks, like working or studying, it is a good idea to seek help. By reflecting on your lifestyle and daily habits, you can understand why you might be feeling extreme tiredness.

Exhaustion can also be a sign of other health conditions, like chronic fatigue syndrome, so if you believe you are suffering from medical conditions relating to chronic fatigue, talking to your doctor or another healthcare professional can give you the diagnosis you need.

Getting support is easy, and it is the first step in making a change in your daily life. At Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies, we offer a range of services designed to supporting you and your mental health, especially if you find that feeling exhausted and other symptoms are leading to other issues, like depression, or leaving you feeling anxious, stressed or overwhelmed.

What are the different types of exhaustion?

There are different types of exhaustion which can impact your mental health and disrupt your daily life and routine.

Physical exhaustion

A state of extreme tiredness or lack of energy, physical exhaustion is typically a result of poor sleep, an unhealthy lifestyle, stress or underlying medical conditions like anaemia, thyroid disorders or chronic fatigue syndrome.

If you are feeling tired and unrefreshed after periods of rest, or are struggling to complete routine daily activities, like working, socialising, cooking or looking after your children, you may be physically exhausted.

Mental exhaustion

Typically caused by chronic stress, constant multi-tasking or being in high-pressure environments, mental exhaustion is a state of overwhelming and prolonged mental fatigue.

Dealing with stresses at work or in your personal life, processing difficult emotions like loss or grief, and not getting a sufficient rest and recovery, like poor sleep, can lead to mental exhaustion.

Emotional exhaustion

A key symptom of burnout, emotional exhaustion is a chronic state of fatigue and tiredness resulting from excessive demands and leaves you feeling mentally and emotionally worn out.

Emotional exhaustion can leave you feeling detached from other people, including friends and family, as well as experiencing overall feelings of a lack of motivation and self-doubt.

You may also experience fatigue or exhaustion if your social energy is depleted, experiencing sensory overload or creative fatigue. These could all impact on your daily life and in turn, harm your mental health, leaving you feeling lonely, anxious or stressed.

What are the causes of exhaustion?

Feelings of exhaustion can stem from different sources, and it is essential to consider all physical, mental and emotional factors. Causes of fatigue and exhaustion are important to pinpoint.

Typically, exhaustion stems from not getting enough sleep or insomnia, eating unhealthily or not exercising regularly, stress, depression, bereavement, hormonal changes, illnesses and medical treatments or medicines.

Your exhaustion may be a result of the loss of a loved one, going through puberty, or getting chemotherapy if you are coping with cancer. These causes are not always a concern.

However, if you are tired during the day because you are not getting enough sleep, have a lack of energy and are struggling to concentrate, you may be experiencing exhaustion for other reasons which can leave you feeling anxious and concerned about your health. Ignoring these symptoms and leaving them untreated can have an impact on your mental health.

Physical exhaustion can be caused by overworking your body, not getting enough sleep, or a medical condition while mental exhaustion is caused by overworking your mind. Similarly to mental exhaustion, emotional exhaustion may be caused by prolonged stress, anxiety or depression.

What are the symptoms of exhaustion?

Each type of exhaustion has different symptoms, but there is often some sort of overlap and it is common to experience a mixture of these symptoms.

Symptoms of physical exhaustion include:

• Feeling weak, including muscle weakness and pain
• Persistent tiredness and lack of energy
• Headaches and dizziness
• Disturbed sleep
• Stomach problems
• Decreased immune system function

Symptoms of mental exhaustion include:

• Irritability and being unable to relax
• Mood swings
• Difficulty sleeping
• Trouble concentrating and making decisions
• Low motivation
• Emotional detachment

Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), is a long term condition which can affect different parts of the body, with the most common symptom being extreme tiredness. If you are feeling exhausted all the time, having difficulty sleeping, experiencing brain fog or feeling like your symptoms get worse after physical or mental activity, it’s important to see a doctor to get a correct diagnosis.

Even if you are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, you can access talking therapies. Living with a long term condition can be extremely difficult, potentially leaving you feeling low, lonely or overwhelmed about your future. During your therapy sessions, you will discuss causes of fatigue and your other symptoms with a professional therapist.

You may also be coping with cancer and undergoing treatment like chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which can leave you feeling exhausted.

If you feel like your exhaustion is impacting your mental health, getting support as soon as possible is important. At Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies, we understand how difficult it can be to cope with exhaustion and mental health issues, like anxiety or depression. That’s why we provide useful help tips through self-help resources and existing webinars to you, as well as a range of talking therapy services, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Counselling for Depression.

What support is available for exhaustion?

You may feel unsure of who to turn to when dealing with exhaustion, but at Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies, we are here for you.

You may find it helpful to try some of the following techniques by yourself in an attempt to ease your tiredness or chronic fatigue:

• Exercising regularly
• Getting more rest
• Taking breaks during the day
• Practicing mindfulness, meditation or self-care

Another way to combat your exhaustion and its impact on your mental health is through a talking therapy service. By working with a professional therapist, you will be able to discuss your feelings and implement management strategies to move forward with your life and combatting exhaustion.

At NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies, we offer a range of services to support you on your journey to better mental health. From Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy to Counselling for Depression and Mindfulness Based Programmes, we have a talking therapy to support you in dealing with your mental health.

If you are dealing with PTSD after a traumatic event, you may be feeling exhausted due to poor sleep, depression or other health conditions. We also offer Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help you process your past traumas, which can improve your symptoms of exhaustion.

Self-referring to our services and getting support is easy. You can use our online referral assistant, have a GP or other healthcare professional refer you or call us on 0333 188 1060.

If you need immediate mental health support, get urgent help now.

As part of our webinar series, we’ve included a specific episode on improving your sleep. You can find this webinar below.