What does tiredness feel like

How do you know if your fatigue is normal — or a reason to see your doctor? An expert weighs in on all things sleep, including how much you really need and top ways to fight exhaustion.

Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles. Is Heart Failure Causing Fatigue? Trending Topics. What Parents Need to Know. Often, it is not a medical issue but one that can be reversed by a change of lifestyle. Tiredness can negatively impact performance at work, family life, and social relationships. Fatigue has a reputation as a vague and difficult problem for doctors to investigate, and many people with fatigue do not report it to their doctor.

Doctors who are conscious of this take the problem seriously and attempt to determine an underlying cause. There are many reasons people become tired, and, consequently, there are many ways to rectify the situation.

It is generally different from the sleepy feeling of drowsiness, or the psychological feeling of apathy, although these might both accompany fatigue. Fatigue is a common experience — all humans become tired.

However, this is not usually due to disease. There are numerous medical and non-medical causes of fatigue, including personal dietary and lifestyle habits. Some types of fatigue are not normally considered a medical problem, this includes tiredness as a result of:. The National Institute on Aging lists the following lifestyle habits that can lead to tiredness and fatigue:. Some people are more likely than others to suffer from fatigue. For instance, women more often report fatigue.

The strains of daily life can worry most of us at some point. It's also worth remembering that even positive events, such as moving house or getting married, can cause stress.

Read more about how to deal with stress. A bereavement , redundancy or a relationship break-up can make you feel tired and exhausted. Check how to tell if you have depression. See your GP if you think you are depressed. If you have constant uncontrollable feelings of anxiety, you may have what doctors call generalised anxiety disorder GAD in adults. As well as feeling worried and irritable, people with GAD often feel tired. See a GP, as medication and talking therapies can help.

If you think your tiredness may be a result of low mood or anxiety, try this short audio guide to dealing with your sleep problems. In this audio guide, a doctor explains what you can do to give yourself the best chance of a good night's sleep. 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. 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. Where to get help Your doctor. More information here. Fatigue in the workplace, WorkSafe Victoria.

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