Byhowbeck
Tiredness and Fatigue
Tiredness and Fatigue
Feeling exhausted is so common that it has its own acronym, TATT, which stands for “tired all the time”.
We all feel tired from time to time. The reasons are usually obvious and include:
- too many late nights
- long hours spent at work
- a baby keeping you up at night
But tiredness or exhaustion that goes on for a long time is not normal and can affect your ability to get on and enjoy your life.
Unexplained tiredness is one of the most common reasons for people to see their GP.
Some reasons you could be feeling tired might be:
- Not getting enough exercise.
Sitting in one position for long periods of time can sap your energy, even if you’re watching the TV or using the computer. Your body equates the stillness with going to sleep. - Poor posture
A lot of your energy goes on keeping you upright. Your spine can be put out of alignment by bad posture, such as:
-hunching forwards
-lumping in your seat
-cradling your phone
The more out of balance your spine is, the more your muscles have to work to compensate.
- Constant Worrying
If you’re fretting about something all day long, your heart rate and blood pressure rise, and your muscles tighten, leading to fatigue and aches.
Try: setting aside some time to concentrate on your worries. Try to think of positive solutions, then put the worries out of your mind.
- Exercising too much
Regular exercise is good for you, but working out intensively every day may not be good for your energy levels, especially if you’re a beginner or trying to get back in shape.
Try: taking a day off between strenuous bouts of exercise. However, don’t leave more than 2 or 3 days between sessions, or you might fall out of the regular exercise habit.
If you have difficulty falling asleep, a regular bedtime routine will help you wind down and prepare for bed.
Few people manage to stick to strict bedtime routines. This isn’t much of a problem for most people, but for insomniacs, irregular sleeping hours are unhelpful.
Your routine depends on what works for you, but the most important thing is working out a routine and sticking to it.
- Sleep at regular times
- Make sure you wind down before bed
- Try a warm bath before bed
- Write a ‘to do’ list for the next day to clear your mind of any distractions
- Read a book or listen to music
- Make sure your bedroom is dark and between 18°c and 24°c
- Relaxation exercises such as yoga or light stretches
If you have tried some of the techniques and you still feeling tired or fatigued and are concerned, visit your GP who will ask you questions about your lifestyle and may even decide carry out some simple tests for common issues such as anaemia.
Byhowbeck
Depression
Depression
Most people go through periods of feeling down, but when you’re depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days.
Some people think depression is trivial and not a genuine health condition. They’re wrong – it is a real illness with real symptoms. Depression isn’t a sign of weakness or something you can “snap out of” by “pulling yourself together”.
The good news is that with the right treatment and support, most people with depression can make a full recovery.
Depression affects people in different ways and can cause a wide variety of symptoms.
They range from lasting feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness, to losing interest in the things you used to enjoy and feeling very tearful. Many people with depression also have symptoms of anxiety.
There can be physical symptoms too, such as feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly, having no appetite or sex drive, and various aches and pains.
It’s important to seek help from your GP if you think you may be depressed.
Many people wait a long time before seeking help for depression, but it’s best not to delay. The sooner you see a doctor, the sooner you can be on the way to recovery.
NHS Choices
Depression Self-Assessment – NHS Choices
MIND
Byhowbeck
Anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe.
Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life – for example, you may feel worried and anxious about sitting an exam, or having a medical test or job interview. During times like these, feeling anxious can be perfectly normal.
However, some people find it hard to control their worries. Their feelings of anxiety are more constant and can often affect their daily lives.
Some symptoms of anxiety can be:
- feeling restless or worried
- having trouble concentrating or sleeping
- dizziness or heart palpitations
There are many things you can do yourself to try and help reduce your anxiety, such as:
- going on a self-help course
- exercising regularly
- talking to someone you trust
- getting enough sleep
- stopping smoking
- cutting down on the amount of alcohol and caffeine you drink
Although feelings of anxiety at certain times are completely normal, see your GP if anxiety is affecting your daily life or causing you distress.
Your GP will ask about your symptoms and your worries, fears and emotions to find out if you could have anxiety disorder.
Byhowbeck
Mental Health
Mental Health
Mental health can affect anyone at any time and in fact, one in four of us will have problems with our mental health at some point in our lives.
You don’t have to struggle through it alone, there is a wealth of information and support services available to you during this difficult time.
If you need to talk to someone right away, the Samaritans helpline is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year, for people who want to talk in confidence.
Call 116 123 (free).
Information and Support
When to Seek Further Help
Information and Support
Your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has launched a new range of mental health self-help guides which are available online or to download as an app. You can download the app for free by searching for South Cheshire CCG & Vale Royal CCG Self-help Guides in the Apple App Store or Google Play.
NHS Choices has a huge range of information on mental health support, including MoodZone, a directory of mental health helplines and a Mood self-assessment tool.
When to Seek Further Help
You should see your GP if:
- you’ve been feeling depressed for more than a few weeks
- your anxiety is affecting your daily life
If you’ve had thoughts of self-harming or are feeling suicidal, contact someone you can trust immediately, such as your GP, or a friend or relative.