There’s nothing worse than feeling sleepy, and this can be particularly so if you feel like you’re actually getting enough sleep.
When you wake up tired every morning, the amount of caffeine you consume over the day, or the sheer effort you need for every tiny thing you do, can make you feel like there’s something very wrong with you, particularly when other people in your life appear not to be similarly affected.
Why Sleep Isn’t Always Enough
Of course sleep is only one part of the equation. You may be in bed for seven to eight hours yet feel completely unrested, as if you’ve not actually relaxed your mind and body.
When we are under the influence of stress, anxiety or low mood, our system may actually remain at a high level of tension even during our sleep.
The body may not receive the true rest and restorative state needed so that you awake feeling not refreshed.
You may also experience your sleep to be much lighter or fragmented than you actually perceive. Even if you don’t actually wake up, the brain could still be performing in the background.
The Impact of Low Mood
One of the common feelings which people associate with low mood and depression is fatigue.
It can be thought of in much more than just emotional terms it has real and tangible effects on your energy, drive, and physical state.
When you’re feeling low it can take so much more energy and concentration to do things that you might usually do without thinking about it.
These might include getting out of bed, responding to emails, or sitting down to concentrate at work.
The mental effort of keeping your mind working even when you don’t feel able to means that you are depleted physically and mentally.
In conjunction with low mood, you might also have a lack of desire to do things which you know in other ways may help you to feel more energetic-things such as exercise or social interaction.
This lack of activity then makes you feel even more tired.
Emotional Exhaustion
Occasionally the tiredness that you’re feeling isn’t physical, it’s emotional. Excessive worrying, overthinking, or trying to manage the emotions that you’re feeling can be absolutely exhausting.
You might not even realise how much mental energy you are exerting over the course of a day. If you’re constantly analyzing situations, bottling up feelings, or trying to portray that you are ok, this can take it’s toll over the days and weeks.
This type of emotional strain doesn’t switch off immediately either, it’s the reason why you may still find your mind is running in the background, even when you’re resting.
What Keeps the Tiredness Going
If you are feeling consistently exhausted, it can lead to a pattern of behavior which unintentionally prolongs your tiredness.
You may find that:You spend more time in bed but feel less restored.
- You procrastinate, or cancel, activities due to lack of energy.
- You are unable to stick to routine.
- You feel guilty or self-critical.
All of these responses are normal, but they can prolong your body and mind’s imbalance.
How to Respond to Tiredness
First and foremost be compassionate towards yourself in your tiredness the body is not malfunctioning. The body is responding to something whether you can clearly see what it is or not.
Starting slowly, with changes that seem achievable, rather than overhauling things immediately is a good first port of call. Examples could be:
- Getting natural light, in the morning,
- Kind of movement in an achievable way.
- Incorporating some structure, some routine.
These aren’t fixes to the current issue but might start to help you gain energy. Your mental and emotional health also needs consideration. If your fatigue feels related to mental states or experiences then it may be worthwhile exploring the connections.
Final Thoughts
It is disheartening to be tired and not even feel refreshed after sleep. It is more commonly about internal experiences than about sleep deficit.
Whether your fatigue is down to stress, low mood or emotional drain, it is an indication your body has received a signal to change something.
With care and support it is achievable to feel more energised and your ‘normal’ again.
Working with a therapist can be an effective way of exploring why the fatigue is present and what needs to happen to improve energy and well-being of both mind and body.
You are not lazy or unmotivated, you are just more tired than you know, with very good reason.
