10 Signs That You Are Tired
People frequently experience fatigue after staying up late. If this feeling becomes persistent, however, it could be indicative of an underlying health condition or medication side effect that needs further investigation.
If you notice any of the following symptoms, it may be time to visit a physician.
1. You’re irritable
Irritability is often an indicator of social and emotional exhaustion. Once your reserves have been depleted, even small things can trigger you.
Rather than feeling continually annoyed or stressed out, it may be worth seeking professional assistance to identify what may be causing it – from simple lifestyle adjustments to medical tests.
Keep a fatigue diary to see if there are any patterns during the day that may signal sleep apnea or hypothyroidism as potential culprits.
2. You’re depressed
Mental fatigue can be a telltale sign of depression. If you find yourself forgoing social gatherings altogether or declining to attend happy hours with friends, that could be a telltale sign that your exhaustion goes deeper than just feeling blue.
If you are having difficulty sleeping and feel fatigued, visiting your physician is likely the first step to help determine potential causes of fatigue such as sleep apnea, hypothyroidism or diabetes that can be treated or managed to provide you with the energy you need to go on living a full and rewarding life.
3. You’re anxious
Your anxiety is draining your energy, and you find yourself fretting over small matters without logic or cause. Even though this behavior can have negative consequences for both mental health and your physical wellbeing, you cannot stop worrying so easily.
Your anxiety may also keep you up at night, leaving you restless and leading to exhaustion. Other signs include shaking hands, chest pain and profuse sweating which are all hallmarks of anxiety disorders that tend to worsen over time.
4. You’re sleepy
Sleep deprivation is one of the primary contributors to feeling exhausted, although other factors, including nutrient deficiencies, stress levels and health conditions or drug side effects, may also play a part.
If you find yourself constantly fatigued, speaking to a health care provider will likely yield fruitful results. They may conduct physical exams and order lab tests in order to ascertain what’s ailing you – the correct treatment can make an enormous difference and allow you to feel refreshed again.
5. You’re hungry
Lack of sleep can contribute to emotional eating. When fatigued, your brain’s primary fuel source – glucose – decreases, leaving you hungry and irritable.
Emotional hunger occurs when you rely on food to cope with boredom, stress or sadness and can be hard to detect due to being habitual. One way of combatting emotional hunger is clearing out your pantry and refrigerator of tempting items and donating unopened ones to charity.
Fatigue may be caused by several different things, including deficient nutrients or stress-induced medical issues. Consult your physician for diagnosis.
7. Your emotions are all over the place
Tiredness makes it easy for emotions to spiral out of control; tears might form at any commercial, and laughter at even silly jokes may make you laugh uncontrollably, while small incidents like spilled milk may set your nerves tingle.
If this is something that occurs regularly for you, it might be wise to seek medical advice. Signs of mental fatigue are particularly dangerous and should be addressed quickly before it leads to burnout and depression. When this occurs to you, take time off work and try relaxing; take the time needed.
8. You’re having trouble concentrating
At some point or another, everyone experiences fatigue. When this fatigue persists and impairs concentration, medical help should be sought immediately. Chronic fatigue may be caused by various factors including lack of restful sleep, stress or health conditions that go undetected.
If you find yourself consistently tripping over your own feet or misplacing objects that are right in front of you, this could be a telltale sign of fatigue. Make sure you get plenty of restful sleep and consume a nutritious diet to maintain high energy levels and combat these symptoms.
9. You’re irritable
Irritability is a state in which you become easily angry or upset, often as the result of daily annoyances but may also indicate an underlying mental health condition.
Reducing irritation requires taking a step back from the situation and focusing on relaxing yourself – such as doing breathing exercises, body scans or guided imagery exercises.
If irritability is becoming an ongoing problem that’s impacting relationships, speaking to your physician about potential treatments such as lifestyle adjustments, psychotherapy or medication may help.
10. You’re tired
Feeling worn-out after work is an understandable reality of life, but excessive fatigue can negatively impact both your health and well-being. If this occurs to you, it is wise to speak with a medical provider, as they can perform an exam and suggest treatments which might be helpful. In particular, medications or psychotherapy may relieve any medical conditions which might be contributing to fatigue such as heart disease or arthritis symptoms; otherwise medications or psychotherapy could potentially alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms which are also frequently related to fatigue.
