Chronic fatigue: symptoms, causes and treatment

All of us, at some point in time, have felt tired, fatigued or lacking in energy.. The causes of this can be varied, for example, a busy day or a bad night. Generally, in these situations it is enough to sleep well or recover the normal rhythm of work.

However, some people feel tired all day and most of the time, and are unmotivated, exhausted, weak, have difficulty concentrating... When this sensation is constant and lasts over time, then we are talking about chronic fatigue..

In this article we will delve into the most important aspects of this phenomenon and we will learn about its symptoms, its causes and its treatment.

What is chronic fatigue

There are many individuals who would like to stay in bed a little longer before going to work at the office, or enjoy a nap for its physical and psychological benefits. However, there are people who spend the whole day in "off" mode, tired, unfocused, unmotivated... When this feeling of tiredness does not go away and manifests itself for a long period of time, there may be a problem that feeds it (depression, burnout, insomnia, etc.).

Chronic fatigue makes a person feel very tired throughout the day and has difficulty carrying out daily tasks. It is similar to spring asthenia, which It usually appears together with a decrease or alteration in the immune system for different reasons., like the typical allergies of this time of year. However, chronic fatigue can occur at different times of the year, causing a physical and mental weakening of the subject.

Actually, chronic fatigue is considered a symptom of underlying problems, often due to physical but also psychological illnesses.

What are your symptoms

This phenomenon is characterized by the presence of a wide variety of symptoms related to fatigue and lack of motivation. At a general level it is observed:

• Constant feeling of tiredness and heaviness
• demotivation
• Lack of concentration and attention
• Lack of energy
• Weakening of the immune system and appearance of physical illnesses such as colds
• Memory problems
• Irritability
• hypotension
• Slowness in performing tasks
• Lack of sexual desire

Causes of this phenomenon

As I have mentioned, chronic fatigue is usually considered a set of symptoms that have their origin in other types of problems that can be physical or psychological. Among them, the following stand out.

Depression

Chronic fatigue is common when a person suffers from depression or is going through a difficult period in their life How can a grieving process be? In addition to the symptoms of sadness, in this type of situation a person feels tired, unmotivated and has difficulties with concentration and attention.

Burnout

Burnout is what is known as chronic stress and causes the person to feel burned out. After suffering a period of prolonged stress, the person depletes their resources and then demotivation and extreme fatigue appear.

Lack of motivation

Depression or burnout can cause a lack of motivation, but demotivation can also occur because a person does not have realistic goals or does not see his future is clear, so he can enter into an existential crisis that ends up exhausting him mentally.

Insomnia

Sleep problems and poor sleep habits cause the person to be tired throughout the day. In these cases, it is possible to follow a series of tips such as those that appear in this article: “Fight insomnia: 10 solutions to sleep better”.

Diseases

Different physical diseases can cause chronic fatigue, among which are the diabetes, allergies or weakened immune system.

Bad nutrition

Poor nutrition or nutritional disturbances such as anemia can cause a person to feel tired for long periods of time. The relationship between psychology and nutrition is a reality that is increasingly accepted. While our emotional state affects how we eat, how we eat also affects how we feel.

• In this sense, you may be interested in our article: “Psychology and Nutrition: the importance of emotional eating”

Neurological disorders

Some neurological disorders or tumors may also be at the root of the problem. In our article “The 15 most frequent neurological disorders” we talk about the symptoms and consequences of the most common neurological disorders.

use of medications

The use of some medications as a side effect can cause symptoms of tirednessFor example, benzodiazepines or antipsychotics. Therefore, it is necessary to inform the doctor or psychiatrist if the symptoms appear after the start of drug treatment to enable substitution.

Treatment

Since there are many causes that can cause chronic fatigue, this phenomenon requires different ways of treatment. In most cases, subjects go to their GP for a diagnosis, but the diagnosis should not focus solely on the physical illnesses (urine samples, blood tests) and the treatment should not always be the administration of drugs, but psychological therapy and, in occasions, visiting a dietitian nutritionist can help treat chronic fatigue.

Logically, when the causes are of psychological origin, such as depression or stress, it is necessary to go to a psychology professional so that they can treat the underlying problem. There are different types of psychotherapy that can be effective, for example, cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness (MBCT) or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

In cases where poor nutrition or the individual suffers from anemia, it is appropriate to see a dietitian nutritionist to solve the problem.

• Related article: “What is the difference between food and nutrition?”