Everyone, at some point, has 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 get a good night’s sleep or to 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 feeling is constant and lasting over time, then we are talking about chronic tiredness .

In this article we will go into the most important aspects of this phenomenon and we will know which are its symptoms, its causes and its treatment.

What is chronic fatigue

Many individuals 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, off-centre, unmotivated… When this feeling of tiredness does not disappear and manifests itself over 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 usually appears together with a decrease or alteration in the immune system due to different causes , such as allergies typical of this time of year. However, chronic fatigue may occur at different times of the year producing a physical and mental weakening of the subject.

In fact, chronic fatigue is considered a symptom of underlying problems, often due to physical but also psychological illness.

What are your symptoms

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

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

Causes of this phenomenon

As I mentioned, chronic fatigue is often 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 frequent when a person suffers from depression or is going through a difficult period in his life such as a grieving process. In addition to the symptoms of sadness, in this type of situation a person feels tired, unmotivated and has difficulties concentrating and paying attention.

Burnout

Burnout is what is known as chronic stress and makes a person feel burned out . After suffering a period of prolonged stress, the person exhausts his or her resources, and then de-motivation and extreme tiredness sets in.

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 clearly, so he can enter an existential crisis that ends up mentally draining him.

Insomnia

Sleep problems and bad sleep habits can make a person tired all day long. In these cases, it is possible to follow a series of tips like the ones in this article: “Fighting insomnia: 10 solutions for better sleep”.

Diseases

Various physical illnesses can cause chronic fatigue, including diabetes, allergies or a weakened immune system.

Poor nutrition

Poor nutrition or nutritional disorders such as anaemia 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. Although our emotional state affects how we eat, how we eat also has an impact on how we feel.

  • In this regard, 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 common neurological disorders” we discuss the symptoms and consequences of the most common neurological disorders.

Medication use

The use of some medicines as a side effect can cause symptoms of tiredness , for example, benzodiazepines or antipsychotics. It is therefore necessary to inform the doctor or psychiatrist if the symptoms appear after the start of the drug treatment in order to make substitution possible.

Treatment

Since there are many causes that can lead to chronic fatigue, this phenomenon requires different treatment routes. In the majority of cases, the subjects go to the family doctor for a diagnosis, but the diagnosis should not only focus on the physical illnesses (urine samples, blood tests) and the treatment should not always be the administration of drugs, but psychological therapy and, sometimes, the visit to a dietician-nutritionist can help to 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 he or she can treat the underlying problem. There are different types of psychotherapy that can be effective, for example, cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) or acceptance and engagement therapy (ACT).

In cases where the poor diet or the individual suffers from anemia, it is appropriate to consult a dietician to solve the problem.