Understanding and Overcoming the Causes of Constant Fatigue

More and more Americans complain that they suffer some sort of fatigue. It may range from needing a nap mid-day to symptoms more severe like chronic fatigue. Fatigue is frustrating and can be debilitating. For some people they have to push through every day. For these same people, at the end of each long and exhausting day, sleep is yet another challenge. Oddly, for many people the more exhausted they are during the day, the worse sleep at night. After a restless night of tossing and turning, the cycle begins again as the sun arises.

Reversing Adrenal Fatigue

Feeling great and energetic requires reversing the things that contributed to the problem in the first place. Fatigue is something that gradually goes away so you have to be committed. Supporting your body with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, which will improve your body’s immune system, will greatly aid in restoring normal energy levels. Here are additional actions that you can take to get started on a path of eliminating fatigue.

Adrenal Fatigue and Diet

Adrenaline is what gives athletes that winning burst of energy and also gives a person the strength to lift a car that has rolled onto a child. Adrenaline is the source of our “fight-or-flight” response, which enables us to run for our lives if the need arises. Caffeine stimulates your adrenal glands to produce this fight or flight response.   When the over stimulation of your adrenals wears off you feel fatigue, and possibly irritability and headaches. If you are constantly using caffeine, you are keeping your body in “flight-or-flight” mode.

Stress and Fatigue Relief

Try to Relax! Make your world as small and uncomplicated as possible by reducing your everyday needs. Start by filtering news and information. If you cannot do anything about it and it stresses you, you do not need to be concerned with it.   Learn to practice relaxation techniques whenever you can.  Meditation, even for a couple of minutes can relieve stress as can a few slow deep breaths.

Fatigue and Exercise

Endorphins are the “feel good” chemicals induced by exercise. Of course, you can be so fatigued that doing anything seems impossible which is a real “Catch 22” because moving is needed to eliminate fatigue. We need to be physically tired as well as mentally or emotionally. A simple walk can be the first step. Once you have established a routine, begin to walk farther or slightly faster. Yoga is another great option to get your body moving again and to relieve fatigue.

Adrenal Fatigue and Sleep

Try to develop good sleep habits. Our bodies need a mini tune-up daily. Sleep, especially deep sleep, is when our bodies do this repair and maintenance. There are many things you can do to promote a good night’s sleep. Once you have done 1, 2 and 3 above to improve your odds of sleeping well then try to; establish a schedule, don’t eat too close to bedtime, and keep your bedroom as dark as possible.

Nutrition and Fatigue

Embrace whole food therapy instead of drug therapy. If you are taking any type of drug therapy, be aware that it may actually be contributing to fatigue. Nutritional deficiencies can make it difficult to get your energy levels back even when you are doing all of the above. There are whole food and herbal supplements that feed the body what it needs to overcome fatigue without side effects. Herbs can help relieve the symptom of fatigue directly by enhancing immune function, balancing hormones, and stimulating the healing systems of the body.

Getting Help for Chronic Fatigue

Feeling good every day does require a healthy lifestyle and some effort, but it is well worth it! If you’ve tried some of these suggestions, but are still feeling fatigued, consider having a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your specific issues and symptoms, or take the DUTCH test to see how your hormones (including cortisol) are playing a role in your fatigue.

Click below to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with Heidi.