Feeling tired a lot is a common complaint in the modern world, but exhaustion is something else. Symptoms of exhaustion are varied, from mood swings to feeling cold all the time, to missing key deadlines, or feeling constant fatigue. Often, you may not even realize your symptoms are related to exhaustion. But it has a huge impact on your quality of life, and it can be caused by dangerous underlying conditions. It is also a common symptom of stress. Understanding the cause of your symptoms - and what symptoms are related to exhaustion - is a first step in feeling better.
Exhaustion goes a step further than simple tiredness. It's a form of extreme tiredness that affects every part of your life and isn’t alleviated by a day off work or a good night’s sleep. Exhaustion continues day after day, and it can be brought on by a variety of triggers.
Stress in general is a key cause of exhaustion, whether that stress be physical, emotional, or mental, which is why exhaustion is becoming more common these days. Here are just some of the issues that can cause stress and exhaustion:
Some of these issues you can change and some you can’t. What’s important is that you identify the causes that you can change and do something about them before your health is permanently affected by symptoms of exhaustion.
Exhaustion is not the same as stress. Stress occurs when you experience change, both good and bad. A little stress is essential for your ongoing health and once the stressor is over, your body should go back to normal and allow you to recover.
Exhaustion is a long-term state. It’s usually caused by ongoing stress that seems never ending. You can experience physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion, though one usually causes the others as well.
Some symptoms of exhaustion are instantly recognizable, while others are more vague. Here are some of the most common signs that you or someone you know may be experiencing exhaustion:
Exhaustion shows itself in lots of different ways. Some of the mental signs that you’re exhausted are:
Some behavioral signs that you’ve reached the exhaustion stage are:
Exhaustion also affects you physically in these ways:
Obviously, everyone experiences some of these symptoms of exhaustion occasionally. But if you experience a few or a lot of them regularly and can’t seem to overcome them no matter what you try, then it might be a sign that something is seriously wrong. This is when you should seek professional help.
It's important to see your doctor if you experience a few of these symptoms over the long term to determine whether your symptoms are caused by a medical condition. They will do tests to eliminate potentially dangerous conditions. Once you've eliminated the possibility of a more serious problem, these strategies may help eliminate or reduce your exhaustion:
Adrenal fatigue is strongly connected to exhaustion because both are caused by stress. When you’re stressed, it causes changes throughout your body that help protect you and prepare you to fight or flee from the cause of the stress.
These changes are brought about by the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response. The first step in the NEM stress response is to prompt the adrenals to release cortisol. This hormone affects almost every circuit and cell in the body. When the cause of the stress is gone, the NEM stress response shuts down and cortisol levels return to normal. This allows all the organs and systems in your body to return to their normal functioning as well.
The problem arises when the stress doesn’t go away. This continues to demand high levels of cortisol in order to cope with the stress. If this situation isn’t alleviated, it can bring on Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS), a troubling and debilitating condition. AFS occurs when the adrenals become overworked and can no longer keep up with the demand to produce key hormones.
This state is accompanied by malfunctions in the circuits of the NEM stress response. There are six circuits in the human body, made up of three interconnected organs and systems each. When cortisol levels are high for too long, these circuits become unbalanced and start to malfunction. This causes additional symptoms and worsens the underlying problem.
There is a complex relationship between AFS and symptoms of exhaustion. Obviously, AFS can bring on these symptoms. Ongoing fatigue that doesn’t relent is one of the most common symptoms of AFS. However, the opposite is also true. If you have signs of exhaustion, it means that your adrenal glands are probably stretched to their limit trying to cope with whatever stress you have in your life, which can lead to AFS.
AFS is a complicated disorder that causes a range of symptoms and problems, and it can be difficult to alleviate. It is best to work closely with a medical professional who’s aware of AFS and how it affects the body to start on the path to recovery. Unfortunately, this disorder isn’t widely understood or accepted by the medical establishment, so many people struggle to find the help they need. You will need to look hard for the right kind of help and not give up until you find it.
The symptoms of exhaustion are far too common in our fast-paced, modern world. If you want to be healthy and happy, then you need to do something about these symptoms before they overwhelm your life and ruin your health. Here’s how:
If you need help with exhaustion or stress, then talk to our team on +1 (626) 571-1234 or click here for our Ask the Doctor system.
The common symptoms of exhaustion can vary from declining concentration to physical symptoms like headaches and stomach problems, but they’re usually unmistakable. If you’re exhausted, then you probably already know it, and need to take action immediately to safeguard your mental, emotional, and physical health.
