Why Does Depression Make Us More Susceptible To Fatigue
Statistics state that suffering from fatigue during depression deteriorates our quality of life. In addition, it also seems to be an important risk factor for relapse .
The possible causes of fatigue during depression not only include sleep problems. Sometimes a patients diet, stress, and even some medications that theyre taking to treat their depression can cause it.
Below, we talk about the main reasons why people who are suffering from depression are more susceptible to fatigue.
Other Comorbid Health Conditions
Depression has a close relationship with many medical conditions. For example, people with cancer , MS , and migraines all have a higher likelihood of being depressed than the general population.
All of these conditions could also cause fatigue. In other words, it could be the third factor thats leading to both depression and fatigue.
Healthy Sleep Habits Are An Excellent Way To Alleviate Depression And Fatigue There Are Plenty Of Ways You Can Do That:
- limit screen time before bed
- avoid alcohol and caffeine close to bedtime
- exercise regularly
- limit your naps during the day
- wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day
- create a comfortable, sleep-promoting environment in your bedroom
- eat a healthy, balanced diet
Exercise it seems like the answer to any question about improving your health. While it may require a little more motivation to exercise when you suffer from depression fatigue, its something you definitely want to practice.
Were not saying you need to hit the CrossFit gym and take up marathon running. In fact, research has shown that just 20 minutes of low to moderate-intensity exercise helps to relieve fatigue and depression.
There are some excellent low to moderate-intensity exercises you can do that include movement and deep breathing, which can help relieve depression.
Recommended Reading: Fezibo Standing Desk Mat With Anti Fatigue Bar
Some Antidepressants Can Cause Fatigue
Some antidepressants, including SSRIs and SNRIs, are considered stimulating antidepressants and can disturb sleep and cause fatigue. Your doctor may instruct you to take your medication in the morning to avoid any problems getting a good nights sleep.
Not all antidepressants affect sleep quality. If youre currently taking an antidepressant and are having trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor. They may lower your dosage, add a low-dose sedating antidepressant that may help you sleep, suggest that you try a different antidepressant, or recommend an alternative depression treatment.
Are You Depressed Or Just Tired
With both depression and fatigue, symptoms include low energy, low motivation, and anhedonia, or a loss of interest in pleasurable activities. One distinguishing factor can be the desire to engage in activities people who have fatigue wish to do things, but lack energy, whereas people with depression have lower interest in activities. Its also important to consider the duration of the low mood and if it improves with sleep. A single good night’s sleep can improve a tired person’s mood, but depression-related fatigue permeates every facet of a person’s life.
Physically with depression-related fatigue, everyday tasks eating, showering, getting dressed, and so on may become difficult. The body can even feel heavy, slow, and stiff due to depression. Focus also becomes extremely difficult, with an inability to sustain concentration or process information. A lack of sleep can have a similar cognitive impact, but again, a few nights of good sleep will make the brain fog lift with fatigue unrelated to depression.
How does depression affect the brain? Fatigue, caused by depression, makes it more difficult to untangle the already confusing thoughts and feelings that are part of depression. Forming emotional connections with friends, family, and the people around you may be more challenging when you’re fatigued, and that can perpetuate feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. Again, rest should alleviate these symptoms, but with depression it may not.
Don’t Miss: Another Name For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Is It Possible That I Have Pots And Was Incorrectly Diagnosed
This is entirely possible. Given how common POTS symptoms are and how unfamiliar many doctors are with this condition, diagnostic mishaps happen. POTS is frequently misidentified as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, anxiety disorder, ADHD, irritable bowel syndrome, myositis, etc. It is also possible that you have both POTS and one of these conditions, which may complicate the diagnosis. Sometimes people with POTS are told that its all in your head, implying that the cause of their symptoms is psychological. If you feel like something is physically wrong, dont hesitate to seek a second, and even a third or fourth opinion.
COVID-19 and POTS: Is There a Link?
Although many people recover quickly from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, others who recover may continue to experience symptoms for months. Researchers are still determining the cause of these extended symptoms, but some COVID-19 long-haulers may actually be dealing with POTS.
You Drink Alcohol In Excess
You might think happy hour is the ultimate way to unwind from your day, but the temporary effects of alcohol are just thattemporary. When you drink, alcohol increases dopamine, a feel-good chemical, and binds to and alters the neurotransmitter receptor GABA, which increases the effect of GABA and can have a calming effect in the moment. But it also interrupts other mood-regulating neurotransmitters, like serotonin. When these alcohol-induced effects wear off, you may experience a range of anxiety symptoms.
In the long term, excessive drinking makes neurons less excitable and permanently changes the mRNA and protein levels in GABA receptors. This makes the receptors less sensitive, so the brain needs more GABA. Without it, symptoms of anxiety can result. This doesnt necessarily mean you have to completely remove alcohol from your life, but take at least three nights off per week from drinking and always drink in moderation.
Read Also: How Long After Radiation Does Fatigue Last
Do You Have Trouble Sleeping
Sleep is essential for your health and it restores your energy. A lack of sleep on its own doesnt cause depression. However, it does increase the risk of suffering from it. As a result, a lack of sleep or bad quality sleep may worsen existing symptoms. Another 2014 study by Soehner, A., Kaplan, K., Harvey A., and others supports this.
In this regard, many people with bipolar disorder and similar conditions experience insomnia and hypersomnia. Another sleep disorder linked to depression is obstructive sleep apnea. Likewise, depression may contribute to the severity of sleep apnea .
Why You Might Be Tired All The Time
Before you see a GP, you may want to work out how you became tired in the first place.
It can be helpful to think about:
- parts of your life, such as work and family, that might be particularly tiring
- any events that may have triggered your tiredness, such as bereavement or a relationship break-up
- how your lifestyle may be making you tired
A GP will look at the following causes of tiredness:
- psychological causes
Psychological causes of tiredness are much more common than physical causes.
Most psychological causes lead to poor sleep or insomnia, both of which cause daytime tiredness.
Psychological causes include:
Don’t Miss: What Does Sleep Apnea Fatigue Feel Like
What Is Samhsas National Helpline
SAMHSAs National Helpline, , or TTY: is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.
Also visit the online treatment locator.
The Number One Tip To Help With Depression Fatigue: Professional Help
Fighting depression and fatigue on your own is extremely challenging, especially when you dont have a lot of motivation or energy to do so. Fatigue and depression negatively impact your relationships, work and school performance, and physical health.
With the proper depression treatment in San Diego, you can begin feeling more like yourself faster. At BOLD Health, we use science-backed therapy approaches in an individualized treatment approach explicitly curated for you.
Our team of clinicians takes a BOLD approach to not only understand your symptoms well gain a genuine understanding of who you are as a person and what brought you to seek depression treatment in San Diego.
Recommended Reading: Causes Of Chronic Pain And Fatigue
You Have Unstable Blood Sugar
You dont have to be diabetic to have a blood sugar problem. We help many of our patients here at Parsley Health pull the brakes on the rollercoaster of symptoms theyve been experiencing from spikes and dips in blood sugar.
Take a typical on-the-go breakfast for many people: a pastry and sugary coffee drink. That wave of sugar creates a rapid spike in your blood sugar and causes your pancreas to release insulin to stabilize it. As your blood sugar returns to normal, you crash, feeling tired. Youll also feel hungry again pretty quickly, leading you to reach for carbs and perpetuating the cycle.
All that sugar adds up. When people consumed 40g of added sugar a day in the form of a can of soda for three weeks, they showed at least a 60 percent increase in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation . Inflammation has been associated with many chronic diseases, including depression. Learning to eat a combination of fiber, protein, and healthy fat at each meal and never skipping a meal can help you maintain steady blood sugar throughout the day and tame inflammation.
The Role Of Diet And Exercise In Managing Chronic Fatigue And Anxiety
Restoring overall health through diet and regular exercise is an essential aspect of managing anxiety. In addition to sticking with a healthy Mediterranean diet, there are actually certain foods that can help quell feelings of anxiety fatigue, including:
- Salmon and other fatty fish
Recommended Reading: Fatigue Blurry Vision Muscle Weakness
You May Like: High Blood Pressure Nausea Fatigue
Ways To Overcome Mental Exhaustion
When youre mentally exhausted, even fun things sound like work. This can make it even more challenging to manage stressors. But it takes effort and awareness to change the patterns that lead to mental exhaustion. The good news is, you dont have to tackle it all at once to start feeling better. Here are 11 ways to overcome feeling mentally tired:
Dont Miss: What Is Treatment For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Simple Strategies For Fighting Back Against Fatigue And Depression
There are many things you can do by yourself or with the help of a therapist to combat fatigue alongside depression. Even small tasks throughout the day may not seem like much but will make a huge difference in coping with these symptoms. A few examples are:
- Make a to-do list of small, yet productive tasks to keep you busy and out of bed throughout your day: These could even be just going to the shop to buy groceries, light cleaning, light studying sessions or revision or just taking time out to pamper or treat yourself.
- Partake in light exercise: This could be doing a few minutes of an exercise video in your home, yoga, a stroll in your local park or even around your home by yourself or with a friend or loved one.
- Try to keep yourself busy, but do not overdo it: This may become overwhelming for you, but remember to take it easy, do not be too hard on yourself and remember to balance everything to suit you and your needs. Have a comfortable balance of productivity and recreation. Small steps are still progress forward, no matter how small.
- Fixing your sleeping pattern: This one proved most difficult for me as I have always had trouble sleeping throughout my life. Yet I found even going to bed that extra hour earlier, drinking a herbal tea before bed and working on it a little each day, it has helped my sleeping pattern and helped with problems of fatigue.
Recommended Reading: Who Diagnosis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
What Are Breathing Problems
Breathing problems are when you feel you cant get enough air, your chest feels very tight, you are breathless or you feel like youre being suffocated.
You might feel short of breath if you are obese or if you have just done some strenuous exercise. It can also happen in extreme temperatures or if you are at high altitude.
If you have breathing problems for any other reason, it is probably the sign of a medical problem.
You May Like: Can Heart Problems Cause Fatigue
Why Am I Tired All The Time
Feeling exhausted is so common that it has its own acronym, TATT, which stands for “tired all the time”.
We all feel tired from time to time. The reasons are usually obvious and include:
- too many late nights
- long hours spent at work
- a baby keeping you up at night
But tiredness or exhaustion that goes on for a long time is not normal. It can affect your ability to get on and enjoy your life.
Unexplained tiredness is one of the most common reasons for people to see their GP.
Also Check: Chinese Herbs For Chronic Fatigue
Sleep Problems And Depression Fatigue
If you have depression, you likely suffer from poor sleeping patterns as well. Insomnia , hypersomnia , and non-restful sleep are all common symptoms of depression.
A 2019 study on depression and sleep revealed individuals with depression are less likely to cycle through rapid eye movement sleep. And when you dont cycle through all four sleep cycles efficiently, when you wake up, youre not going to feel rested, even if you got enough sleep.
Another sleep disorder linked to depression is obstructive sleep apnea . According to the National Sleep Foundation , 18% of those with major depressive disorder have OSA, and 17.6% of those with OSA experience depression.
The bottom line is that when you dont sleep well, you cant think as clearly and have trouble controlling your emotions. In turn, these things can contribute to depression and depression fatigue.
Do You Have Bad Eating Habits
There has been a lot of speculation whether our diet affects our mental health. A report supports this. Evidence links anti-inflammatory foods to a reduced risk of depression.
Another report focuses on Western-style diets. Red and processed meats, refined grains, sweets, and other unhealthy foods increase the risk of depression in some people.
Don’t Miss: Fatigue Management Risk Assessment Tool
Depression And Lack Of Sleep Can Become A Cycle
Fatigue is more likely to be a symptom than a cause of depression. However, once someone has been diagnosed with depression, lack of sleep and bouts of depression can become cyclical. Researchers know that insomnia in people who do not have depression can increase the risk of developing depression, and lack of sleep in patients who have achieved remission can increase the risk of depression relapse. Patients who see an improvement in symptoms, but do not achieve remission, are also more likely to report feeling fatigued.
Are You Are Depressed Or Just Tired
I feel tired all the time, does this mean I have depression?. While fatigue and depression go hand in hand, just because you feel tired doesnt necessarily mean you have depression.
Both depression and fatigue share symptoms like low energy, low motivation, and chronic tiredness. However, one major difference can help us distinguish the two: people with fatigue want to do things, but lack the energy. Whereas people with depression lose interest altogether.
Another distinction can be the duration of the low mood and whether or not it improves with sleep. Usually, a good nights sleep can do a lot for a tired persons mood. However, this can be a challenging task for someone with depression.
Also Check: Herbs For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
What Are My Options
Since depression is at the core of your depression fatigue, its important to look into ways that you might want to treat your mental health above anything else.
There are many options, and each type of treatment can offer a different approach in helping you to deal with the challenges that come as a result of your feelings of depression.
Here are two main treatment options to consider:
Muscle Damage Through Injury
There are many ways in which your muscles can be directly damaged. The most obvious is injury or trauma such as sporting injuries, pulls and sprains. In any muscle injury, bleeding from damaged muscle fibres occurs inside the muscle, followed by swelling and inflammation. This makes the muscle less strong and also painful to use. Localised pain is the primary symptom but weakness also results.
Read Also: Does Sinus Infection Cause Fatigue
Effects Of Fatigue From Depression
Depression and fatigue can impact you physically, cognitively, and emotionally:
- Physically, you can be lazy, with your body feeling heavy, stiff, and slow. As a result, everyday activities such as showering, eating, and getting ready for work become burdensome.
- Cognitively, depression reduces your ability to concentrate, making it quite challenging to maintain focus and process information. The reduced cognitive performance probably results from sleep disturbances associated with depression.
- Emotional disturbances are the most profound effects of fatigue and depression. When you are depressed, tiredness makes it even more challenging to weed through the confusing feelings and thoughts that come with the disorder. Fatigue degrades your ability to connect with colleagues, friends, and family, perpetuating the feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness linked with depression.
Overcoming depression will improve your overall well-being in different spheres of life. Consult a doctor today!
Sleepiness Fatigue Or Depression Mental Health Awareness Month Part 2
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Project Sleep believes that mental health and sleep health are closely intertwined. We are excited to share interesting connections between sleep and mental health.
Why am I always so tired?
When your energy feels off, it can be hard to know whats wrong and what to do about it. Feeling sluggish could be a sign of many things including anemia, thyroid issues, a sleep disorder, diabetes, depression, nutritional deficiencies, and so on. You may also wonder, Will this go away or should I talk to a doctor about it?
In everyday life, we use various terms interchangeably feeling tired, exhausted, sleepy, fatigued, sluggish, weighed down, foggy, burnt out, like a zombie, or low-energy. But these terms may have different meanings.
For example, at Project Sleep, we often hear from people with sleep disorders who faced excessive sleepiness for many years before finding an accurate diagnosis of sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or idiopathic hypersomnia. Even when an individual mentions sleepiness to a healthcare provider, it may be easily confused for depression or fatigue.
Sleepiness, fatigue, and depression can all be invisible, sneak into a persons life, and be difficult to explain to loved ones or doctors.
Also Check: Dry Mouth Shortness Of Breath Fatigue
