In our busy lives, we can all get tired from time to time. But did you know that there are various types of fatigue? Each with its own causes, but always the same symptoms. In this blog, we delve deeper into the different forms of fatigue, their causes, and potential solutions.
What are the symptoms of fatigue?
Symptoms associated with fatigue include:
- Feeling exhausted
- Lack of energy
- High sensitivity to stimuli
- Insomnia
- Lack of creativity
- Reduced focus
- Red cheeks and ears during the evening hours
- Depressive feelings
Different types of fatigue
Although the symptoms of fatigue are often the same, their causes and solutions can differ. In this blog, we discuss the following types of fatigue:
- Stress
- Burn-out
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
- Fibromyalgia
- Adrenal fatigue
- Hypoglycemia
1. Stress-related fatigue
Stress is a natural reaction to challenging situations, but persistent stress can lead to severe fatigue. The body remains in a state of readiness, which eventually causes exhaustion. There are so many stimuli that we have to process from early in the morning until late at night that daily life sometimes feels like a race against the clock. Many people wake up with the first signs of fatigue and start their day with stress.
Completing the stress cycle is important to prevent stress from becoming chronic (resulting in physical and mental fatigue). In this blog, you can read more about the 5 phases of stress and how you can complete them.
In addition, reducing stress stimuli is essential. Guard your agenda, avoid sugary and processed foods as much as possible, and calm your system with herbs like lavender, rosemary, and chamomile.
2. Burn-out
A burn-out is the result of prolonged overload and is accompanied by severe physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. You can view a burn-out as the result of chronic stress, yet it still forms a separate group among the different types of fatigue.
Everyone with a burn-out experiences stress, but not everyone with stress develops a burn-out. This has to do partly with the level of stress, but also with mentality and personality. We often see that people with a burn-out are incredibly driven, perfectionistic, have a strong sense of responsibility, a lot of perseverance, and an unparalleled work ethic. They ignore their body's signals and only stop when they are completely exhausted.
The aforementioned traits are positive qualities as long as they remain manageable. However, the latter is often not the case due to persistent brain programming. A shift in mentality and reprogramming the brain is often the solution for recovering from a burn-out.
3. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
People with CFS experience extreme fatigue that does not improve with rest. The exact mechanism behind CFS is not yet fully understood, but when fatigue persists for at least 6 months to such an extent that daily activities are no longer feasible, it can be classified as chronic fatigue syndrome.
Characteristic symptoms of CFS include:
- Muscle pain in the neck and shoulder girdle
- Prolonged elevated temperature
- Vague headaches
- Forgetfulness
- Joint pain
- Reduced concentration
- Difficulty sleeping
- Red throat without bacterial infection
Chronic fatigue syndrome can be divided into 4 gradations, from mild to very severe. The cause of CFS is still unknown, and this condition does not fit into regular medicine because it cannot be linked to a pathogen or psychological disorder.
Do you suspect you suffer from CFS? Please contact a doctor. The therapists at Charlotte Labee Supplements can guide you during a consultation with lifestyle advice, nutrition, mindset, supplements, and more.
4. Fibromyalgia
In pathology, fibromyalgia is classified under muscle and connective tissue diseases and belongs to rheumatic disorders. Therefore, this disease is not an independent fatigue disorder, but because the disease is accompanied by extreme fatigue and pain, it is discussed in this blog. Fatigue is the most common symptom of this disease, alongside extreme muscle pain. Furthermore, stiffness, loss of strength, bowel problems, sleep problems, and headaches are characteristic of fibromyalgia.
In consultation with a doctor, various forms of movement such as walking, swimming, or cycling can contribute positively to fibromyalgia. Additionally, magnesium supplements can help relax the muscles. During an Extended Orthomolecular Consultation, our therapists look at the big picture to support you as effectively as possible with this condition.
5. Adrenal fatigue
Adrenal fatigue is also seen as an extreme form of fatigue and is said to be caused by long-term stress, which leads to impaired adrenal gland function.
Under stress, the adrenal glands are called upon; they secrete the "fight or flight" hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline. Persistent stress, but also long-term anger or negative emotions, activates the adrenal glands, which can eventually lead to them becoming exhausted.
Incidentally, the adrenal glands also produce sex hormones. Reduced libido is therefore one of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue, as are digestive problems, frequent urination, chills, cravings for salt and sugar, and irregular blood sugar levels.
Avoiding stress in daily life as much as possible can help you recover from adrenal fatigue, as can alternating sufficiently between exertion and relaxation. But here too, the way you react to stress is largely dependent on your personality and mentality. Gaining insight into your brain programming and reprogramming it is therefore very valuable.
In addition, it is essential to nourish your body with sufficient good nutrients and energy. Think of bananas, salmon, almonds, chia seeds, spinach, and artichokes.
6. Hypoglycemia
While it seems that fatigue is always stress-related to a greater or lesser extent, that is not always the case with hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can lead to fatigue, dizziness, and irritability without stress being the trigger. However, stress can be a trigger, and it is known that stress affects blood sugar levels.
With hypoglycemia, there is no question of continuous fatigue, only when there are many fluctuations between high blood sugar levels (hyper) and low blood sugar levels (hypo). Stabilizing this is therefore crucial. Hypoglycemia can be the result of a long-term incorrect diet, but it can also be genetic.
Tips to stabilize your blood sugar level can be found in this blog. Do you suffer from hypoglycemia? Then do not just apply these tips without consulting your doctor. During a consultation, we can also gain insight into the triggers for a hypo and start working on stabilizing your blood sugar level.
Do you have questions about fatigue or other symptoms? Please feel free to contact our team of therapists. We are happy to help you!
