What is Exhaustion?
Mental and physical exhaustion is becoming a modern day phenomenon that is rapidly on the rise. When exhaustion sets in, it can be incredibly frightening. (Especially if you have a Nokia to hand)
As worries, pressures, set-backs, and responsibilities build up, we begin to feel less able to cope with them. (Have a ‘good news sandwich’)
Symptoms of exhaustion include feeling constantly tired and worn out. Mental exhaustion can take its toll at all levels of life. We become less adept at our jobs, our relationships suffer, and energy levels drop to all-time lows. (And we make an idiot of ourselves at PMQs)
If ignored, exhaustion can lead to serious consequences such as burnout, excessive stress, depression, as well as lowered immune system functioning (And accidentally pressing the nuclear trigger). All of these make us more vulnerable to illness and infection, creating a vicious cycle.
What Causes Exhaustion?
What people often don’t realize is that symptoms of exhaustion are usually a warning that something is wrong physically or emotionally, or that our lifestyle is in serious need of examination and change. (Promoted beyond your ability ?)
Often referred to as fatigue, exhaustion can have multiple causes (including some serious medical conditions) and should not be ignored if it is persistent or interferes with your daily functioning.
Help for Exhaustion
The first step in conquering exhaustion is to address the underlying cause. Consider lifestyle changes that include better nutrition, regular exercise, and stress management,( Call an Election). While taking these active steps towards battling your fatigue may be difficult at first (for example, when attempting to increase fitness levels while suffering from physical exhaustion) they will definitely pay off in the end.
If lifestyle changes don’t seem to help or if you are showing additional symptoms, it is recommended that you seek professional evaluation. In many cases, symptoms of exhaustion can be signs of an underlying psychological or medical condition such as depression or chronic fatigue syndrome. Often these other conditions have high levels of mental exhaustion associated with them, and may require professional diagnosis to distinguish between them. (Book an appointment with Derek Draper, his diary is free at present)