What Are the Causes of Extreme Fatigue and Exhaustion?

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms as it can be caused by hundreds of different conditions, diseases and disorders, both physical and psychological. Because it is such a prevalent symptom, it is classified into several different categories; these classifications can vary depending on the source, but typically include:

Social Fatigue — This is the fatigue one might feel after speaking to a person or being in a crowd for an extended duration, most often a few hours. This is much more common in people with more introverted personality traits, but it can occur in even the most outgoing individuals.

Emotional Fatigue — Emotional fatigue entails extended periods of sadness, anger, depression, frustration or another low vibrational emotion, for an extended period. Because so much energy is used to experience those feelings, the body is affected, which can result in feeling drained or enervated.

Physical Fatigue — This type of fatigue follows physical activity and is what most people think about when they hear the word ‘fatigue’. It can occur from a number of different activities, such as exercising, cooking, or working a physically demanding job.

Pain Fatigue — Pain fatigue is characterized by pain that disrupts sleep quality, leading to tiredness and lack of energy the following day. Furthermore, trying to explain the symptoms of pain to someone else can also be tiring, potentially leading to emotional fatigue. Sometimes the mental aspect of having pain can cause depression, and therefore, exhaustion.

Mental Fatigue — This type of fatigue stems from expending a lot of mental energy performing tasks that require a lot of focus or concentration. Examples include doing puzzles, problem-solving and answering questions, but it can also result from writing, reading or working. One of the most common symptoms after this type of fatigue is brain fog; other cognitive symptoms may also be present.

Chronic Illness Fatigue — Sometimes chronic illness is the only explanation as to what is making us feel fatigued. For example, bladder problems and incontinence cause us to use more energy to get to the bathroom, especially at night; muscle spasms, stiffness, pain or depression also use up energy and may affect our bodies differently; medication side effects can also cause fatigue.

The main cause of fatigue is not getting enough restful sleep each night; repeated nights of insufficient sleep quality or duration can accumulate, with compounding symptoms. When a lack of sleep is combined with physical activity or stress, fatigue can worsen, becoming exponentially worse.

Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness, exhaustion or lack of energy, but it is often hard to describe in a way that sufficiently explains the sensation. Fatigue is often described as a lack of motivation and energy (both physical and mental), but is different from the way drowsiness feels, which is the need to sleep.

When it occurs occasionally, fatigue is not often a cause for concern. However, if it is chronic, unabating and interferes with the ability to carryout everyday tasks, fatigue should be addressed as soon as possible. Other signs or cooccurring symptoms of fatigue that warrant a visit to the doctor include:

– Blurry vision
– Change in mental status, such as confusion
– Inability to urinate
– Recent sudden weight gain or swelling
– Suicidal ideation
– Constipation, feeling cold, dry skin, weight gain
– Depression, anxiety, or feelings of severe stress
– Frequent episodes of interrupted sleep
– Frequent headaches
– Insomnia
– Snoring
– Unexplained weight loss or gain
– Unexplained weakness

If you or someone you love is experiencing extreme fatigue, come to Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders to find out how we can help you feel more rested. Call us today to book an appointment with our team, or visit one of our locations: we serve patients from all across the United States, and have clinics in  Mishawaka IN, Bloomington IL, Peoria – Dunlap IL, Kansas City MO, Wausau WI and El Paso TX. We look forward to serving you!