“Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.”
Mahatma Gandhi
General Overview:
Tiredness and Chronic Fatigue are some of the most common symptoms I see in the clinic. Having personally struggled with this issue (to the point of being bedridden for over a year) I understand well the suffering caused by not being able to fully “show up” for your own life.
Tiredness shows up in many ways and in many different degrees. This series of posts will cover everything from prolonged tiredness after a cold/flu bug to a seemingly life-long inability to get out of bed.
This introductory post will cover the basics in both western and eastern medicine and set the stage for future posts which will cover specific challenges and suggestions on how to solve them.
Western Perspective:
We all need to take a break and rest from time to time but for some of us no amount of rest seems to get us the “reset” we feel we need. This type of fatigue can be situational (after meals or in social situations) or constant (regular and daily) but in either case it is limiting.
You might find yourself struggling to concentrate, get basic exercise, or really “show up” for whatever situation you might find yourself in.
There are (to my knowledge) no specific causes for this type of chronic fatigue in western medicine yet there are many dis-eases that often contribute to it such as:
- Allergies (food, chemical, or seasonal)
- Anemia
- Anxiety/Depression
- Viral or Bacterial Infections
- Fibromyalgia
- Sleep Disorders/Insomnia
- Illnesses such as heart, kidney, or thyroid disease
Treatment Options in Western Medicine:
Since chronic fatigue can be a side-affect of other dis-eases such as those listed above it can improve by treating the underlying illness (thyroid medication, allergy shots, and antibiotics for example).
When no other dis-ease can be found (which is often the case) there is no long term treatment for chronic fatigue. Things such as getting adequate rest, reducing stress, and improving diet can make the symptoms more manageable.
*Note here that I am focusing on the standard medical perspective which does not include various supplements or other alternative therapies.
Up Next: Tiredness/Chronic Fatigue In Traditional Chinese Medicine
