Red Flags of Exhaustion
By Donna Stark
Well, I went to see the doctor the other day and I was asked to fill out the routine checklist. You know the one. The one with the the long list of symptoms that you may or may not be experiencing. If you are experiencing the symptom, you check it off. If you're not, you leave it blank. I don't really mind this checklist, and it's usually not too difficult for me to complete it, but every time I get to the box next to "fatigue," I tend to pause for a second or two. I pause because I am just not sure whether to check it off or not. I mean, I'm always tired. In fact, it seems like a lot of us are always tired. So how do we even know what a normal level of fatigue really feels like anymore?
When Fatigue Turns Into Exhaustion
Many of us find ourselves living a super-busy, highly-stressed, pushed-to-the-limit kind of life, and although burning the candle at both ends may sound like a good idea at the time, it certainly doesn't feel good when you hit that brick wall. It's important to take the necessary steps to keep that from happening and to keep an eye out for the following red flags of exhaustion.
- You never feel rested - Do you find yourself needing to hit the snooze button over and over and over again before you finally get up and out of bed? If so, it's likely that your body is trying to recover from being too exhausted.
- You are beyond grumpy - Extreme physical and mental fatigue can make you feel irritable, angry, and bothered beyond comprehension. Snapping at those you love or picking fights for no apparent reason is a huge red flag.
- You can't think clearly - You rest your body after a long day of work, so why don't you rest your mind too? When the brain is overworked and too tired to think, your thoughts can often become unfocused and confused.
- You dread spending time with others - If spending time with family and friends seems more like a chore than something to look forward to, it may be that other areas in your life are draining too much of your energy. Having some downtime with loved ones is essential to your overall well-being.
- You get sick ... a lot - When the body is overly fatigued, the immune system has a harder time fighting those random colds and illnesses. Your body needs quality rest to recover and recharge, so make sleep a priority and give your immune system a boost in the process.
Get Your Rest!
It's time for us all to feel better and to skip right on past that "fatigue" box at the doctor's office. Slow down a bit if you have to, keep an eye out for the red flags of exhaustion, and avoid hitting those brick walls in the process!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Hillsboro, Ore.