If your body feels really heavy and tired...

[willsurvivethis]

can that still be mental tiredness? Depression? Or is it just lack of sleep? I'm not sleeping well atm, endless nightmares too so not resting but I had a reasonable night last night but I still feel so heavy. Last night I was so tired and worn down that I considered texting my friend to ask if he'd look after DH and DS if I couldn't take anymore. (I didn't). There's so much going on right now including still not being really well and settling in my new job but this feels pretty extreme. Even last year when things were ink black and I had constant flashbacks and memories I don't remember feelings this exhausted but maybe that's because I was running on adrenaline then.

I think it can.

I fell asleep this afternoon which I wasn't expecting but I did have a trying evening last night and have dreams every night so never wake up rested.

You can have a really busy day and feel tired but you don't feel it in the same way if you have been busy but not enjoyed what you have been doing. Happy tiredness is a lot different to exhaustion when you are unhappy/stressed/derpressed.

Definitely sounds like you have been running on adrenalin recently and thats stopped now. This is where the exhaustion comes in. After an adrenalin rush you will feel as flat as a pancake.

Also if you have not been well, and you've just started a new job, this is tiring as well.

Really look after yourself. Get plenty of rest. Eat healthy energy boosting foods, not fatty or high carb foods. Get plenty of natural light, relaxing walks with your dcs.

Ask for help from family and friends or extra nursery sessions if you can afford it.

Apart for lethargy, no motivation, and disturbed sleep pattern, how do you feel?

Do you find it difficult to concentrate?
How is your appetite?
Do you still enjoy things that you used to?
How long have you felt so exhausted for?

Are you suffering from ptsd? The nightmares, flashbacks and bad memories must be awful.

Have you got a good relationship with your gp, could she/he offer any help.

Are you on antidepressants already?

Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you.

Yes cherrylips - complex ptsd related to difficult birth bringing up memories of severe and carefully surpressed child sexual abuse.It is getting better overall but the flashbacks have recently made way for nightmares and I seem to have reached a grieving stage in the processing. Plus new job and depressed dh with work problems that affect all of us.

I'm not on medication - my doc prefers to monitor and has told me to come and see me whenever I need to. I have good friends that I can text and talk to - one that stays up late, one that gets up at 5 and is wide awake straight away and able to talk and listen.

concentration is better than it has been - it was one of my worst physical ptsd symptoms. Eating is ok too right now, in fact better than ever so 'm slowly losing weight.

I definitely don't enjoy things the way i used to, my little ds and good company can draw me out for a while and make me laugh but I feel sad a lot at the moment, but then I have a lot to feel sad about when I think of everything he did to me when I was 8.

The exhaustion has been creeping up on me for a few weeks now. My sleep has been erratic since it all kicked off in April last year, but I've not felt this tired since I was in early pregnancy with ds (and no I'm definitely not). The oveerriding feeling is wanting to curl up and cry myself to sleep.

Oh well that's enough moaning for now I thing

Forgot to mention I have a really good specialist counsellor but recently in counselling the feelings related to the abuse have started to come back (ie feeling like a scared, confused, totally isolated 8 year old) and that has been healing but very difficult.

Has your dr checked your thyroid function recently? Underactive thyroid can make you feel awful, and can sometimes be mistaken fir depression. With all the other things that are going on for you right now, it could easily be missed if the symptoms are mistaken for part of the depression/PTSD.

thanks PC yes I have had recent blood tests for an unrelated condition and all is well.

Oh my goodness willsurvivethis.

I know that feeling of smiling - but not feeling like you mean it. This will get better with time.

I nodded at your comment about available friends : I would be of the early morning variety.

It seems that you are working really hard at this, and are doing the right things.

Your comment about grieving really struck home with me. This in itself is exhausting. When grieving we slip in and out of very strong ( sometimes overwhelming) emotions. Anger, confusion, sadness, vulnerability, feeling lost, anxiety, exhaustion, acceptance, and feeling ready to move on, only to go back a few steps the next day.

All the thoughts we are thinking inform our emotions and in turn how we feel physically.

Also being a parent is tiring. And if you have had broken nights sleep with nightmares you will feel that you need to catch up with your sleep.

Carry on eating well, getting out and about in fresh air, natural daylight, getting exercise.

Carry on meeting up with friends and enjoying others company, even though it may be difficult.

And carry on the good work you have been doing in therapy, even though it is so hard regarding talking about the abuse and remembering things.

You need to catch up on your sleep. Maybe have a nap in the day if possible, but only for an hour or so, so you don't compromise you sleep at night.

Your GP sounds like mine - doesn't dole tablets out!! This may be a good thing. But keep him/her posted as to your progress.

Hope things start to be less up and down for you v soon.

Keep posting.

It is possible though that you have a co-existing physical health problem causing your body to feel heavy and tired. Has your thyroid been checked (this can also cause depression/low mood if underactive) and your iron levels? Good to rule out a physical cause as ime once diagnosed with a MH condition all somatic concerns are attributed to that and no other cause investigated (my experience is as a MH nurse so have seen this happen in practice iyswim).

I meant to say often all somatic concerns are attributed to MH condition - it doesn't happen all the time of course.

Thanks ladylush but as I already said before my thyroid is fine. I do have a 1001 reasons to be tired, most in some way linked to my MH.

sorry - didn't see that. Do you know what your levels were? The TSH can be slightly higher than the recommended range,whilst the T4 can be within range yet you can still feel lousy.

No idea what my levels are - all I know is that my very thorough GP did a detailed blood test before commencing me on some (no MH related) drugs and all was fine.

I'm also in myself totally convinced it is not my thyroid - because I'm fine during excercise. I cycle 70mins on the days that I work and walk a lot at work and that doesn't tire me out.

Fair enough. Well it's great that you are exercising that much anyway

WILLSURVIVE I am not surprised you are feeling like this after all that you have been through.I think on top of it all going back to work is strssful in itself, your body is trying to readjust to all this, and in doing so is feelin not surprisingly super tired.I have a friend who has not worked for 2 years, and last week start back in a junior position.She had not worked due to severe ocd issues, she too is feeling exhausted and not sleeping, I think it is your body tring to re adjust.Like others have said keep an eye to your diet, exercies fresh air etc, hopefully things will improve , I would think it will take a couple of weeks tbh, just try and pace yourself in the meantime, do lots of relaxing things for you, good book, nice biccies, nice treats, hope things get better.