How do you deal with the exhaustion..

[Katkins1]

Hi

Just that really, how do you do you deal with the physical and emotional exhaustion, feeling run down and tired? I can't really go and sleep as I have deadlines for uni soon. I have been crying on and off, really tearful, feel so worn out. Just want to get under the duvet and sleep. any advice on coping with the exhaustion when you have to, have to be awake and doing things?

Hi, Kat

It sounds to me as though you could do with popping to see your GP and telling them how you're feeling, then going to the uni to ask for an extension on your coursework. You can get through this, it sounds to me as though things have got on top of you and you're depressed. It's nothing bad and is very normal, most people get depressed at some point. The key thing is to let your tutor know how you're feeling and to get some help.

I've got a extension for one thing- it's an on-going thing, but I can manage the others (I hope...) as they are nearly finished. It's been a long term thing, good days and bad days (after a bereavement three months ago), but right now I am struggling. I know people who haven't done as much work as me, though, so that's something. I have done quite a lot.

If you're feeling like this then you won't be able to work at your best though. It's better to get an extension for all of them, then finish them off when you're on top form. If you can hand them in earlier then do, it will take some of the pressure off you though. Go and have a chat with them, they will understand

I think it is telling oneself that one is getting enough sleep for now and soon when deadlines and pressures out of the way can rest fully.

Uni is stressful and sometimes it is ok to tell oneself this is enough. And tick things off lists, however small to feel sense of achievement.

Thank you. Ladymarylikescake, I've been feeling like this for months now, with absolutely no let up, so I guess things will just be what they are as I can't see myself feeling any better any time soon. I think I will just have to plough through with things, and let them be what they are. Do you think there might be an element of my depression telling me that my work isn't good enough perhaps? I've nearly finished a draft (lots and lots of re-drafts too) of my dissertation due in on the 29th May, so surely it can't be that bad ? I don't know!

Depression is tricky, there's usually no 'one thing' which sets it off. It's stressful being a student. You're broke and there's a lot of pressure to hand things in on time and to do well. I remember that I didn't eat properly as I couldn't afford it, I also didn't exercise and it all takes a toll. Take your draft to your tutor to check, it may help if you hear something positive Please go and see your GP though.

I read in a book about depression that when you feel tired, you need to instantly stop and rest. I read that if you try and "push through it" you will have a crash the next day. I know this advice is not always easy or practical to take, but your body / brain is healing and when it needs rest it speaks to you. I would work with small, attainable activity goals and keep well rested where you can.

That's interesting. It is quite hard dealing with the tiredness, especially if you have children that need you and so on. I think I'd like to do that in future, but right now, I am facing some huge challenges with my final year. I'm not sure that I'm ever a 'resting' kind of person, although I would like to be sometimes. In fact, I'm not even sure that I know how to rest.

I have been exhausted myself lately and have found that taking "Berocca", (vitamins B, C, Calcium and Magnesium) helps to wake me up and certainly doesn't do me any harm.

PS Also a good cold remedy

Ah Ok, thank you I will look. My energy levels and concentration are really flagging at the minute, so I will have a look online/ go to the chemist for something. Have been writing (well re-drafting) an assignment due soon, but haven't got very far, annoyingly!