Has anyone else had physical exhaustion after stress

[loulou2012]

Hi, It feels like my body is giving up, in the last two weeks I've had migraine, arm pains and feeling run down, and for the last week have felt completely wiped out after doing simple tasks like standing up to cook, have had an awful year and a half with deaths of my parents, and associated stress, and dealing with work and homeschooling throughout lockdown it feels like my body has now given up, is this normal? I feel like I have been in survival mode for months.

Sadly yes I have. I was lucky and attended a CBT group for chronic pain. The 2 things are so closely linked and it helped me enormously. Group work is probably not possible now but I found this for you
www.getselfhelp.co.uk/chronicfp.htm

I have issues with anxiety and depression on and off. I totally identify with what you're saying. After a bad episode I'm just wiped out.

I get muscular pain when anxious, and exhaustion when stressed.

Thank you @Raera
@Plussizejumpsuit and @SeaDreaming what do you do or try to help with it?

Absolutely yes...very common with chronic stress and you do need to look after yourself as otherwise it can lead to adrenal fatigue and that can result in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

What you need to do is calm your nervous system down as much as possible:

• Early nights
• Epsom salt baths
• Magnesium spray before bed
• Gentle exercise like yoga or walking
• Nutritious food

Can you take some annual leave to just relax at home?

@SeaDreaming

I get muscular pain when anxious, and exhaustion when stressed.

Magnesium spray (you can buy on Amazon or from health shops) would help with this...

^ seconding all the above and chucking in a bit of meditation as well.

Yes stress manifests physically. Take some time off work if poss 2wks with a GPs note xx

Yes absolutely, I found the older I got and by nature the buildup of extreme stress situations caused it to be worse and worse. I hated it , still do. My body almost shuts down. My joints hurt, my muscles hurt , my mobility gets severely reduced to the point I have to walk with a stick or I'm not walking anywhere. Even my damn teeth start hurting. I hate with a passion being ill but if I let it go too far then it's what happens.

My experience for me is that I absolutely have to try to prevent it by finding a way to step put of the stress or rest during it (I say this daily....I am crap at this and rarely manage to do it ) because when my body starts to show it I'm buggered and a long period of actual rest (like borderline bed rest) is the only resolution. Sorry I don't mean to be a downer.

Actually I do find magnesium malate and citrate tablets help me prolong hy health if I can't rest but only to a point.

I know it's easier said than done but if you are like me then doing everything you can to rest during the stress , if it builds up it's a giant bugger to get rid of.

When your body is stressed all your energy concentrates in the flight/fight mode so blood is taken away from your major organs and digestive system in order to respond quickly to danger, hence your muscles are also permanently tense. Try deep breathing exercises, CBT and relaxation apps.

100%. Emotions, thoughts, sensations are all closely connected I have learned. I have always gone back to body work, for me that's yoga (start small 10-20 min), massage (some places are doing them now), good food, video/comedy.

I currently feel this way, utterly exhausted and tired of it all. I hope you feel better soon OP.

Stress can definitely manifest in physical symptoms - but if this exhaustion is new for you, I would see GP. They can do a blood test to check for things like anaemia, refer you for CBT, and/or sign you off work for a week or two if they feel you need rest.

Yes this is real, you're not imagining it. I strongly and as gently as I can suggest you prioritise getting proper rest and relaxation, both immediately and long term.

There is a book on audible called Sacred Rest by Saundra Dalton-Smith, (probably in print too if you prefer) and it is my go to for checking that I'm getting rest in all the different areas we need it.

Thank you all for the suggestions, I will look into them and try and get some time off work, really appreciate the advice x