Feeling "drained"

[Fakingit36]

Hi - I suspect this is pretty common but I'm not sure where to start. I'm 37, in fine general health, have a 4 year old DS. I work (very) full time in a demanding consultancy - often leaving for work at 7.30am and returning about 9. I bike commute which is great. Stress levels very high and it can be a struggle to get the right food 3 x a day though DH helps by cooking pretty nutritious stuff. In the last few weeks especially (change of season?) I have struggled like crazy to get out of bed when the alarm goes off. I do generally get 8 hours of sleep despite my work schedule (sometimes flop straight into bed when get home) so I don't think the answer is just "sleep more". I would describe the feeling as "drained". I also have acne from time to time and my skin is unhappy at the moment. I did have a GP check this week (general physical) and they will check for anemia from blood they took so I guess we'll see how that comes back. We are out of town this weekend and I slept 10 hours the last 2 nights . I don't take any medications or vitamins at all and wonder if it's time to start some supplementing - but feel overwhelmed. Not pregnant. Any thoughts about places to start? Thank you.

Why don't you get home til 9?

She's working loveyou...

Take a vitamin d and iron supplement

It could just be you are doing too much though?

Thanks guys. Yep, working too hard and it "is what it is" for the next few years at least. Will try the D and iron. Thanks.

Felt this too recently, I seemed to be catching every illness around and felt generally shite for c.6 month period. Went to doc to ask for blood tests and was offered a full set (check ur getting liver and ovaries too if concerned).

In the end it was a slight vit D dip but both GPS honed in on the stress related to a couple of things going on (big house move, new business etc). So, don't underestimate the effect that shit can have on you. Fwiw I read your post and felt a massive relief I wasn't in your situation...though I'm clearly a far lazier cow!

Seriously. You need to rethink your work hours before you burn out. I do hours like that occasionally but then it calms down. I would be a wreck if my life was like that continually. When do you see your DS? That must be so hard on you and him.

we pick our governments, this land is ours yet we are the longest hardest working people in Europe. Not fair is it?

Your exhausted, take some leave or get your hubby to treat you to a spa weekend, you need it. Hell a massage would help so tell him

Holdinghand -- I live in the US :) - though when I used to be a lawyer in London it was probably worse! This weekend I didn't work at all - we went away to see family, took country walks etc. This week I will probably be burning the candle at both ends again but will at least plan to stop completely next weekend. Unfortunately everyone I work with works like this; the only difference is that most others go home, eat, then start working again. For whatever reason I've never been able to do that effectively so I just stay at the office. Anyway- thanks all. Will get the blood results this week I assume.

I'd recommend a change of job! Try working inhouse if you are still in law.