“I feel tired all the time.” That is something I used to say over and over again because it was the honest to God truth: I was exhausted. Although I did not at the time lead all that busy a life I still would have difficulty from waking up tired, to feeling tired and cold all day (see other examples of symptoms), to getting home after work and simply collapsing. That was my life. Something had to give.
Tried Everything But I Feel Tired All the Time Regardless
I tried going to bed earlier. I tried going to bed later. I tried reducing activities. I tried eliminating non-work activities entirely. All of these changes made no impact. I would still get home at the end of work and be completely wiped out and unable to do any more, and I would think, “I feel tired all the time.” I fell behind on housework, yardwork, and all volunteering completely stopped. I would binge and fast – sometimes not able to stop eating, sometimes not be able to eat at all. The circumstances were maddening.
I Was Falling into Depression
Life had become extremely depressing, as if knowing that I feel tired all the time wasn’t enough of a handicap. Because I had withdrawn from many of my normal activities I had also withdrawn from important friends and family, and my mental health suffered. “Life isn’t supposed to be so empty and without vitality,” I would think to myself as I lay on the couch stiff and exhausted and unable to get moving. I just felt myself falling further and further into a hole I seemed less and less able to climb out of every morning.
Finally Work Became Too Much and I Became a Target of Derision
I swear to you that although she would never admit it, my boss I am certain saw my fatigue and depression and took the opportunity to hammer on my psyche. Personal attacks behind my back, bad-mouthing me to other supervisors, complaining to HR about my performance. One day she finally got bold enough to be verbally abusive to my face. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I had had enough.
I Had Had Enough and Wasn’t Going to Take It Anymore
My boss didn’t know it at the time, but like those foolish Japanese who woke a sleeping giant at Pearl Harbor, so too had my boss angered a sleeping giant as well. My anger not only woke me to the fact that my boss was a back stabbing you-know-what, but also I was not living the life I wanted, and definitely not living a life path worth continuing. I was going to fight, be it my boss, my depression, or whatever it was causing me to say “I feel tired all the time.”
Where to Start
I started by trying to find out whether or not I was just getting older, and that “this just was the way it is” or not. I read the testimonials or others similarly suffering. I got information, did some reading, wrote down my symptoms and tracked them. Once I felt like I had some information, I went to my doctor. I honestly had to fight him too. Doctors are very used to treating short term illness and have limited awareness of longer term, “chronic” suffering. That is what taking the time to track symptoms and get further educated so I could educate my doctor what I thought was going on with my body. That was the beginning.
Eight Months Into Recovery
I’m now eight months into recovery following my decision to fight for my life and I’m doing much better. I am very thankful for the information I received and the help I have gotten. Getting diagnosed for my long term chronic symptoms made it possible for the doctors to see through the foggy veil of my day to day symptoms.
If you’re reading this and thinking “I feel tired all the time” yourself. Get information. Get help. I waited a decade (at least). You shouldn’t. Get some free information today – it can help you make a sense of your drifting, listless world.
