It’s normal to put task on hold that is annoying or overwhelming. However, there are times in your life when it becomes hard to push your body. Temptation to stay on the couch is more, and you just cannot move on. You may be too exhausted even to manage daily activities of living.

Yes, if you are suffering from depression, it never allows you to perform any activity, regardless of the task or amount of efforts required.

Fatigue is one of the most notable symptoms of depression. Feeling low on energy, lack of motivation or a loss of interest in pleasurable activities, all are common. These unexplained moments of lingering tiredness further enhance sadness and feeling of being unwell.

But the question is why depression makes you feel extremely tired?

There could be several reasons. Let’s explore some of them.

Depression and Fatigue 

According to scientific studies, it could be due to change in brain chemistry.

Depression is a complex disease with many interlinked causes. Abnormal brain chemistry is one of the most widely accepted explanations to influence depression. 

Depression is linked with changes in brain neurotransmitter, such as dopamine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that have a significant impact on how you think, feel, and act. Dopamine creates positive feelings of accomplishments and motivates to continue with task or activity. Serotonin is a “feel good” chemical that help to regulate your mood.

Thus, too little of these chemicals impact both energy levels and motivation. A total lack of motivation drags your feet on a whole different level. Getting anything done including everyday tasks, can feel like daunting and overwhelming.

Depression affects sleep quality.

Yes, depression makes it hard for you to enjoy quality sleep. People with depression often have trouble falling asleep or difficulty staying asleep, or both. The sleep pattern is less restful and restorative.

Insufficient sleep has consequences on how you function in the daytime. As a groggy person, you feel more restless and irritable. It also reduces concentration and leads to lack of motivation. It’s hard to push yourself when your mind is not rested well.

Depression is responsible for poor eating habit.

Persistent feeling of sadness or anxiety significantly impacts your eating habit. You might have a poor appetite, or have an extreme desire  for unhealthy foods. You prefer to choose sweet foods with less nutritional value.

Eating fat and sugar in large quantity can make you feel groggy. Also, lack of dietary nutrients that are vital to body functioning further makes you feel tired.

Depression is associated with limited physical activity.

There are convincing evidences suggesting that depression impact physical mobility. Lack of motivation makes it difficult for you to indulge in a regular workout.

Exercise is a healthy behavior that has promised for combating tiredness. Exercise is a way to improve levels of chemicals into the brain. It allows you to breathe fresh air and increase blood flow. This help to boost your mood, and energy levels. On the contrary, lack of physical mobility hampers functioning of all important organ systems and makes you feel more lethargic.

Depression is associated with chronic stress.

The role of chronic stress in origin and development of depression is well-established. The downward spiral of the negative thoughts is mentally draining. Thoughts regarding self-doubt, self-criticism and withdrawn from society are crippling. Chronic stress can cause tiredness and disruption in sleep, which may result in decrease energy level.

Stress-related fatigue normally feels like a general feeling of being tired or drowsy. It is usually accompanied with other symptoms such as moodiness and irritability. There is much greater likelihood that you get more depressed again due to such emotional disturbances. 

Depression enhances feeling of meaninglessness.

When depression arises, you prefer to choose to stay indoors. You may have a little interest in daily activities. You withdraw yourself from society and spend most of the time with your thoughts. 

Out of nowhere, your world just stops making sense. Without purpose, you feel empty, boring or unmotivated. This left very little enthusiasm for life. You prefer to escape from doing daily activities considering them meaningless.

Last but not least your depression may be due to medications.

Fatigue, dizziness, or feelings of being sick are common side effects of antidepressant medications. These are noted especially during early weeks of treatment.

Still it is important to continue treatment, even if you are affected by side-effects. Side-effects will ease after a couple of weeks before you begin to get benefits of treatment.

Depression associated fatigue can affect physical and emotional functioning. Further, it leads to impair school and work performance and disturb social or family relationships. Therefore, looking for the cause for fatigue is always crucial. 

Overcoming depression related fatigue

Lifestyle modifications, including physical activity and balanced diet help to boost energy levels and regulate mood. Practice of sleep hygiene will work to promote quality sleep. 

Taken together, healthy lifestyle will help to reduce depression fatigue to great extent.

It is important to note that management of depression requires extensive expert intervention. Mental health professionals, who are diligent and tenacious in handling such cases, make it easier to cope with depression. 

Also Check : Living With Depression

Disclaimer 

Mediclin Brain Health’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.