Fatigue (Tiredness)

Fatigue is undoubtedly the most common subjective complaint, experienced occasionally by everyone. Some are tired from doing nothing, others from overworking, and some feel tired “of everything.” Chronic fatigue is a modern epidemic, with millions in civilized societies visiting clinics, complaining of being exhausted, drained, or “dead tired,” yet medical examinations often find no physical or psychological cause.

Fatigue cannot be localized, affecting the entire body with a range of mental and physical symptoms: muscle pain, physical exhaustion, trembling, apathy, inability to concentrate, headaches, weakened reflexes, loss of appetite, impaired organ function (vision, hearing), sleep disturbances, and digestive issues.

Fatigue is typically divided into physical and psychological, though they are often intertwined, making them hard to distinguish. A brain center responsible for fatigue can be triggered by metabolic byproducts like lactic acid or ammonia accumulated during physical work.

This center is also activated by low blood sugar, oxygen deficiency, mineral depletion, or dehydration. Physical fatigue is beneficial, signaling the body to rest and recover for new efforts.

Psychological fatigue is less understood. The fatigue center can be triggered by psychological factors like fear, insecurity, boredom, loneliness, or emotional tension, which are common causes of chronic fatigue in modern society.

Today’s individuals face constant psychological burdens and stress at home or work. Family conflicts, job dissatisfaction, strained relationships, and persistent frustration from failures lead to fatigue becoming a conscious or unconscious “mechanism” for avoiding work, often a major reason for sick leave.

Workplace factors like monotonous tasks, sedentary jobs, time pressure (e.g., assembly line work), noise, and shift work disrupt the body’s day-night rhythm, contributing to fatigue.

These factors cause people to go to bed “dead tired” with their worries, leading to insomnia, which intensifies physical and psychological exhaustion. Since fatigue symptoms often accompany various diseases, patients frequently attribute fatigue to physical ailments, interpreting it as a sign of organic illness—“I’m sick and tired.”

Many acute and chronic diseases begin and end with intense fatigue. For instance, fatigue often heralds the flu. General weakness and fatigue persist long after recovery, sometimes accompanied by fever or other symptoms (e.g., typhoid fever, hepatitis, or encephalitis).

Occasional fatigue may signal conditions like hypertension, malignant tumors, joint inflammation, multiple sclerosis, or prolonged undiagnosed illnesses. Rapid fatigue with weight loss and darkened skin may indicate adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease).

Vitamin B deficiency causes fatigue with diarrhea, skin itching, muscle sensitivity, and neurological or psychological issues (e.g., pellagra, beriberi). Fatigue also accompanies chronic conditions like tuberculosis, anemia, or kidney failure.

Since fatigue accompanies many serious, potentially fatal diseases, anyone with chronic fatigue requires a medical evaluation. Treatment depends on the cause. If fatigue is a symptom of a physical disease, treating the disease eliminates fatigue. Treating physical fatigue is straightforward.

The most natural way to address physical fatigue is rest, balancing work and relaxation. Baths, massages, physical and mental relaxation, and good sleep typically lead to quick recovery. Good sleep best restores physical and mental strength.

Besides passive rest (lying down, sleeping, sitting), useful for physical fatigue, active rest includes activities like walking, sports, or gardening. Proper active rest is essential to restore mental and physical balance. The essence of rest is freedom from duties and pressures.

If physical fatigue is accompanied by constant worry or anxiety, it persists until emotional conflicts are resolved. In such cases, psychotherapy may be necessary.

Chronic fatigue often has complex, unclear causes. In industry, attempts to measure physical fatigue through mental and physical function tests are ongoing, but no reliable tests yet objectively measure or define fatigue.

Fatigue remains a deeply personal, subjective experience, a phenomenon of the individual’s psyche, often becoming the primary focus of treatment and a key factor in recovery.