Anxiety Makes You Tired: Why Does It Happen?

Why am I so tired when I am anxious? Many ask themselves this question as they go through mentally difficult times. Your body feels heavy, your muscles ache, you feel a tightness in your chest and you have to sit down all the time to rest. What’s going on here? In today’s article we will talk about why anxiety makes you tired.

A lot of research is talking about this question, with studies going all the way back to the First World War. Hospital staff noticed that many of the soldiers returning to the front lines suffered from anxiety and depression as well as their physical injuries. In addition to these cognitive problems , another common symptom appeared: extreme and persistent fatigue.

Doctors at this time called this phenomenon “combat fatigue”. Over the years, researchers have gained a better understanding of the underlying biochemical and physiological processes that are at work under these mental states. Let’s take a closer look.

When anxiety makes you tired: factors to consider

Fatigue has one of two causes: It is either the result of persistent physical exertion or mental factors. The latter may seem contradictory, but the data support it.

A study conducted at the University of Manitoba in Canada revealed an important aspect of the link between anxiety and fatigue. The impact of depression and anxiety disorders in the workplace is enormous. One of the factors most closely associated with poor work performance is fatigue. A significant number of people are too tired at work to concentrate or be productive and reach their goals.

The study also showed that fatigue caused by anxiety and depression can also make it difficult to live a normal life. The things you used to enjoy, like going out with your friends or practicing some hobby, suddenly seem too much. They require a level of effort and energy that you simply do not have. But why? Why does anxiety make you feel so tired? Here are some of the common causes.

Adrenaline and anxiety: relentless physical activation

Stress and anxiety stem from an increase in the body’s production of adrenaline and norepinephrine. The purpose of these two hormones is to help you respond to or escape threats and danger.

• Release of adrenaline and noradrenaline increases heart rate, respiration and blood pressure. It also facilitates the release of cortisol. Under normal circumstances, this is a short reaction. When the threat disappears, your body becomes normal.

• However, if you suffer from anxiety, and the “threat” you perceive is not something concrete (such as a wild animal), the production of these hormones is in high gear. Their continued presence in your body can be very harmful. It can cause fatigue, headaches, digestive problems, tachycardia, etc.

Fatigue is usually not the only symptom for people who suffer from anxiety symptoms. They generally also experience many of the symptoms we mentioned above. All of this is the obvious manifestation of a constant state of alertness and activation, which you can imagine can be exhausting.

The effect on your muscles

If you have chronic anxiety or have experienced it at certain times in your life, you know how it feels. Anxiety makes your body feel heavy and clumsy. Your legs hurt, your arms feel weak and your back and neck are tense.

Anxiety has its most marked effect on your muscles. This is because the brain sends all your energy to your muscles so that they respond to the fight-flight response. The accumulated tension from this constant alertness can cause pain and fatigue.

Your brain can send you a message

If you have ever wondered why anxiety makes you tired, you should think about whether your body is trying to tell you something. Your exhaustion can be a kind of defense mechanism from your brain. The fatigue and lethargy you feel can be the brain’s way to make you stop.

A very important aspect of this type of exhaustion is that you can not get rid of it by sleeping for thirty hours. In other words, physical rest does not solve a mental problem.

The purpose of this response from the brain is to make you stop and regroup. Changing habits, establishing priorities, dealing with emotions and healing past and present conflicts are the best ways to deal with it.

Do not neglect your health

We know that anxiety has a whole range of mental and physical manifestations. Among them are constant anxiety, concentration problems, sleep problems, abdominal pain and physical exhaustion. However, it is important not to assume that your symptoms are caused by anxiety. See your doctor to rule out underlying health problems.

Thyroid problems and anemia can also cause chronic fatigue. Getting a diagnosis from a healthcare professional is crucial to getting you on the path to healing.

When your body is trying to tell you something, be sure to listen and give it what it needs.