Fatigue

Another issue I have with GAD is fatigue as this is common for people who have this disorder. I have been fine lately but today I have been struggling with it. It seems to come and go at times but I seem to have it more often than not.

There are times when I sleep for 11 /12 hours and wake up tired and if it is a day I have off I will nap in the afternoon. Then I still feel tired enough to go to bed early at night. There are times especially at work where I have just enough energy to get by and have to load up with caffeine. But the problem with caffeine of course is it increases my anxiety.

One way to beat fatigue is to get some exercise which increases my adrenaline and I usually hit the treadmill for half an hour. Sometimes if it is nice out I will go for a short walk just to be outdoors and get some sun. Even just moving around can help sometimes.

Also reading a good book or finding something thought provoking online helps keep me awake as it keeps the mind sharp. When I get winded up it helps break my fatigue and keeps me sharp and focused as well as awake.  I find that having my mind going is as good as having my body going.

I find that you have lots of caffeine as mention earlier does not help my anxiety. I avoid energy drinks especially I find that help me surge for an hour then I am back to square one. Same with sugary snacks and soft drinks.(I am also trying to keep the weight off). Eating right and getting the right amount of exercise are key in helping this. 

I should mention that I also do shift work and have to”flip my body” which compounds this problem.I often have bizarre sleep patterns on top of anxiety and often run a sleep deficit which may actually be the problem except I know that it is a symptom of anxiety. It is a matter of looking after myself mentally and physically.