At least ten times per day, I think about how tired I am. Imagine my surprise when I read an article that says I'm not tired after all. Rather, I'm fatigued.
Being tired, you see, can be fixed with a good night's sleep. Fatigue doesn't go away.
When you're fatigued, your metabolism slows down, leading to lethargy. Exercise makes it worse, and often it is only willpower that gets you out of bed in the morning.
There are lots of reasons why someone might be suffering fatigue. The obvious ones are not getting enough sleep, drinking too much, stress, and going through treatments such as chemotherapy. However, other things cause fatigue as well: thyroid problems, sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, menopause and a dozen others.
I've got at least two of those, so fatigue is my daily companion. It's like I'm trying to get through life with a hundred-pound weight on my back. I have to rest after I get showered and dressed, and my energy levels drop drastically around three pm.
This isn't a complaint. I just wanted to point out that fatigue isn't laziness. It isn't something that can be fixed by a nap. It's a symptom of a greater issue, and has to be factored in just like other symptoms.
So if you're like me and not tired, be kind to yourself. Move at your own pace. We'll all get through eventually.
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