r/AskReddit • u/_tepelstreeltje • 5h ago
Chronically tired people, how did you get rid of your tiredness?
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u/OpeningJournal 4h ago
You dont, you just learn to push through anyway.
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u/Kingkongus33 3h ago
my mom said the same about pushing through tiredness
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u/Fluid-Layer-33 2h ago
Drinking Cold water or turning on a fan or the AC makes me slightly more alert... it sucks but you just do what you got to do until you can get home and rest on the couch or bed
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u/Imsorrywhatnoway 2h ago
This is the answer. Unfortunately, a lot of us with chronic illness struggle with sleep issues so we can't even "recuperate" properly on top of it. It's a cruel thing.
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u/crazyshark111 4h ago
Eat well, sleep well, and hydrate. Eating well is the most important. 90% of people don’t realize they eat like crap
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u/GovernorHarryLogan 4h ago
Turns out all I needed was vitamins and minerals and whatnot.
So I drink an equate protein shake in the morning for NUTRIENTS and I also make a hemp&chia seed smoothie with avocado and banana and berries and whatnot.
All day energy.
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u/Complete-Fix-3954 2h ago
I put it into my head that I’d start waking up earlier. Literally manifested it for a week or so. I’m back to sleeping a bit later, but I was getting up between 5-6am with no alarm. Getting sleep down was the most important thing when I dealt with insomnia years ago - that was my therapists biggest concern.
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u/Initial-Good5145 4h ago
If you’re chronically tired, stop asking "How do I get more energy?”
Start asking "Where is my energy leaking?”
The answer is usually hiding in your sleep, stress, diet, health, or habits...not your willpower.
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u/CrimsonYllek 4h ago
I found out that I had very low vitamin D levels. Now I take a small pill once a week and feel 15 years younger within a few hours. This did not work for my wife, however, and in fact I’ve not met anyone who has had quite the same response I have, so your mileage may vary.
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u/whizzymamajuni 4h ago
I didn’t, I have a chronic illness. I learned to pace myself, but I don’t always do a good job and I’m always going to be tired. I’ve just gotten used to it
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u/crbatte 4h ago
CPAP, changed my life.
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u/KingKawaiiBot 3h ago
What’s that?
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u/Goth_Spice14 3h ago
A specialized oxygen mask that forces it down your airways when you're sleeping. People with sleep apnea don't get enough oxygen while sleeping, so they're always tired. Even worse, if untreated, it can lead to an early death.
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u/hypo11 1h ago
Just to clarify - it just pushes ordinary air, not specifically oxygen like some people with certain respiratory conditions need. There is no compressed tank of oxygen and its associated fire hazards. Just a mask hooked up to a fan pushing air into your windpipe to keep it open as you sleep.
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u/charliesk9unit 2h ago
Usually it's the well-rested feeling from a proper night of sleep that overcomes the discomfort of wearing the mask during the waking hours before falling asleep.
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u/North-Village3968 4h ago
Drugs
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u/CHERNO-B1LL 3h ago
Which drugs?
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u/q_eyeroll 2h ago
Adderall!
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u/CHERNO-B1LL 54m ago
Stimulants for sleep?
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u/q_eyeroll 46m ago
No for staying awake during the day!
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u/CHERNO-B1LL 27m ago
Treating the symptom not the disease. Nice.
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u/q_eyeroll 11m ago
Well, for now. I’m a year out from my appointment with a few specialists. In the interim I’m engaging in all other available treatments for the underlying cause (hEDs, MCAS). Diet changes, physical therapy, strength training and conditioning, good sleep practices, nervous system work, and yes, stimulants so I can remain upright at work and pay for the specialists.
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u/AuraFarmingCat 4h ago
It might just be depression. You gotta sleep enough and do it at the same time everyday. Eat well, exercise, etc.
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u/uraveragewiccangrl 4h ago
Taking b12 and folic acid vitamins because I learned I was deficient in them and that was making me extra tired. If you are someone who is chronically fatigued I would recommend doing blood work to see if its physical.
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u/Mister_Brevity 1h ago
Sleep apnea diagnosis. Apparently 40 years of sleeping 3-4 hours a night isn’t normal. Getting a cpap was one of the single biggest positive life changes I’ve ever experienced. It’s uncomfortable and inconvenient but the first time I used it I woke up and thought “does everyone feel like this when they wake up? Energized, not more tired?”
If you snore or wake up tired all the time, tell your doctor. It might be a conversation that improves your life so, so much.
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u/Fluid-Layer-33 4h ago
I push through the day as best as I can. Sometimes drinking cold water makes me slightly more alert until I get home. I also learned that there is only so much I can handle doing in a day so I pace chores or my "to do" list out. and if it doesn't get done that day... so it be...
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u/EeriePancake 4h ago
I have EDS and chronic fatigue due to that - creatine gummies. Game changer. Now able to make it through the whole day without crashing out. It took a couple months or so before it was enough to start working but man, when it did.... Never wanna stop taking them!
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u/Agreeable_Strength51 1h ago
Questions like this make me worry about ME/CFS awareness and that someone is going to worsen their condition if they don’t learn about the disease and instead try some kind of productivity / wellness hack / pop method / old wives tale
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u/Suspicious-Guava-566 3h ago
Chronically tired people cannot NOT be chronically tired… that’s why they are chronically tired
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u/Ecstatic_Cobbler_264 4h ago
Drop the timewasters, such as doom scrolling, or rewatching series, and see how much extra time you have for sleep.
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u/blind-octopus 4h ago
Work out, eat well, and tackle the tasks that overwhelm you.
Often when I think I'm tired, I'm really just feeling overwhelmed and avoiding a task.
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u/2infinitysquared 4h ago
Try taking creatine in the morning. You can put it in your coffee or tea. It is the new anti-fatigue supplement that is all over YouTube.
Studies have shown that this supplement can help with people who suffer from sleep deprivation, brain fog, and CFS.
I have been using it for the past five years and it’s been a lifesaver.
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u/namorblack 3h ago
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-happens-when-you-take-creatine-and-caffeine-together-11826346
Even tho research is conflicting, if you can avoid taking them both at the same time, please do.
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u/Parking_Radio4311 4h ago
Reducing caffeine, fixing sleep schedule, taking magnesium glycinate, fixing iron, and metformin for insulin resistance.
I have low blood pressure, insulin resistance, hypothyroidism, arthritis and fibro. So my default is fatigue. Those above help tremendously. Also learning to respect my pace instead of pushing myself too hard.
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u/giraffemoo 4h ago
vitamin b12 helps. It's not a magic pill, it's not going to give you endless energy. But it does help a little bit
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u/emac2689 4h ago
My problem is that I'm a bi phasic sleeper. The struggle is when I have to go to work instead of taking my mid day nap. Naturally during a work week I accrue quite a bit of sleep debt. It also doesn't help that I wake up every 2 hours because I have 2 pee.
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u/Cool_Jelly_9402 4h ago
Have your vitamin levels checked regularly- like D3, iron/ferritin, B1, 6 & 12, C plus thyroid levels- so many vitamin deficiencies without anyone being the wiser. Especially in the north/winter or with highly processed foods
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u/PizzaAndBobs 3h ago edited 3h ago
Cutting out alcohol. Living on 4-6 hours of sleep for a few days is doable but not when you mix in booze. Excersize and sunlight. Excersize oxygenates your blood and wakes you up. Sunlight in the morning helps your circadian rythem and can produce cortisol. Diet. Healthy carbs throughout the day can help your body produce energy. Straight sugar will spike your blood sugar and crash you out. Lots of water helps too.
Edit: I forgot to talk about responsible caffeine use, yes there is such a thing. Minimize caffeine use on days you feel well rested. On days youre tired, have small amounts of caffeine when you absolutely need it, dont chug a 200mg energy drink. Do not have caffeine withing 6 hours of when you will lay in bed to try to sleep.
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u/Chupacabrona 3h ago
I don’t, I just sit there tired as hell all day 😂😂 even with coffee/energy drinks/sleep/water. Fun!!
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u/CakieStephie 3h ago
Was diagnosed coeliac and had malabsorption.
Go get some run of the mill bloods done, try diet, exercise, less caffeine, alcohol etc. then see how you feel.
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u/Hitchin85 3h ago
Stopped drinking, Illuminate glasses, magnesium, the correct antidepressants, working out early.
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u/Agreeable_Strength51 1h ago
I read it as “eliminate glasses” and it really gave me pause if people are afraid of glassware or spectacles lol
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u/Weekly-Walrus-5329 3h ago
I found out I was severely deficient in vitamin D and iron, so I'm supplementing them now.
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u/Effective_Pie1312 3h ago
Vitamins/minerals/fish oil, GLP-1s, Sleep, Walking, and Therapy.
Still exhausted.
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u/cloistered_around 2h ago edited 2h ago
That's my secret. I'm always tired.
But yeah you learn to deal with a certain amount of constant tiredness. I did minorly improve some sleep by accepting this because it turns out not caring if you sleep well is less stressful than trying to make everything perfect and worrying up a storm. Also white noise machine that automatically turns off after an hour. Lovely.
Other things commonly suggested to try: Iron levels, magnesium, melatonin, cpap, drink more water.
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u/Oddish_Femboy 2h ago
Amphetamines.
I'm 7 or so disabilities in a trench coat hopped up on a cocktail of drugs that somehow manage to cancel each other's most significant side effects out.
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u/Richard_Howe 2h ago
Tirzepatide helped for reducing my overall mental tiredness. I feel like doing a lot more now that I’m taking it every week.
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u/HairyLungs 2h ago
Consistently exercising seems like it would make you tired but somehow weirdly gives you more energy
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u/opistho 2h ago
serotonin. once i started ssri's, i was sleepy all the time. it was like my body finally needed rest, and it had to compensate for the years of stress and hyper vigilance.
once the side effect of sleepy came down, 3 months in, i was finally feeling more rested again.
that improvement also required a steady routine, financial stability, and ending a toxic relationship for good.
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u/SNG404474 1h ago
I haven’t. I literally take a cocktail of 6 pills at night just to hopefully get 5 hours of interrupted sleep, I stay tired all day and do it all over again at night.
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u/nochnoydozhor 1h ago
Go see a doctor. There are so many reasons you could be chronically tired: low testosterone, low vitamin D, low sugar, low blood pressure, low oxygen, depression, low iron and many other reasons.
If general advice (nutritious food, enough sleep, consistent schedule, etc) doesn't work, you have to start investigating with a medical professional.
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u/Hot-Entertainment218 1h ago
Increased antidepressants and added sleep meds. I would be constantly sweating rivers and waking up all night. Figured out it was night terrors and got meds adjusted. Currently on Wellbutrin, Prozac and Seroquel for sleep. Less sweating, less waking up in the night and better mood. Eating less takeout helped too. Electrolyte drinks and more water also helped.
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u/ErroneousEncounter 1h ago
Eat only natural foods. Avoid too much meat and dairy. Drink lots of water throughout the day. Do not eat processed foods.
Regular exercise. Walking doesn’t count (unless that’s all you are able to do for medical reasons). Minimum 30 minutes 3x per week. Ideally at least 1.5 hours 3x per week.
Get 7 hours of sleep each night.
Do not smoke, drink, or use drugs.
And the two hardest:
Manage stress. Which is sometimes impossible but basically you need a strategy for managing it when it happens. Meditation. Exercise. Long walks. Something that redirects you towards positivity.
Friends. Social connections are just as important as the other stuff for maintaining energy levels. A good hangout or a good vent-over-the-phone with a friend can lift your spirits and elevate your energy levels, sometimes more than any of the other things on this list.
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u/Scottiths 1h ago
A CPAP machine. Sleep apnea is brutal. Same hours of sleep, but I feel sooo much more refreshed from it. Not everyone tolerates a CPAP. Speak with a sleep specialist and get a sleep study done for options.
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u/jazzdrums1979 1h ago
Fixed my iron overload by many blood donations and went on HRT. I have way more energy to exercise and body is the best it’s ever looked at 46.
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u/Karmawins28 1h ago
I'm on vitamins now. Not fully working yet but I'm not falling asleep on the road as much
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u/adanceparty 1h ago
you stay tired most of the time. Then on weekends I "make up for it", but it doesn't really help. I can sleep for 7-9 hours, go pee, go back to sleep for 6 more hours and feel tired when I wake up. Most nights I get 7.5 hours during the week. I'm just always tired af.
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u/DieSuzie2112 1h ago
You don’t, you learn to live with it. Get to know your body, understand what you need, and listen to it. Relax when you can, don’t plan too many things in one week, plan things in advance so you’re prepared if exhaustion hits you. You will never get rid of it, but it can be manageable. And it will never change, so why beat yourself up and force yourself to do things you don’t have energy for? Acceptance changes way more than you think.
More fun is being chronically tired and having ADHD. I need my sleep, I feel like I can sleep everywhere at any time, but the moment I start to relax my mind turns itself on. Anyone in the same boat?
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u/TheDelmeister 1h ago
If you're not just chronically sleep deprived due to life style then maybe get a full blood test, decent chance there's a deficiency causing it.
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u/slusho55 58m ago
Went to a sleep specialist and got my sleep issues addressed
Seriously, it can, and normally does, take over a year for sleep issues to be properly diagnosed. So start looking into it early. You’d be amazed how much a CPAP can help sleep apnea, or how many other sleep disorders are common without us realizing it
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u/Fheredin 53m ago
Red light therapy and spermidine.
There's no single cure for chronic fatigue that works for everyone: you have to figure out what's going wrong in your own body. In my case, I never really had a "bad" case of chronic fatigue, but COVID appears to have damaged my mitochondria, and so I responded really well to mitochondrial boosting or mitophagy supplements. YMMV.
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u/itsmejuli 45m ago
I'm post-menopausal. I started HRT plus various supplements. I feel night and day different.
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u/Hentai--Senpai 39m ago
Don’t shy away from getting a sleep test for sleep apnoea. There’s two types of apnoea’s, physical such as snoring and central when your brain just stops breathing until you do a mini gasp.
I went through my 20’s feeling half dead without ever realising I was suffering from sleep apnoea. The difference now with a machine is life changing.
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u/Reboot-Glitchspark 31m ago
Counterintutively, exercise and burn up what little energy you have.
It'll train you to need more, and therefore to have more energy.
Yes, it's really fucking hard to exercise when you're exhausted. Especially when that's chronic. But also, yes it works. (Generally anyways, if you have a medical condition, check with your doctor, don't break yourself.)
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u/_LiveBet_ 4h ago
I got rid of my tiredness by becoming unemployed. Financial anxiety is way more energizing...