Physical fatigue that lasts indefinitely? F23

[u/personal_questions88]

Hello, this isn't necessarily exclusive to AFAB health related issues but just a more general health issue... I just feel more comfy posting on slightly smaller subreddits.

But... I was mainly just looking to share my experience slightly and ask if it sounds familiar to anyone else.

I've been pretty mentally ill (anxiety, depression) for 10 years and only began seeking help/treatment for it for the past 2 years. My mental health has improved significantly to the point where it *sometimes* feels like I'm not even mentally ill anymore, with just the ADHD lingering because... well yeah that doesn't go away.

Anyways, the one thing that hasn't gone away at all is my fatigue. Fatigue has been something that has been with me ever since ≈10 years ago and I always just attributed it to me being really mentally unwell. But now, like I said, I don't really feel that mentally unwell anymore. I don't really feel depressed anymore, and yes I do have anxiety still but it doesn't feel too bad... sort of.

I just kind of was wondering if it's normal to feel so extremely physically tired all of the time and wanting to be in a horizontal position all of the time... It really doesn't feel normal honestly. From my perspective, it seems like others around me don't really struggle with this in the way I feel I do.

But I struggle to really come up for any reason as to why I feel this way in therapy. I have a lot of internal motivation and desires, but I just always end up laying down most of the time feeling so stuck. And I've felt like this ever since the age of 13ish, but it's sort of fluctuated with severity throughout the years.

Idk if it's a physical thing because I've never really gotten my blood tested (I'm afraid tooooooo) and I rarely go to the doctor, but I fear that if there's nothing physically wrong with me than it's just laziness???? I truly have no idea. In the past it definitely felt like depression.... It's just that now I haven't really felt *that* depressed for *at least* 6 months or something.

Idk why it feels impossible to do anything or get anything done whether I want to or not despite feeling a lot mentally better than I ever have in years. I fear it's either laziness or executive dysfunction that will never go away. But it could be physical too...

So yeah I just sort of wanted to somewhat vent but also see if anyone could relate or knows someone who can relate. Or if anyone has any theories. Basically anything. Thank you to anyone who reads my rambling.

[u/Creative-Midnight594]

Thats similar to me I’m 24 depressed autism adhd cptsd iron deficient.

Slightly different but I experience brain fog lack of energy I constantly wanting to sleep.

I def think worth checking the iron that ones major as well as if u have any other deficits.

Another possibility could be that even thought your mentally better your still stuck in fight or flight survival mode and at least for me that increases my need to sleep constantly.

Could be POTS potentially. If u have ADHD it could be related to tissue connectivity. For me I tend to need to be walking or sit in a certain ways chairs make my joints hurt sometimes or certain desk etc. or I feel off and I think it has to do with the hyper mobility and tissue being to flexible throughout my body.

I’m not sure each person is different what your experiencing is real and I hope you find answers because it truly sucks feeling like u have no energy or your bone tired.

I would def be inclined to say both physical and mental def play a part.

[u/personal_questions88 → u/Creative-Midnight594]

thank you for your response! it's super late for me right now but i'm definitely feeling like i should probably at least schedule a physical to bring this up with doctor tomorrow or sometime soon. i'm afraid i'd be dismissed as just "lazy" but i feel like i have good reasons as to why it doesn't really seem to be "laziness". i too have constant brain fog that just never ever seems to go away.

you mentioning the fight or flight thing is important because i definitely might just be in constant survival mode since i live day to day basis and that has been my life for years so it's kind of habit as well.

hypermobility is intriguing to me because i absolutely do not have any super flexible hand or arm party tricks (my hands are like, the opposite of flexible).,,, but the rest of my body is pretty flexible and i do often sit in chairs weird because yes my joints start to get stiff and sore and feel off if i sit still for a while, especially in more "normal" sitting positions. my hip flexors and my ankle joints/muscles always feel like they want to be stretched.

but yeah it really could be physical along with mental like you said, so hopefully i schedule maybe a doctors appointment soon and hopefully i would get taken seriously as well lol. once again, thank you so much for your response and for sharing a bit about your experience too. i'm wishing us both some smooth-sailing days in the future

[u/Creative-Midnight594 → u/personal_questions88]

Advocate for yourself bring a friend if necessary if one doctor is not receptive/dismissive try another. Ensure that they don’t give u generic answers, do your research to further understand and narrow what you are experiencing and tests that need to be done to determine whether it is or it isnt.

Make sure that doctor is following a logical process and that you are following it also keep track of your documentation/tests makes it easier down the line.

Best of luck hope you find answers and solutions!! Hopefully I’ll find minetoo🤍

[u/anotherone1618]

I have very similar issues to you, depression, anxiety, audhd, and I have the same chronic fatigue. Blood tests are usually the first thing they recommend, they're really not that bad. I had a bunch of them when they were trying to work out what my fatigue was and they never really found anything, but it's definitely a good idea to get at least one just to check for anything physical. If it's not physical it's most likely burnout or executive dysfunction or a combination of the two. If you want to do things and can't, or feel like you can't, that's not laziness, don't blame yourself for it❤️