ALWAYS tired

I'm a hypochondriac so I tend to always think the worst is wrong with me. I'm legitimately always abnormally tired and feel like something is wrong with me. I work out regularly, eat fairly healthy, and get 6-8 hours of sleep every night. I've not have any drastic changes over the years but have not always felt like this. Can anyone else relate? Maybe I'm just getting old.

 

I can relate, seems to have really become a problem for me here nearing my mid-twenties. Was never a problem but then a yr or two ago lethargy would hit me hard and fast. Incorporating even more exercise on top of what I already had has helped with it a bit.

I'd love to hear what people think though, I made a similar thread a few years ago.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'm sure adding some more exercise in my routine couldn't hurt. Really a shitty feeling wanting to take a nap at 3pm.

 

I wish I could give you more advice, it's a problem that has perplexed me as well. Same exact feeling too, always wanting a mid-day nap. Even if I get more than 8 hours of sleep. Once 3 or 4 pm hits..I want a nap. Then falling asleep at night becomes a battle. So I try to avoid the nap but some days it's impossible. I have read that after a certain amount of hours, you actually start burning energy in your sleep. But it sounds like you don't oversleep. It may sound obvious but I actually never knew over-sleeping was a thing until like 2 years ago.

I guess it never really applied to me because I didn't have the problems you're describing until the tail end of my undergraduate studies. I don't think it's that we're getting old, it's got to be a lifestyle thing. Hopefully a lifestyle thing and not a health problem.

My dad works 14 hour days and gets up at like...4 AM every day and I almost never see him napping whenever I visit home. So I really don't know what it could be for us. My diet is probably to blame, it's pretty bad tbh. I exercise a good amount. That usually kills the urge to nap.

 

It's interesting we both experience basically the exact same thing. Also is relieving knowing it's probably very common. (As I said before I tend to over worry myself.) I have to say some days are better than others. It's hard to resist the urge to nap mid day. It's just weird because I never had this problem when I was 18 - 21. You mentioned your dad working insane hours and not feeling that lethargic feeling. That's weird because when I was in the military I could function off 4 hours sleep and sure I'd be tired but it was tolerable past the initial waking up. I never got that mid day drowsy feeling.

 

Can relate - in college I worked as a night receptionist and the hours had you up literally all night. I could function on 4-5 hours of sleep without naps during the day. Hopefully someone has some suggestions. I'm keen to hear them

If you figure out any helpful things let me know!

 

Sounds like you may have sleep apnea. I always felt extremely tired during the day even having slept for 8 hours, yawning all the time. Went to the doctor and he referred me to a sleep specialist. They did a sleep study and i was diagnosed with sleep apnea. You may have it and not even know but you should get it checked out.

Sleep apnea Symptoms - Mayo Clinic

The way it was described to me is basically, you stop breathing during the night or can't catch your breathe for a very short amount of time. In that time you wake up and go back to sleep 30+ times a night so you never have a full nights sleep and all those times you wake up you won't remember it in the morning.

I have to sleep with a CPAP machine now, I haven't been able to faithfully sleep with it every night so it's hard for me to tell if anything has changed but i'm still tired during the day. You should get yourself checked because sleep apnea is very dangerous and can cause heart disease.

 

Try eating healthier man, more natural things such as fruits vegetables. Cut out all processed things for a while, then see how you feel. At first you'll feel even worse, but overtime you'll get better.

 

Could be something like sleep apnea - could be that what you think is a semi-okay diet is actually a shitty one. Your body needs complex carbohydrates, proteins and good fats. If you're not eating those things, you're not going to have a ton of energy/stamina. Also, if you're not exercising your body, you'll feel tired.

Naps are cool. On days I'm not working I like to take a 1-2 hour nap anywhere from 12 - 3pm.

 

What foods would you recommend that fulfill that criteria? My diet is questionable largely because I don't have a ton of money to blow on groceries as it stands.

@Unfortunate Here's the thread I made 2 years ago btw, may or may not have something in there that helps you Feeling tired all the time?

@nodnarbusn you ever figure out why you were lethargic?

 

Go get your testosterone levels checked along with your estrogen levels, a low testosterone level or a too low estrogen level will cause this problem, however unless you have taken any drugs for your estrogen I doubt it is too low, there is a much higher chance of it being too high but get them both checked. I have low T and I am constantly tired no matter what, its a pain in the ass. Let me know what your values are if you decided to have your blood tested.

 

Thanks for all the feedback guys, much appreciated. I'm familiar with sleep apnea as my mom has it and that could be a definite possibility. I've actually had my blood tested less than a year ago and my testosterone and estrogen levels are normal for my age. (Not sure the levels, was just told they weren't significant in making me feel crappy so to speak) I'm going to try a healthy approach. I'm going to cut out some of the crap and definitely add more fruits and vegetables to my diet. That's an absolute must. I'm also going to increase my cardio routine. I'm hoping this will make a big difference, but if not will definitely follow up with my doctor. Once again, thanks a bunch. All very good points that I'm going to take into consideration.

 

I have this problem as well and my doctor ordered a testosterone test a month ago. I go for a follow up appointment on Friday. I'll let you know how that goes.

 

Definitely man, hope it all works out to a simple solution.

 

It all started when I began working a swing shift about a year and a half ago. My schedule was two nights 5a-5p, and then the next two nights 5p-5a. They paid me well for it so I thought it was worth it but it tore me down very quickly. I haven't been the same since.

 

Yeah fuck that. Leaves absolutely no room to get used to a new sleep schedule, not to mention that dreaded 24 hour shift in transition. I've worked some shit hours, but nothing like that.

 

Yep working horrible hours will damage your hormone levels greatly. Ive had a horrible sleep schedule for 3 years due to various reasons so the doctor told me to go home and fix my sleep and come back in 6 months, so ive been smoking weed every night as I have issues sleeping and it puts me in a solid 8-10 hour sleep coma.

Are you sure that he actually compared them to what they should be for a person your age? In most cases they look at a chart and as long as it's in the "normal" they say it is normal even though you might have the Testosterone levels of an 80 year old man, which I did, yet he claimed it was "normal" because it was within the levels on the chart, I then did a lot of research and found out that this is true and went to another doctor.

 

I'm fairly certain as he specifically said "For your age". Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm going to try a big lifestyle/diet change. When I follow up with my doctor it couldn't hurt to get some more blood taken as well though. Thanks man.

 

No problem, good luck and hopefully it's as simple as a diet change. A healthy diet should always be considered, I myself started to take better care of my body about 7 months ago and have noticed a lot of changes, quit smoking and drinking also started reading about nutrition and such now its just a way of life, Ive got a pretty solid meal plan that I try to follow everyday but sometimes things get in the way and can't follow the schedule so might miss a meal or two which isnt good by any means but time is my biggest problem as im always in a rush.

 

For sure. A healthy diet is the most important part of feeling good/overall health. That's awesome man. I for one don't drink or smoke either, but definitely could use a better overall nutrition plan. It is hard to eat healthy for as you said being in a rush, missing meals and so forth. Not to mention your food bill sky rockets when trying to eat better. It's worth it of course, just takes a lot of getting used to.