Some Signs of “Lifestyle Fatigue”

Even though we’re equipped with COVID-19 vaccines and newer booster shots, the world is still largely in a different (and often worrying) place than it was before the pandemic.

Experts say this can lead to a sense of discomfort, or in the words of psychotherapist Sean Grover, who writes for Psychology Today, “lifestyle fatigue.”

Lifestyle fatigue can be summed up as “feeling stuck” – and who hasn’t felt at least a little stuck at some point in recent years?

As stated in the article, lifestyle fatigue is not a clinical diagnosis of any kind, you won’t go to a psychologist and get a diagnosis of lifestyle fatigue.

The concept may be related to “feeling unwell, feeling down, or feeling tired,” all of which fall within the larger area of ​​mental health research.

This feeling is normal now, sad days are a part of life. However, there are some warning signs that you may be dealing with something bigger.

Here, experts share what lifestyle fatigue means to them and why society is more likely than ever to experience it. (If you feel this way, you’re certainly not alone.) Plus, they offer some tips on how to feel better.

Lifestyle fatigue may be related to a symptom of depression.

Descriptions of lifestyle fatigue are similar to clinical symptoms of anhedonia, or the inability to feel pleasure. Although it is a symptom of depression, experiencing anhedonia does not necessarily mean you have depression.

Anhedonia or lifestyle fatigue may have many causes, including a lack of engaging in enjoyable or productive activities. This can lead to feelings of boredom, sadness, or tiredness.

Even if we are not extroverts, we still crave social interaction. This kind of social interaction does give us a sense of pleasure.

Even now that restrictions have been lifted and people have been vaccinated, we still face difficult decisions when considering the risks of certain activities. Our lives overall may also look different: our friendships are changing and there may be less room for social interaction. Our workplaces are more demanding or demanding, resulting in many people experiencing less enjoyment from their careers.All of this takes a toll.

It could also be related to emotional exhaustion.

Society is emotionally exhausted because of what’s going on in our lives, which is the pandemic on top of any other stressful life events you’re going through.

When experiencing emotional exhaustion, you lack the energy to do things, lack motivation and find that there are things you feel you should do but no longer have the desire.

In other words, you’re tired and don’t want to do anything that feels normal in 2019, whether it’s going to the grocery store or grabbing a drink with friends.

What I’ve seen in practice over time is that people report that they try to make themselves do things, but just don’t enjoy them the way they used to.

Compared to before the pandemic, people have less structure in their lives (like rolling out of bed and logging on to their computers) and more isolation from loved ones than ever before the pandemic, with no form of life structure (like planning) , household chores, or face-to-face interactions) have become more isolated. Meetings – can feel like an unnecessary responsibility.

Your ‘fight-flight-freeze’ response has likely been activated for too long, resulting in sadness.

The pandemic activates people’s “fight-flight-freeze” response—named for the possible response to a perceived threat. When our fight-flight-freeze response is activated for such a long time, our bodies will naturally begin to experience some symptoms of depression.

These will tire you out so you can get more sleep and recover from this stress response, adding that these symptoms are essentially telling your body: “Hey, you’ve been in this fight Two years in the flight-freeze response. That’s too long. You need to rest.”

It’s your body’s way of trying to get back to normal, but as the pandemic continues to spread around us, these fight-flight-freeze responses Still reacting to that pressure. As a result, your body may experience recurring depressive symptoms when it desperately needs a break, rather than returning to its typical state.

Though lifestyle fatigue isn’t depression in all cases, it may be in some.

It’s normal to feel sad or down sometimes, but if you feel tired or down most of the day for at least two weeks, it may be cause for concern. At that point, you should contact a doctor or therapist.

Many people attribute these emotions to burnout—a term that is now commonplace. But being depressed for a prolonged period of time can be a more serious symptom than burnout, which is often more work-related and comes from chronic stress.

It’s OK to feel this way.

After multiple new COVID-19 variants, politicized public safety protocols, and sometimes the great fear of contracting the virus or passing it on to loved ones, it is normal to feel different from before the pandemic.

If people feel this way, they are certainly not alone.

This exhaustion or lifestyle fatigue may be largely due to the feeling that the epidemic has left people lose a part of their status.

People who love traveling may feel uncomfortable flying now, or if they do travel, they may be worried about getting sick abroad and dealing with cancellations. Similarly, people who once considered themselves outgoing may have trouble making small chatter or meeting new people.

Social media makes this even more difficult. People are flooded with happy images, which can be hard to see when you’re having a rough day.

They say comparison is the thief of joy, and I think there’s something to that, but remember, you see everyone’s best day on social media. Others don’t post about their bad moments or restless nights.

Certain activities can help you feel better.

Adding some productive and enjoyable activities to your week can help relieve lifestyle fatigue. But, with many people experiencing burnout from work and home lives intertwined, productive activities don’t have to revolve around work.

Things that can be productive include exercising—running further than you did two weeks ago—or learning a language. If you’re feeling down, both methods can give you a sense of accomplishment.

Enjoyable activities can include visiting friends, playing online video games with family, or calling loved ones.

For those who feel unmotivated or pleasure-deprived, it’s recommended to focus on self-care, which includes getting a good night’s sleep or, if you’re a parent, spending time with yourself. If you’re caring for an elderly parent, try taking a walk alone or using a meditation app. Self-care should include enjoyable activities that work for you.

That said, going for a walk or visiting friends may seem difficult when you feel this way. But once you get into something you love, you’ll probably find that you’re excited to actually do it. Also, you should be proud of yourself for finding the motivation to try this activity.

But if you don’t notice any changes in your mood while participating in activities you once enjoyed, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor or therapist, Delacava says. There’s a lot going on in the world and if you need someone to talk to right now or a little extra help, that’s okay.