FATIGUE! AND STRESS HELP!

[Peace-n-Love]

I feel tired ALL THE TIME. From the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. I get a good 8 or 9 hours on average a night of sleep. I wake up around 10:00 am and I get ready to go to class for 3 hours. When I come home, my spouse goes to work for over night. My spouse just started this job, and although I am very happy that he has it because it is great pay, benefits and he can be home with our son while I'm in school. I absolutely DREAD him leaving every day. We share a vehicle so I know once he leaves, theres no escaping this house I've grown to hate. I'm on my own to care for our energetic 20 month old son. And I always feel so tired and grumpy. Some days I am able to clean the house and get stuff done. I always cook us dinner. But other days all I want to do is just sit around and do nothing. I have been so worried about the cause of the fatigue, that maybe i have some underlying physical illness. But I brought it up with a dr last year and had a CBC done and everything was normal. I don't have the healthiest life style, I drink a lot of pop and eat a lot of junk food. I have tried to change my diet but it's VERY HARD. I have taken vitamins in the past but the iron in the womens vit's makes me nauseous so I took childrens gummy vitamins. I just want to have a happy outlook on life and not feel so down all the time. Does anyone have any recommendations. I WILL NOT TAKE MEDS. do to TERRIBLE PAST EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.

[~justme~]

 Can understand how u feel. A far as meds go, don't think bad of all of them. I know how bad experiences go. It takes time to find some that work for each person. If u have stresses sometimes it just takes a way to find a different perspective to look at your situation.

[LindaRK]

You've just about diagnosed yourself - you have a lousy diet and you drink alot of soda pop.  You don't exercise.  You are unhappy with your living situation right now.

I've been through this - I was very fatigued as well.  It was horrible.  I did all the tests, just KNOWING something physical was wrong with me.  It turned out to be depression.  It's amazing that a mood disorder can cause you to feel so lousy.

Taking vitamins is great, but taking vitamins and having a lousy diet doesn't work.  You have to do both. Take your son for a walk - get some fresh air and exercise.

Starting this can be difficult because it's something you don't do, but when you do it on a regular basis, you WILL start to feel better.  I guarantee that.  Been there and done that!  More than once!

You might want to look into talk therapy, too - sounds like you're not very happy with where you are right now. 

[Peace-n-Love]

Thanks Linda, yeah... it is hard to get out of a rut at times once you get in one. I have cut back on my pop starting a few days ago. I am allowing myself one a day now. And trying to drink more of non caffeinated stuff. When I get really stressed I go out and play with the dogs and my son. I need to start working on my CBT stuff again. It helped me a lot before. And thinking about going back to see a therapist. My schedule is tight though.

[LindaRK]

Well, try and do some things for YOU!  Don't end up giving all of your time away to others. 

Glad to hear you're cutting out the sodas, but rewarding yourself with one - good idea!

[Peace-n-Love]

The only time I get to myself is after 9 pm when my son goes to bed! Is usually why I stay up late and am probably so tired the next day, though I usually clock in 8 hours sleep. Just not enough for me though.

[LindaRK]

Well, that's a start - you recognize what's going on!  Yay!  Maybe you can arrange for someone to watch your son for a few hours every now and then so you can get some "me" time.

[Peace-n-Love]

Well I got an appt set up with my old dr. :) So hopefully I can start doing some therapy again, and possibly take some klonopin or xanaxx.  The benzo's are the only thing I will take as they don't effect my mood as antidepressents and antipsychotics did in the past. I am feeling a lil better today, not having that overwhelming tired feeling hanging over me. But I still feel like laying down and watching some tv is in order.

[LindaRK]

You know - it's okay to kick back a little.  In fact, maybe you can do some walking or exercise and reward yourself with some R&R time and tv.

I hear you on the benzos - I can't do anti-depressants anymore, but I have Ativan on hand in case of extreme anxiety that I can't deal with otherwise.

[Sketcher]

Having a baby is a lot of work as Im finding out now myself and I went through a period of stress and exhaustion and a big turning point for me was just resting as much as possible  and building a cache of sleep time.  Also maybe ask your spouse to take the baby out on a saturday as i find you get the best rest if theres no one there to divert your attention

[greenhealthgirl]

I have dealt with low grade anxiety and depression for most of my life, and in the last 5 years also fatigue. I've found that changing to a gluten and fructose free diet has done wonders for me and I'm almost off antidepressants for the first time in a long time.

<a href=”http://www.squidoo.com/getting-off-ssris-my-experience” target=new>My experience with getting off antidepressants[/url]

[Peace-n-Love]

I am feeling A LOT better since I started drinking more water and milk, along with taking vitamins! I'm doing my best to pick healthy foods and I am not eating out fast food every day for lunch. I was able to get back on klonopin which as helped a lot. I have started back on my nightly journaling. And I am feeling just generally happy. Greenhealthgirl, if you have any other eating healthy tips I'd love to hear them