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Don’t Confuse Fatigue with Sleepiness
Research on fatigue is expanding our treatment options
If you’re feeling weary, you’re not alone — a fifth of the world’s population experiences moderate to severe fatigue lasting for at least six months. Fatigue is defined as a feeling of extreme tiredness, along with a lack of energy and motivation, that prevents one from performing usual activities. It’s tough to be a human right now in this dog-eat-dog world; there’s plenty to make us dog-tired.
The world wears us down in multiple ways:
- physical and mental overexertion
- insufficient sleep and nourishment
- medications
- substance abuse
- medical problems
- mental health conditions
Social factors, ranging from existential threats of global warming, the impact of computer technology on our lives, and the political rancor of the current moment, also deplete our energy.
The prevalence of fatigue among those suffering from long COVID has brought renewed interest and validation to those dealing with other chronic fatigue syndromes. Ongoing research is helping us understand fatigue, and is pointing out new methods to reduce its debilitating force.
Not just sleepiness
Although sleepiness and fatigue show considerable overlap, they are separable conditions.
Some of our words, like “tired” and “exhaustion,” blur the distinction between sleepiness and fatigue. Sleepiness, somnolence, sedation and drowsiness describe an increased urge and propensity to fall asleep. Sleepiness can be measured by putting someone in a quiet, dark room, and timing how quickly they fall asleep. Fatigue can increase the need for sleep, and sleep deprivation can contribute to fatigue, but the two are different, as anyone who has felt “wired and tired” can attest.
Fatigue is a sense of feeling worn down, depleted, and unable to perform. But just because I can’t run a marathon today doesn’t mean I’m fatigued. I may not have trained enough to do it. Fatigue represents a diminished capacity with respect to our own abilities, both physical and mental.
