Hyper-fatigue! What You Need to Know

Hyper-fatigue: Tipped to Sweep the Nation

Introduction:

As we emerge from the global pandemic and navigate the challenges of a post-COVID world, many individuals in Australia are facing a new adversary: hyper-fatigue.

This overwhelming tiredness, described as tiredness on steroids, is taking hold and impacting motivation levels across the nation.

In 2023, hyper-fatigue has been identified as a key societal issue, through research conducted by marketing giant Mintel. The latest research highlighting contributing factors like the pandemic, rising living costs, job uncertainty, energy crisis, geopolitical unrest, and the climate crisis has been taking a toll on individuals.

In this post, I’ll explore the impact of hyper-fatigue, its connection to health changes, and offer expert advice on combatting this insidious condition.

The Hyper-Fatigue Phenomenon

Mintel’s recent findings shed light on the exhaustion and sense of being overwhelmed experienced by consumers due to various societal challenges.

Social media platforms, workplaces, and health discussions all resonate with this sentiment.

A UK study revealed that #fatigue is cited as a major barrier preventing people from making and sticking to health changes, including improvements to diet and exercise.

Alarming statistics show that preventable diseases like #heartdisease, #diabetes, and #obesity are major causes of death in Australia all benefit from improvements to diet and exercise, yet with individuals struggling to find the motivation and energy to initiate and sustain positive health practices, the battle feels a long way off being successful.

These are obvious give-aways in the workplace and life that might indicated that you are suffering with fatigue and on the way to hyper-fatigue:

• Decreased Concentration
• Reduced Productivity
• Increased Absenteeism & Obvious Presenteeism
• Brain fog
• Simply not performing like you used to

Interestingly hyper-fatigue is identified as a major impedance to pursuing health goals with:

• Around 40% of women mention feeling too tired as the primary reason for not exercising.
• 30% of both sexes cite the cost of food as a significant obstacle
• While 22% and 20% respectively mention mental exhaustion and burnout hindering their success in making health changes.

Given the massive impact on individuals’ lives, these issues need addressing with greater awareness, strategy and support.

The following are further clues to that you might be on the cusp of hyper-fatigue.

Are you experiencing:

• Irritability?
• Feeling disconnected?
• Not sleeping?
• Suffering with low energy levels?
• Have low sex drive?
• Have body aches?
• Headaches?
• Anxiety, depression?
• A desire to sleep or avoid situations?
• Palpitations?
• Mental fatigue?
• Suffer a daily sense of overwhelm?
• Teary?
• Suffer from more coughs and colds than normal?

All of these symptoms may vary and in my book Chill Out or Burn Out I have a scale to help you understand more.

My Four Stages of Burn Out

 Stage 1.  Stressed.

Tired and exhausted but go to bed and can fall asleep.

You go to bed tired….

Sleep onset can be delayed (i.e. you lie awake for 30-60 minutes thinking about the day, the next day, the future, the “what ifs”) as your mind stays activated.

You wake with motivation and the physical ability to perform. This is OK for short periods, long days, and generally only requires a big sleep in to recover.

A good night sleep and resolution of a few acute situations resolves things.

 Stage 2.  Tired but wired

Tired and exhausted but when you go to bed you can’t fall asleep.

This usually indicates high stress and usually means without intervention, you are on the way to burn out and fatigue.

You may feel irritated by small things and people.

A week or two-week holiday may help you reset and recover.

 Stage 3.  Adrenal Fatigue

Low energy levels during the day, waking up tired, looking for naps at midday and 3pm.

It’s going to bed at 8pm and not feeling better for sleep.

Your happiness is starting to wane and you feel trapped as in a “ground hog day movie” when the catch up you crave never happens.

Stage 4.  Burn Out, Chronic Fatigue

Low energy levels during the day, maybe some glimmers of energy for an hour or so, but otherwise you crave sleep ALL the time.

If you have a nap during the day, you fall into a deep sleep and struggle to wake up again.

But, in a cruel twist, at night when you deeply desire sleep, you struggle. You toss and turn, and rarely sleep straight through.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis can be difficult to achieve and is often based on how a person feels and how dysfunctional they feel.

I recommend doing a hormone saliva test (gold standard), hair test (nutritional test) as positive way to gather objective data about the person’s health and status.

She also advocates working with a caring GP who can order tests such as:

• Iron studies
• Virus tests (EBV, RRV etc)
• Referral to a counsellor if needed

In the saliva hormone testing (which I have been doing for 20+ years) I often finds

In males:

• Testosterone is low
• DHEA is low
• Cortisol/estrogen are high

In women:

• Testosterone is high or starting to drop
• Estrogen is high or low
• Progesterone is low
• Cortisol can be high or incredibly low

To find out more about my Core Health Program (inc saliva testing and hair testing) click here.

Managing hyper-fatigue:

Diagnose is critical as it is often confused with depression and anxiety. “Pushing through” is not the solution and often people need assistance to understand the issues, diagnosis and be guided to a quicker solution.

These are some HOT tips:

1. Establish a digital curfew: Disconnect from your phone and allow your body to wind down around 7pm, aligning with our natural diurnal swing. Aim to be in bed, especially in winter, by 8:30pm to optimize restful sleep.
2. Reduce reliance on stimulants: Avoid using coffee, energy drinks, alcohol, and medications to stay awake. Instead, focus on natural energy sources and nourishing your body.
3. Listen to your body: Resume exercise only when you feel you have enough “fuel in the tank.” Pushing through fatigue will only weaken your immune system, so prioritize rest when needed.

Conclusion

As hyper-fatigue takes hold across Australia this year, it is essential to acknowledge the impact it has may have on your health, motivation, energy levels and workplace performance.

By recognizing this phenomenon and taking proactive steps to combat it, people can mitigate the risks associated with fatigue, burn out and preventable diseases, improve workplace outcomes and improve overall well-being.

Through expert advice and simple health hacks, individuals can break free from the grip of hyper-fatigue and regain control of their lives.

I  stress the importance of measuring fatigue levels and offers practical health hacks that can be incorporated into daily routines to boost motivation and energy. By implementing these strategies, individuals can reclaim their vitality and achieve optimal health.

References:

1. Mintel Research: [Link]
2. UK Study: [Link]
3. Statistics on Heart Disease, Diabetes, and Obesity in Australia: [Link]

About Sam Beau Patrick:

Sam Beau Patrick (BHSc) is a bestselling health author and renowned expert in combating fatigue and promoting overall well-being. With her extensive knowledge and practical solutions, she has empowered countless individuals to achieve optimal health and vitality. Sam’s insights have been widely recognized and sought after by media, professionals, and the general public. Her book, “Chill Out or Burn Out,” has become a go-to resource for managing fatigue in today’s fast-paced world.

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