Feeling dreadful.

Mental health
1

I have no idea what to do or what is wrong with me.

For the past few months, I have been extremely tired. I wake up exhausted even after a full 9-hour sleep and really starting to struggle through a day now. I wake up sweating, shaking and tense (guessing high anxiety) but lately more things have been showing. 

Some days the fatigue is too strong. I have recently been doing a postgraduate course and literally rushing to my car between lectures for a nap! I am 28! Other days in work, I am falling asleep by 9am!, now it's not an "I feel tired", but my body just feels physically heavy like lead, as though I am going to drop but fighting the weight daily. It's hard to describe, I am tense all over, my eyesight is blurry and I just feel horrendous but can't work out why. Physically I am eating properly, drinking properly. Blood pressure and sugar levels perfect (been tracking). 

My breathing is getting concerning. I have a tight chest daily (classic anxiety I know) but I am completely breathless and wheezy walking short distances now. I keep getting told it's anxiety, but again it's so physical and I think it's related to the energy/fatigue. 

I feel so disconnected at the moment as well. In the evenings and days off, I literally don't know what to do with myself to keep busy or occupied but my mind feels blank 24/7. I am just not interested in anything, reading, TV, music, housework, going out anywhere or doing anything. It's really getting to me. 

I have been busy for so long balancing a house restore, uni, full-time job, marriage and family stuff that I just now feel so disconnected, it's been all work, saving money, more work and work again for 4 years straight. I couldn't tell you what is fun anymore. 

It's like I am so disconnected my focus and concentration has just completely gone. Often I have just found myself sitting on the couch, zoning out whereas normally I am active on the ball kind of guy. 

But then, despite the fatigue and low mood i'd say. I have phases where I do something, like yesterday for example. I was taking some tree's down in the garden and it's like I was doing it in a constant state of panic. I couldn't focus on anything, I was scatty and all over the place, heart racing, body shaking, legs trembling, eyesight completely blurry, could focus on even my partner when she was speaking to me. It scares me.

I think a trip to the GP is in order again but I really don't know what he can do.

My concern is this is getting out of hand. Can it be depression when I am still functioning fine at work and uni? (well seemingly fine).

Last time he really strongly advised I need to be taking Sertraline, an anti-depressant. But I can't take 2-3 weeks out if initial side effects are that bad. I only take propranolol and omeprazole at the moment tablet wise. 

Can antidepressants really help that much?

 

2

Hi Thomas i read your post and it is literally ME all of it particularly the no concentration part everything you are saying i completely understand where you're coming from iv suffered from anxiety and depression for many years just bobbing along hoping to ignore it!  Unfortunately just before Christmas i hit absolute rock bottom and went to the docs im taking Sertraline and i wont lie the first 2 weeks were evil and the 2nd two were bearable,having said that not everyone suffers from side effects and if i look back to where i was at Christmas iv definitely improved not massively but im soldiering on its only been 4weeks for me so still early days i think a visit to your GP is sensible x

3

Hi. Definitely see your Dr. They are classic anxiety symptoms as you said but maybe get checked out while you are there. You lead a busy life with lots going on here there and everywhere. I would say try the meds. It's not as if you are functioning 100% now anyway. They can have side effects and sometimes make you worse but that is temporary. If I 2 months you are feeling better it would have been worth it. Your body is probably exhausted from all the panic and anxiety. I know mine was. It is amazing how much of a toll it can take on you physically and mentally. Take care and keep us posted on how you are doing.

4

This is classic generalized anxiety Thomas.  All the symptoms you've had I've had to varying degrees over the years.  I did the antidepressant thing to help with symptoms and it worked but realized it's only a band-aid to an underlying problem.  The part where you mention, "I've been busy for so long balancing a house restore,...:", is exactly what i was doing 4-5 yrs ago with regard to having to much on my plate; felt like i was grinding daily.  I had no days off from work, balancing marriage, keeping up with the house, felt like i couldn't relax ever and still had this workhorse attitude to push through it all.  Slowly, but surely physical symptoms started to appear.  It was to the point that if i did get a day off something needed to be done around the house or with one of the cars....something.  

As for the physical symptoms...pretty much the same as you and then some sadly.  It was so bad I had neuro concerns and was in a panic to see the doctor.  initial tests were conducted for strength and reflexes among others and like you...as healthy as can be on paper.  

I chose to not rely on antidepressant and focus and the really problem and fight the underlying daily worries typical with GAD.  And it's very likely you could have depression and GAD, not uncommon for both the go hand in hand.  

Anyway, good luck with whatever course of action you choose in getting help with yes.  Again, unfortunately, anxiety/GAD ranks top 5 if not no.1 with regard to debilitating illnesses that keep people from going to work.  Try your best to cast worry aside...it's the root of all the symptoms. 

5

If you feel depressed they should help. I think that you are suffering from burnout and need to slow your pace of life a little bit. I hope things improve soon.

6

Thanks for all the responses guys. It's been a lot to take in!

I have spoken to my GP. He feels like it is all stress related. I have a lot of muscle tension, neck and shoulder pain. Jaw cracking, tension, and grinding. He thinks see a dentist as TMJ is an issue.

He feels that Sertraline would be the best course of option as I am doing everything right, I just need help allowing my body to relax while I work out how to improve things with therapy etc.

I think I have just been all work no play for so long.

Once I start a project or task, an obsessive part of me takes over and I go 100mpg trying to do it asap at a point of exhausting myself. I literally don't stop all day. I am always out of focus, disoriented and scatty. I think it's just high anxiety and perfectionist kicking in.

Need to learn to step back I think.

7

I completely relate to this post! I have had intense fatigue for 3 months now and it’s debilitating. My doc suspects maybe sleep apnea since I have gained weight but i don’t want to wear a CPAP so I’ve been doing low carb to knock this 40lbs off! I’m lethargic all the time, no matter how much sleep I get. The breathlessness I get as well and I’ve gone through lots of heart and blood tests, all of which have come back normal. I bought a treadmill last week and am hoping that 30 mins a day of walking helps perk me up. Let me know if you find anything that works! Fatigued is hard to function with!

8

I understand what you mean with the fatigue. It's hard to deal with. I can have 6 hours or 9 hours sleep and I wake up extremely exhausted despite the fact I know I slept very well. I always wake up feeling like I have been battered in my sleep. Heavy head, tension headaches, heavy eyes. It's hard when you need to get through work. I am literally crawling through some days.

Same story with the breathlessness, I am, terrible some mornings or at random times and I can't spot a trigger, yet exercise it doesn't effect me. I can cycle 15 miles comfortably (and do so twice a week) yet out of breath walking down the round on the next day?

I get a lot of mucus build up constantly and only start breathing again when it clears (sorry) but it literally obstructs my throat. Which is why I thought of apnea too, but again a sleep study was fine. I do have moderate restless legs (flex my feet constantly).

All tests show I am perfect though, bloods, chest specialist, ENT. No allergies, no asthma, no infections. Nothing to worry about. I even tracked my blood pressure and sugar for a month. Perfect.

It's got to be an anxiety response or hypersensitivity.

I take magnesium and calcium supplements and they help a bit as well as multivitamins.

Exercise doesn't improve my energy levels as I literally come home and sleep. It's more of a no choice, my body is saying sleep!

Thinking of just trying this Sertraline now. I am on 6 months of this horrendous fatigue

9

OMG Thomas are u having vision problems too?

10

Yeah, my eyesight is completely blurry and out of focus to me, I can barely see the TV screen now or read the text on it. It's been my biggest driver as I am so aware of it. I have had 3 check ups this year and no issues found what so ever. My eyesight is apparently near perfect and only have a low prescription glasses.

Again it's a classic anxiety / stress response