Energy - feeling tired all the time

[Alex]

Hi Scylla,

Thanks for the tips - I sympathize for your MS. I've started to take vitamins and I feel they help- It recently took me about 3 days as well to get over a week of socializing - I guess it can be called a socializing hangover ;-) which I am certain is an introvert trait.

I am still often quite tired though. In weekends I succumb to 2 hour naps and often on workday evenings I sleep for an hour or so after coming home.  I think there are 2 main reasons for this fatigue - one is mental exhaustion, I have a job that requires a lot of analysis and that can make one quite tired, but I think also it might have something to do also with not getting enough, or at least good enough sleep.
Some months ago I think I almost literally slept the majority of a day and I recall afterwards feeling incredibly refreshed, like being able to for the first time or for at least a very lenghty gap fully feel the benefits of being fully rested - it was a novel and very comfortable feeling. As for exercising I would love to do it more, but I just feel very little intrinsic joy from doing it which makes it very hard for me to motivate myself. I do however occasionally go for long walks listening to podcasts and I find that quite enjoyable - I have to admit though that once I return I am pretty beat.

Alex

[Scylla]

but I think also it might have something to do also with not getting enough, or at least good enough sleep.
Some months ago I think I almost literally slept the majority of a day and I recall afterwards feeling incredibly refreshed, like being able to for the first time or for at least a very lenghty gap fully feel the benefits of being fully rested - it was a novel and very comfortable feeling.

Hoping not to be offensive in any way, but

Have you ever been checked for sleep apnea? I ask because my husband was tested (you have to go spend a night in hospital) and they discovered he was waking hundreds of times a night because he was stopping breathing. Needless to say he wasn't getting good sleep.

A solid night's sleep is a marvelous thing.

[hunnie]

As for exercising I would love to do it more, but I just feel very little intrinsic joy from doing it which makes it very hard for me to motivate myself. I do however occasionally go for long walks listening to podcasts and I find that quite enjoyable - I have to admit though that once I return I am pretty beat.

Thats me all over as far as exercising is concerned,i too do not enjoy it and not motivated by it. I dont mind going for walks but prefer to go for them with my husband, who since moving seems to want to do DIY more than 'go for a walk', i always feel like a stand out-going for a walk on my own however,your idea about a podcast is a good one though,and one i'll consider doing.

Im still having real issues with energy, even my joints seem to constant ache, i too have started taking vitamins this week and as of today Omega 3 fish oil suppliments.

[Margee]

Hi friends - I too have a 'rebounder' and a bicycle  in my home.When I make myself do 20 minutes everyday - I feel so good! Believe it or not - This introvert loves 'Disco' music!!!   (Shows my age !LOL)  It is the type of music that can really get me goin'!  As soon as I blast some of my favorite tunes -I start dancing around the house like a crazy woman! The sad part is - I don't turn music on very often??

I have been 'rebounding' for about 20 years on and off. you would think that one would do this if she knew that her energy levels would soar??? I watched a you-tube of a woman who is still dancing at 85 and she looked so fit and full of energy.(and very happy) Goodness - Am I just lazy? Why would I not do this if it makes me feel so good? Today -I weeded around my house........not much activity in that! But it was lovely and quiet!

I am going downstairs right now and blast some disco to see what happens!!   Maybe, just maybe........................  Margee

[Alex]

Hi friends - I too have a 'rebounder' and a bicycle  in my home.When I make myself do 20 minutes everyday - I feel so good!

I am going downstairs right now and blast some disco to see what happens!!   Maybe, just maybe........................  Margee

Lookin' for some hot stuff this evenin' ? ;-)

[Alex]

but I think also it might have something to do also with not getting enough, or at least good enough sleep.
Some months ago I think I almost literally slept the majority of a day and I recall afterwards feeling incredibly refreshed, like being able to for the first time or for at least a very lenghty gap fully feel the benefits of being fully rested - it was a novel and very comfortable feeling.

Hoping not to be offensive in any way, but

Have you ever been checked for sleep apnea? I ask because my husband was tested (you have to go spend a night in hospital) and they discovered he was waking hundreds of times a night because he was stopping breathing. Needless to say he wasn't getting good sleep.

A solid night's sleep is a marvelous thing.

Not offensive at all, that is actually a very good point I haven't considered, thanks for the tip!

[Margee]

Hi friends - I too have a 'rebounder' and a bicycle  in my home.When I make myself do 20 minutes everyday - I feel so good!

I am going downstairs right now and blast some disco to see what happens!!   Maybe, just maybe........................  Margee

Lookin' for some hot stuff this evenin' ? ;-)

Alex - 'Hot stuff' I don't need!!!  you are tooooo funny! Margee

P.S. all I did when I went downstairs was put a load of laundry in - How exciting is that???

[Scylla]

Hi friends - I too have a 'rebounder' and a bicycle  in my home.When I make myself do 20 minutes everyday - I feel so good! Believe it or not - This introvert loves 'Disco' music!!!   (Shows my age !LOL)  It is the type of music that can really get me goin'!  As soon as I blast some of my favorite tunes -I start dancing around the house like a crazy woman! The sad part is - I don't turn music on very often??

Hi Margee!

I'm less "leggy" than I used to be, but I get my dance out on the eliptical trainer in my living room listening to bellydance music on my headset. Those drums will really get you rocking! The music gets me past my resistance to exercize. Try listening to "Tolo Sabla" by Hossam
Ramzy. You are SO right about the energizing effects. Hurray for dance.

[Margee]

Hi friends - I too have a 'rebounder' and a bicycle  in my home.When I make myself do 20 minutes everyday - I feel so good! Believe it or not - This introvert loves 'Disco' music!!!  (Shows my age !LOL)  It is the type of music that can really get me goin'!  As soon as I blast some of my favorite tunes -I start dancing around the house like a crazy woman! The sad part is - I don't turn music on very often??

Hi Margee!

I'm less "leggy" than I used to be, but I get my dance out on the eliptical trainer in my living room listening to bellydance music on my headset. Those drums will really get you rocking! The music gets me past my resistance to exercize. Try listening to "Tolo Sabla" by Hossam
Ramzy. You are SO right about the energizing effects. Hurray for dance.

hi Scylla!  An introverted bellydancer   ........... I could try that!!  Margee  

[Derek]

Hi all! I've been reading all the posts for a week and decided to get in on the support. I find if I do all the right things, diet, excercise. get good sleep, get out in the fresh air when I can - I feel good. I am a loner, but when I stay locked up too long , I can lose my energy. i find even if I get out for awhile around all the people in the mall (I don't really want to talk to them, but I do smile to show I'm friendly) I can gain energy from that. Sometimes I even buy a new shirt and that really cheers me up. When I sit and brood to long I know its time to do something about it. I feel good joining this forum. Derek

[agreenbough]

I like disco, too - my teenage kids are really into music, and they like to tease me about it.
I know excercising would most likely make me feel better, but I hate it. I find nothing enjoyable about it at all. It's just one more chore to be put off. This is yet another reason my husband thinks I'm lazy. (I used to joke that taking a shower was my idea of exercise - at least I'm rasing my arms over my head to wash my hair.) I'm only a bit overweight. But I'm having a hard time this week with exhaustion. I don't want to do anything, and the smallest exertion is leaving me very tired. I have had a busy week, and a few mental challenges, but not really anything too out of the ordinary. The sound of the alarm in the morning immediately brings a feeling of disappointment because I'm still tired.
All I want to do is sleep....

[Alex]

I like disco, too - my teenage kids are really into music, and they like to tease me about it.
I know excercising would most likely make me feel better, but I hate it. I find nothing enjoyable about it at all. It's just one more chore to be put off. This is yet another reason my husband thinks I'm lazy. (I used to joke that taking a shower was my idea of exercise - at least I'm rasing my arms over my head to wash my hair.) I'm only a bit overweight. But I'm having a hard time this week with exhaustion. I don't want to do anything, and the smallest exertion is leaving me very tired. I have had a busy week, and a few mental challenges, but not really anything too out of the ordinary. The sound of the alarm in the morning immediately brings a feeling of disappointment because I'm still tired.
All I want to do is sleep....

It's dismaying your husband thinks your are lazy. I think being lazy is if you for example have to fill in your taxreturn, but decide to go visit a friend instead, but being tired and unable to do whatever is needed is something completely different. I find that I need to nap all this week in the evenings otherwise I am completely spent. Obviously this means that I fall asleep later at night and in that way compounds a vicious circle, but I have to say these naps have a miraculous effect on my general well being - I feel so much more alert and myself rather than being burdened by an overwhelming fatigue. What I feel is that if I need to get something done I can do this very rapidly when I am well rested, it's like I have bursts of productivity and when I have these I am very effective in getting things done.

[Scylla]

I used to teach dance. Over the years I taught a lot of folks who didn't "like" exercize. I found out that, because they were sedentary, their bodies and brains were oxygen-starved. Lack of oxygen can cause lack of energy.

Putting on music and dancing around the room is a great way to collect some oxygen/energy. If dance doesn't suit, here's a really simple, low-impact, fun way to do this:

Stand with your feet apart, no wider than the width of your shoulders
Let your arms hang at your sides, with the palms of your hands facing forward (no fists, please)
Let your knees bend just a little, just so they are loose and not locked
Keep your head up, over your spine
Tuck your behind slightly
Now, very gently bounce flat-footed using your knees, as if you were hold a baby and trying to bounce it to calm it
As you bounce, relax your belly, and take slow, deep breaths (try to inhale with your belly, not your chest), 3 counts in, 4 counts out

Try to bounce/breathe for 5 minutes (you may get dizzy from the increased oxygen so if needed, take a break and breathe normally while still bouncing)

Let me know if you notice a little more energy afterward. The oxygen boosts energy, the bouncing stimulates the production of endorphins and such, like "runner's high".

[Margee]

Scylla - Thank you for that information. much appreciated    I wiil try this! Margee

[SarahL]

Exercise and diet are so important to anyone, introverts especially, I think.

I have also learned, through my research into the highly sensitive personality (HSP), that I take on other people's energy. Once I became aware of what I was doing, and then learning how to block other's energy and be true to my own, my energy was not being drained so much. Jenna Avery is a great resource, and a bunch of others on the internet.

Being an introvert means knowing that you need your down time. That means we have to learn to say "no" sometimes. Become aware of your limitations.

Sarah