Mentally and Physically Exhausted

LegacyUser

I'm not looking for medical advice here, just wondering if anyone has been in a similsr situation and how did they get out of it!

I'm a second year college student, although I've been living away from home for the past three years due to complicated family circumstances.... Last year, I worked pretty hard at college but still managed to fail a couple of subjects!! I was absolutely exhausted all throughout the year and hardly ever went out to socialise with my friends...

I went through alot with my family, my mum was quite ill but is okay now...I travelled over 200kms every weekend (one way!) to help out at home and also to work and earn a few bob...enough with the rant!

So far this year, I'm seriously struggling with college...I don't have the energy to go in and some days I just stay in bed all day....I did go to my GP and had full bloods done but everything was okay, which I didn't understand....She said I was just exhausted and needed to take it easy...how much easier could I take it???? I have since then given up work and travelling home every weekend...I hardly go home now at all, which in one way is killing me but in another sense...I know it's got to be done!

I know myself I don't have any excuse to stay in bed all day and that I need to get on with things, but I simply can't... I feel as if my mental health is suffering because I isolate myself from my friends, don't go out and do alot of my group work from home.

I get little or no sleep even though I enjoy where I'm living and most of the time enjoy who I'm living this.... I don't know how much further I can go like this and being honest I don't see the point in going back to my GP as she never done anything for me....

Has anyone out there any advice on what I should do....Anything is much appreciated!!

Ghost Train

Depression can leave you physically and mentally exhausted, if theres something thats stressing you out and you cant deal with it, it can have this effect. Could be the college work is too much and you can't stop worrying about it, maybe you could talk to somebody in the college about it, like a counselor or doctor.

LegacyUser

I have honestly tried talking to people in college, both last year and this year and have gotten no where...I just keep going around and around in circles....

I don't know if I'm depressed or whats the story....I've been more trying to figure things out for myself lately rather than talking to professionals...

I've never felt that anyone that I've talked to has ever taken anything that I've said seriously and I know myself that there is certain issues that I just can't talk about which in itself makes things even harder for me!

I am trying to move on with my life but I don't feel I can do so until I can find a way out of this mess that I'm currently in!

acorntoast

I would recommend trying a new GP. It's definitely worth giving it another try.

Emme

OP I was in a similar position a few years ago. Did a degree by night while working by day, completely wrecked and then when I graduated had to travel up and down to the family for over a year because somebody was sick. I got used to the tiredness and got to the point where i had no life, like yourself flat out in bed not able to do anything except the bare minimum. I had bloods done, took every supplement under the sun but nothing seemed to be amiss.

By chance I saw another GP while my other one was on holidays and he did a full range of thyroid tests (T3, T4 and TSH for antibodies). The antibodies test is very important because it shows up anomalies earlier than the others. I've been on treatment 5 months now and my life is starting to turn around.

You might not have thyroid problems but I would advise you to see another GP. Life is short, don't waste it.

CDfm

OP - the first thing is that you are run down both physically and emotionally. Exhaustion is very much your body and mind wanting to catch up.

So the first thing you need to do is actually attend college and lectures as your key goal. Create a little plan. Once you do that your routine will give you structure.Set yourself a goal of attending your lectures and tutorials and tick of each one you attend and you will find it gives you a remarkable sence of achievement.Remember you are only have to get one day right and add on that.

The next think is food & water - when you are knackered you dont take care of yourself. Get some fruit and some chocolate and keep them in your college bag. When you feel exhausted have an apple or something.The sugar gives you an energy boost. You can get multipacks of fruit for 2 euro and multipacks of twixs etc for 2/3 euro.

Make sure you are not dehydrated. You should avoid coffee and alcohol when exhausted - really max 3 cups of coffee a day. Have a few bottles of water(tap water) handy because when you are knackered you sweat a lot.It goes without saying taking any type of recreational drug is off limits to you.

Make sure you have a proper dinner each day - you know the thing - spag bol /stew etc. everyday.

You have got thru last year and your repeats so well done. The thing is you have to take care of yourself this year no matter what needs other have you are no help to anyone if you run yourself into the ground.

Does your college have a Student Councellor or Welfare Officer or Chaplain as either of those will be able to point you in the right direction.

You should consider going back to your GP if you are not attending to college as thats what you do for a living. There are also community mental health facilities via the HSE http://www.hse.ie/eng/Find_a_Service/Local_Health_Offices/

opinion guy

OP
Got any toothaches ?
I ask because i was feeling very run down similar to how you are. I thought I was depressed cause of some that happened. Turns out I had a gum infection relating to my wisdom teeth ! I only went to dentist cause pain i had been ignoring got too severe

LegacyUser

Sorry about the delay in my reply, I managed to shake myself up and go into college today. And a long day it was too!!

The reason I fail to go back and seek further help is because I've seen so many people fall through the cracks and it just frustrates me to think that I have sought professional help over a year ago and I am still really struggling with day to day life.

My diet is not the best I will admit...Some days, it would be so healthy, others I simply wouldn't eat and others I would simply binge all day long....As a result, my weight is out of all porportion and has been for years.

As well as that I have been doing a considerable amount of drinking both during the day and at night.

As regards getting bloods done, I've had more bloods taken than hot dinners, quite literally and they have all come back clear... I have been with the student councellor on numerous occasions but I'm a long way off feeling better about myself and my situation....

I do hope things will change in the near future at least, I will however continue to go to councelling...it can't do any harm!

Thanks again!

LegacyUser

OP, I have been there.
I spent about 6 months, totally exhausted with life.
Looking back now I can see all my problems were because I was so stressed out about work that I was wrecked. But at the time, I was worried about my relationship, because I was having panic attacks. Everything just felt like so much effort. I just wanted to curl and a ball and for the whole world to go away and leave me alone. Or alternatively, to right itself, and go back to turning on the axis it always turned on. There was nothing wrong with my relationship. I was just so tired that I didn't know what to do with myself. I went to the doctor about 4 times, with nothing wrong with me other than pure exhaustion.Had the blood tests, the whole works.
I don't have a magical solution I'm afraid. Are you stressed out right now about something? is there stuff really weighing on your mind? Are you worrying a lot that you should be going home every weekend or anything like that? Because without even knowing that, it has an effect on your mind. You do, I'm afraid need to give yourself a break and rest as much as possible.Now, maybe you should go to the doctor again aswell, a different one. run blood tests just in case. Otherwise you need to look after yourself and take it easy.And most importantly you've got to try and get a good night's sleep.
Hope that's helped a bit. I know how you feel and it's horrible.

CDfm

Exhausted123 wrote: »

Sorry about the delay in my reply, I managed to shake myself up and go into college today. And a long day it was too!!

My diet is not the best I will admit...Some days, it would be so healthy, others I simply wouldn't eat and others I would simply binge all day long....As a result, my weight is out of all porportion and has been for years.

As well as that I have been doing a considerable amount of drinking both during the day and at night.



Thanks again!

Good for you - 1 day over and repeat it tomorrow.

Try to cut down on your drinking especially dont drink during the day as it makes you lethargic. Find other activities in the evening time if you can.Alcohol acts as a depessant so if you drink on depression you create a chain reaction. Just put a limit on it.

The same with food - if you have a proper meal/a few pieces of fruit - you wont snack.

Find out if there is an exercise group/sports group/ yoga group at college as it gives you a social outlet and gets you in the habit of taking care of your self.Exercise is good as it makes you physically tired but also helps you sleep properly. Its what people do.

Sea Sharp

I was in a similar position a few years back. I dealt with it by taking time out of college. (Although in hindsight I'm not too sure if that's great advice.)

As was probably mentioned all ready, a healthy body is a healthy mind. Eat well and do exercise.

LegacyUser

Yea I'm back in for a second day, suppose that's a start at least!

I think my priority is to knock the booze on the head, it's partially affecting everything I do and it's not making my mood any better.

I will admit I was taking meds up until three weeks ago, I never felt that they had ever done anything for me and it was a decision I had to take on my own!

Since then, I have been slightly more paniky and have had really funny palpations and dizzy spells, it can only be a withdrawl symptom, can't it?

Lucy Lu

OP, maybe you should go back to your doctor and have a chat with them.

CDfm

Exhausted123 wrote: »

Yea I'm back in for a second day, suppose that's a start at least!

I think my priority is to knock the booze on the head, it's partially affecting everything I do and it's not making my mood any better.

I will admit I was taking meds up until three weeks ago, I never felt that they had ever done anything for me and it was a decision I had to take on my own!

Thats great - a second day -well done.Great sense of achievement getting your routine back.

Lucy Lu has a point. Going off medication has side effects especially if your doc doesnt know. You probably should review it with them. The might even put you on a lower dose.I think meds have a run off period. If you need em get em and take em. Its like a walking stick when you get well you can loose them.

Cut out boozing if you can . See how you go.It may be part of the problem just now.

Well done.

LegacyUser

Yea day two done, it actually feels that I have got up and done something. And the best part is that I don't have college again until monday @ 10!!

I do realise that going off the meds on my own wasn't a good idea, but I kind of feared that she was going to prescribe me something else which I didn't and don't want. And as well as that I didn't need a lecture!

I don't know if I want to go back to my Dr, I ordered a repeat perscription the other week to keep things right ie that I was taking meds, which I'm not!

I'm starting to think now, that if I was a bit more up front to my councellor and Dr that maybe I would have had my issues resolved long ago...I am due back to my councellor this friday, so maybe I'll start from the beginning all over again.

CDfm

Well OP you feel that way because you have achieved.

So tomorrow try to do something nice - like go for a walk or art gallery or find a club or society to join.

Something that will improve your quality of life.

Try to stay out of pubs;)