What are the symptoms of fatigue?
Each person experiences fatigue differently, but there are signs to help identify this condition, whether physical, mental or emotional. It’s important to understand that the onset of these symptoms is not isolated: they often combine and create a larger impact in daily life.
Physical symptoms
When fatigue sets in, these are the most common physical signs.
• Muscle fatigue: A constant feeling of heavy limbs, weakness or difficulty performing simple physical tasks.
• Drowsiness: Difficulty staying awake or focused because the body demands rest.
• Lack of energy: Fatigue persists even after sleeping or resting.
• Physical tension: Muscle pain or stiffness in the shoulders, back and neck, as if in a constant state of alertness.
• Changes in appetite: From constant hunger to a total loss of appetite, the body can react to fatigue in opposite ways.
Mental symptoms
The mind has its own way of showing that it has reached its limit.
• Difficulty concentrating: The mind feels foggy and even the simplest tasks require a disproportionate effort.
• Forgetfulness: Forgetting commitments or requiring major effort to remember things that would normally be automatic.
• Difficult decisions: Thinking becomes slow and decision-making feels impossible.
• Feeling overwhelmed: Everything seems more complicated than it really is, as though the mind has run out of space.
Emotional symptoms
When emotional exhaustion occurs, these are the principal symptoms.
• Irritability: Minor situations that would normally be ignored become unbearable.
• Discouragement: There is no energy to complete tasks or start new ones.
• Anxiety or sadness: Emotional fatigue can magnify negative feelings, creating a cycle that is hard to break.
• Apathy: Feeling like nothing matters, even things that would usually be cause for excitement.
Behavioural symptoms
Choices and routines ultimately reveal the impact of fatigue on everyday life.
• Sleep problems: The person may sleep more hours than usual but still wake up feeling tired, or have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep during the night, even though they are exhausted.
• Social isolation: Interaction with other people is avoided. People prefer to be alone.
• Procrastination: A desire to postpone everything reflects difficulty in mobilising the energy needed to act.
• Frequent mistakes: Fatigue compromises efficiency, which increases the likelihood of making mistakes, even in regular tasks.
If ignored, fatigue can develop into more serious conditions, such as physical and emotional exhaustion, burnout syndrome, or deeper health problems, like depression, high blood pressure or other cardiovascular disorders.
Recognising the symptoms of extreme fatigue and acting early – either by adjusting the pace of life, resting or seeking professional help – is essential to prevent serious consequences.
