Five Signs You Are Mentally Exhausted and How to Get Your Smile Back

Do you remember the last time you woke up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day? No? Unfortunately, you are not alone. According to the Harvard Business Review today's level of burnout is a result of an existing problem made exponentially worse by recent pandemic conditions. Statista notes that in 2017, 37% of Americans were suffering from burnout and it was steadily increasing even before the pandemic. However, it has grown considerably since that time.

Mental exhaustion manifests itself in the human body and psyche in many ways. These conditions can be physical, emotional, and behavioral. It is therefore necessary to take note of these signs within ourselves and in those around us. People are often able to notice the signs in others more quickly than they do in themselves. The sooner these signs are noticed, the better, in order to seek help, whether in the form of a professional or in changed behavior. We have taken the liberty of listing a few of those symptoms below.

Irregular Sleep Patterns

One of the physical ways that mental exhaustion can manifest itself is through our sleep. Mental exhaustion can affect your natural sleep pattern in two contrasting ways: not getting enough sleep or sleeping too much. You feel tired and exhausted, but you just can’t seem to get your body or mind to relax enough for you to fall asleep. At bedtime, instead of getting ready to shut down, your mind is racing with thoughts of all your perceived problems and issues. Then there are those at the other end of the spectrum, where they tend to oversleep. You sleep for long hours, oftentimes not waking up until the afternoon or even later. Then the kicker is after you wake up from your sleep overdose your body and mind still does not feel rested.

A Feeling of Detachment

You don’t feel emotionally invested in anything or anyone. Things that used to excite you, no longer does. You have mentally checked out of the lives of the people around you without realizing it. This is a form of depression but instead of feeling stressed out or weighed down by your problems, you have detached yourself from it and have gone to a point where both the good and the bad emotions gets no response from you. For some this might sound like a sense of peace, but it unfortunately means missing out on the joys of life as well. It also means that the light and spark that we all have within us will slowly dim without help or a change. This can continue until you no longer recognize the person that you have become.

Irritability

"When irritated, I have learnt to be quiet."

You are easily agitated. You are snapping at family and friends for the slightest infraction. Things that didn't used to irritate, suddenly does or triggers other strong emotions. Family and friends have now begun to tiptoe around you and your moods, because they don't want to set you off. This then makes it is harder for people to stay around you. Irritation of this nature could be a signal that you are unhappy with your own life or a situation but feel helpless when it comes to fixing it. Then as a result of this feeling of helplessness, you release that frustration on those around you.

Anxiety

"Smile, breathe and go slowly." -- Thich Nhat Hanh

According to Better Help, anxiety pertains to tension or unease regarding events which exist in either the past, present or future. Fatigue is a depleted emotional and mental state which occurs when someone is beyond tired or exhausted. These two are often connected, with one leading to the other. Anxiety can stem from something as small as having incomplete or difficult assignments that seem impossible or worrying about loved ones and /or one’s own ill-health. Continuously trying to solve this issue or avoidance of it can lead to great anxiety. Extreme anxiety can breed fatigue which in turn leads to more anxiety and the cycle continues. Anxiety should always be addressed and not taken lightly. Our mind was not meant to handle constant worry or consistently feeling on edge. It can be draining and lead to mental exhaustion or other forms of mental illness.

Physical Pain

Another way that mental exhaustion is demonstrated physically is through pain for instance joint aches or back aches. Some of these types of pain can stem from lack of physical movement, but according to studies these pains can also be a result of mental exhaustion. Carla Manley, PhD, clinical psychologist for Healthline states that people with mental illness can experience a range of physical symptoms, such as muscle tension, pain, headaches, and feelings of restlessness.

Suggestions to Help

Mental Health Practitioners

Seeking the care of a mental health professionals is always our first recommendation for mental health matters. We advise that if you recognize any of these signs in yourself or others to seek guidance from a mental health professional or counselling. However, under the care of a mental health practitioner, there are also some activities that have worked for others. Here are a few of their suggestions and recommendations.

New Activities and Crafts

For detachment and low motivation signals, try new activities and hobbies. Learning a new craft or activity can do wonders for people going through a hard time. The act of processing a new activity and something new to look forward to can provide new motivation. It is best if these new activities are simple and do not require great mental exertion. However, these activities should be something of interest to the person.

Energy Recovery

To combat anxiety and fatigue one of the main needs is energy because at its root that is what is missing. Regaining that energy is not a short-term fix. It entails maintaining a healthy diet, exercise, getting enough sleep and avoiding things that are not good for your body and mind, for instance, alcohol, and drugs.

Support Team

A good support team is needed to come back from any form of mental illness. Having family and friends who care about your recovery has been known to be very helpful. These people can help to bring you back to yourself when you are having bad days or just help to keep you smiling. Having a strong support unit can make a great difference. Don't underestimate the the joy that can be experienced from a heartily felt laugh or a random coffee date with a friend. Family and friends are great to have around but if that is not available to you, a paid professional or a counsellor can also help with that much needed support.

Conclusion

Mental exhaustion requires attention and should not be swept under the rug. Anything left untended usually falls in disrepair. Do not allow that to be the case with your mental health. Protect your mental health and the mental health of those around you, where possible.

Engage in good mindfulness practice by focusing on the present and things that you can achieve in the short term. Achieving short term goals is a good way to gain confidence and motivation to achieve the larger ones.

As much as possible find healthy ways to complete tasks and and remember your pace might not be the same as someone else's. Do not judge yourself harshly over it, just do it at a pace that is comfortable you. Surround yourself with family and friends that love and care for you. Socializing and being around people that love you can do wonders for our moods. If you do not have family and friends close by, then pick up the phone and have a quick chat with a friend. There are people out there that love and appreciate you. Hang on to that and hang on to the good.