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At one time, the prevailing opinion was that depression manifested itself only with clear signs of sadness and hopelessness, but today we know that it has many faces. Its symptom can also be a feeling of fatigue.

In a vicious circle

There is a complex relationship between fatigue and mental health. This can lead to a vicious cycle that is difficult to break. Fatigue is a very common symptom of depression, affecting more than 90% of patients.

About 80% of people with depression have trouble sleeping

Insomnia can cause or worsen depression, and vice versa. If we are chronically tired, we are more susceptible to depression. It’s not just about getting up in the morning or closing our eyes at noon. Fatigue can manifest as a general, persistent lack of energy when even relatively simple tasks seem to require a lot of physical and mental effort.

Symptoms of fatigue associated with depression do not always manifest as physical fatigue

A warning sign is the loss of interest and motivation in activities that we used to enjoy. Therefore, when identifying depression, mental health professionals pay attention to a kind of mental fatigue and loss of motivation. If we are motivated to do our usual activities, but we are simply tired, we need to look for physical causes of fatigue (common causes of fatigue are dehydration, poor dietary habits, anemia, etc.).

It’s easier to talk about fatigue

Unfortunately, mental health issues are still stigmatized. People who seek help often find it easier to talk about fatigue, lack of motivation and sleep problems. This can be a good starting point to talk about the support they need to maintain their mental health.