The Stress Factor

We hear people say "I'm depressed," but not "I'm
fatigued." We don't usually complain about fatigue
because we all assume that work can and will tire us
out. Brenda, a 30-year old waitress shared, "We all
feel tired, I'm tired of this job, but I have to work
and telling someone about it doesn't make sense." What
is fatigue? Dr. Ronald Hoffman, in his book Tired all
the time calls it "bone-deep weariness." It's when you
have absolutely no energy to do anything. When you
mention fatigue, no warning bells sound off, "It's not
a fatal disease..." so people dismiss it as lack of
sleep or overexertion.
Fatigue can strike anyone, but it's more common among
people in their late twenties to late thirties, aptly
labeling the condition as the "yuppie flu." Statistics
show that fatigue is also more common among women
workers. According to Dr. Hoffman, "To provide us with
the impetus to rest, we are given fatigue, which
manifests itself as the intense longing for sleep."
Our bodies need to be in a state of balance or
"homeostasis" so when this balance is tipped, our
bodies respond by shutting itself down.
It isn't surprising that we get fatigue from stress.
How exactly does this work? When we get stressed, it
depletes our bodies of nutrients and minerals and we
feel weak. When we experience stress, our bodies
convert stored protein to sugar (for energy) and then
our blood sugar level goes up. At the same time, blood
pressure increases. Then minerals are pulled from the
bones and salt is retained in the body. Magnesium is
also then flushed from the body. With nutrients
depleted, the body feels sluggish and inefficient.
Fatigue doesn't necessarily stem from lack of sleep.
Studies show that fatigue is also linked to
hypothyroidism, depression, sleep disorders,
nutritional deficiency, allergies, environmental
toxins and fluctuating sex hormones in elderly women.
Carbo make us feel tired
Before you indulge in your regular breakfast fare of a
dozen pandesals or fried rice, think again. Eating too
much carbohydrates-rich food can cause exhaustion.
Carbohydrates increase our brain levels of a
neurotransmitter called "serotonin," which naturally
makes us feel sleepy. Eating fiber-rich foods like
oatmeal and wheat eliminates our bodies of toxins.
Toxins make us feel heavy.
Depression can lower the immune system
People do a lot of multi-tasking and forget that they
need to recharge. Most people say that they're
depressed and yet they don't do anything about it.
Focus on few tasks. When things get too overwhelming,
our natural reaction is to let everything slide and
feel withdrawn. Try to take up a hobby or some other
activity that lets you relax.
Don't get sick in the office by putting plants in your
work area and get lots of fresh air
Environmental toxins damage our cell membranes and
disrupt enzyme pathways. Try to get as much sun and
fresh air as possible. Nothing can make us sicker than
staying in an enclosed building with no ventilation
and getting exposed to radiation from computer
screens. Try adding English Ivy and Golden Pothos
since these plants are good at absorbing benzene,
formaldehyde and toxic gases. So instead of surfing
the Internet on your break time, try taking a walk in
the park or in the mall.
Exercise is still supreme
Exercise provides a lot of benefits that no vitamin
supplement can ever make up for. Women benefit more
from it because exercise lowers estrogen levels.
Excessive amounts of estrogen not only make us fat
(and sluggish) but it is also linked to female cancers
and depression. Take up a sport if going to the gym
doesn't suit your fancy.
Get some sleep
When we don't get enough sleep, the body will try to
recuperate as much "sleep time" as possible. Sleep
deprivation also causes headaches and short-term
memory loss. Don't take naps in the afternoon since it
disrupts your sleep schedule. Don't pull off
consecutive all-nighters (a.k.a. OT) and gimmicks.
Keep practicing these tips and keep fatigue out of
your system.