How To Tell If You're Suffering From Exhaustion

Adulting isn't easy; with work, kids, family, the home, and/or a bunch of other responsibilities, it's understandable that you might see signs that you're suffering from exhaustion. Some people end up totally overwhelmed and even physically sick. In fact, Kendall Jenner was recently hospitalized for exhaustion, totally pooped out after months of jetsetting, runways, being a millionaire, and generally looking flawless.

Exhaustion is the type of thing that can creep up on you; sometimes you don't realize how bad things are until the proverbial sh*t hits the fan. It's kind of easy to ignore, seeing as how so many of us function on a daily basis with not enough sleep. A lot of people associate exhaustion with simply being tired, but there's a lot more to it than that.

Being tired after a late night of a Breaking Bad marathon is one thing. Last night, I binge-watched Homeland, cried twice, and this morning, I'm dragging my feet. Exhaustion, on the other hand, is a prolonged state of mental, physical, and emotional burnout. It affects numerous aspects of your life, ignited by burning the candle at both ends. Do you think you might be suffering from exhaustion? There are a handful of symptoms that you should be on the lookout for.

1. Your Mind Is Cloudy

When you're sleeping, your brain is processing the day's happenings and re-balancing chemicals that help control your mood and behavior. The 90-minute period of REM (rapid eye movement) is especially important for these reasons. If you're lacking adequate sleep, you might be experiencing a fuzzy memory and trouble concentrating.

2. You're Lacking Motivation

Have you lost interest in things you used to love doing? Do you have a hard time getting your engine started in the morning? Feeling unmotivated is another symptom of exhaustion. I'm not talking about dreading doing the laundry — because that sucks regardless of whether or not you're exhausted. If I were to lose interest in writing, however... call an ambulance.

3. You Lose Your Appetite

Early in the morning, my alarm goes off, I open my eyes, and I start brainstorming what I could eat for breakfy. My mind swirls with thoughts of bagels and bacon and eggs and pizza. (Don't judge me.) If you've noticed a decline in your appetite and a loss of interest in food, you might be experiencing exhaustion. Other people notice that they only want junk food, which makes the problem even worse.

4. Your Emotions Are More Extreme

Part of this has to do with what I mentioned earlier about your brain refreshing all of its chemicals. When you're suffering from exhaustion, you might tango with bouts of anxiety, depression, and anger. Early on, the symptoms might be more muted; but as the exhaustion really kicks in, outbursts and shutdowns can occur.

5. You're Having Trouble Sleeping

Ironic, isn't it? You're suffering from exhaustion but you can't sleep? What is this sorcery? However, it's rather common. If you frequently have a hard time falling asleep and/or staying asleep, you could be exhausted (or on your way to it).

6. Your Gym Life Is Suffering

This one comes as no surprise. Exercising is physically and mentally taxing. If you're plagued by exhaustion, your training might take a beating.

If you've been dealing with symptoms like these, it's time to take a step back and reevaluate. Talk to your doctor, rethink your lifestyle habits, and get back on the healthy track.

Images: Pink Sherbet Photography/Flickr; Giphy (6)