What are the causes of chronic fatigue? They can be many, some subtle, some not. Some are so obvious you wonder why you didn’t consider them in the first place. The more elusive causes of chronic fatigue are ones that you may need help to remember and then overcome and conquer.

Today, let’s first compare the subtle and fairly obvious prompts for chronic fatigue by defining the term. (Later in the post, we’ll investigate many of the unobvious reasons…ones that you may not have considered, but with a little work, could experience great change and more energy!)

Simply stated, chronic fatigue is when the overwhelming symptom of fatigue becomes a chronic body condition. In other words, much of the time, you’re chronically tired, pooped and downright exhausted!

I know this sounds common and in many ways, it is. “Chronic fatigue” is the number one reason why people schedule a doctor visit. *Hang on and check out what is to come. There’s more below and even more in the audio podcast itself. Be sure to listen because it includes facts and figures that you won’t find on the blog.

(Today’s audio podcast is 22 minutes and 21 seconds. Enjoy!)

Theirs is a problem of being chronically tired and thinking something may be medically wrong with them to “cause” such a state. It’s important to remember that this occurrence isn’t the very same thing as suffering with the illness =>Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. (*To be declared and considered to have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, it takes a medical diagnosis. If you’re curious to learn more, see the page for this topic on this website entitled, “CFS Info”.)

So what causes a person like you to feel chronically tired and fatigued so much of the time? The reasons might be that you:

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• Are not getting enough good quality sleep on a regular basis. How much energy do you have if you’re sleep deprived?
  

Are there other elements intruding on your sleep such as a too cold or too hot room? Sleeping during the day while your family is making noise?

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• Are not eating a balanced diet, one that gives your body enough raw materials to manufacture the required energy it needs to function.
  

Think adequate protein and carbohydrates such as cheese, almonds, green vegetables, raw fruits.

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• Are not drinking enough water.
  

The majority of the human body is water. It takes thought and effort to drink enough water to supply what the body needs. GOAL: to be healthy, hydrated and have an adequate supply of energy. Recent information says that water is now more popular than soft drinks. Wow-ee!

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• Are allowing (e.g. having) too much stress in your life. Stress is a huge thief of energy!! Absolutely, amazingly, HUGE! We health pundits may be winning.
  

If we take the time to decompress with activities such as meditation, mindfulness, getting a massage, getting some daily exercise, prayer and being with the ones we love in a calm environment, we all will be a lot better off and suffer with less stress.

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• Are working at an unfulfilling job -or- under the watchful eye of a boss who does not appreciate you and expects you to do the impossible.
  

This could also include worrying about whether you’re going to lose this “fantastic” job. In today’s economy, few people can afford to simply quit their job without the act severely affecting their budget’s bottom line. However, long term, if you’re not happy in the work you do, staying in it can be harmful to your health, too.

Perhaps the better alternative is to get yourself (e.g. career skills, etc.) into a better situation. You could add to your skills to make you a valuable employee to some other business. You could even consider going into business for yourself. Being self-employed is not unstressful by any means, but it is a different kind of stress. It can provide it’s own great rewards to your ideas and creations come full circle.

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• And finally, there may be a medical cause for your chronic fatigue, such as an under-performing thyroid gland or an unbalanced HPS axis (hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal axis) with crazy swings in the body’s cortisol level. These problems can accompany other illnesses, such as full blown Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, hypothyroid, panic disorder, etc.
  

Thanks you so much for joining me today. As you work your way through the causes of chronic fatigue, remember that what you decide to allow in your life could be the key to solving the problem. Throw out the bums and nurture the good guys! Plus, be sure to let your friends know the info you found here at the Health Matters Show. See the social networking buttons below.

Cinda Crawford, your host