Do you feel constant and unexplained fatigue? This drop in energy could be a sign of an imbalance. Find out how to assess your current vitality.
Are you feeling exhausted right now? Maybe it’s time to listen to the signals your body is sending you. Persistent fatigue is never trivial: it can reflect an imbalance or an increased need for rest. To better assess your condition, Michel Lejoyeux, professor of psychiatry, offers a ten-question self-test.
Fatigue: a common phenomenon, but worth monitoring
Overwork, stress, family problems, anemia, lack of sleep, unbalanced diet, excessive workload… So many factors that can weigh on your energy level. In France, between 20 and 30% of medical consultations are motivated by a feeling of fatigue. Often temporary, this drop in performance can however become worrying when it persists over time.
“Two criteria must then be questioned: the duration and intensity of this state of fatigue“, explained Professor Jean-Dominique de Korwin during a previous interview.
Indeed, “we speak of abnormal fatigue beyond six months of chronic fatigue“, he specifies. When it becomes persistent, it can hinder daily activities and impact mental health, with physical and emotional repercussions.
The good news? Before evoking real “asthenia” and sinking into chronic exhaustion, it is possible to act. The first step is to take stock of your energy level.
Take your energy balance! Here are the 10 questions to ask yourself
To better understand your energy level and your overall health, answer these ten questions transparently. They will help you decipher the messages your body is trying to send you.
- Are you tired, without understanding why?
- Do you use substances to cope (tobacco, alcohol, sugar, etc.)?
- Have you gained or lost a lot of weight quickly and recently?
- Do you suffer from symptoms (back pain, headache, muscle pain, digestive or menstrual problems) without an objective cause?
- Do you feel very agitated or, on the contrary, rather slowed down?
- Are you having difficulty tolerating pain at the moment?
- Do you have trouble relaxing physically?
- Would you like to exercise, but don’t have the courage?
- Do you feel bodily signs of impatience, then weariness?
- Do you feel like your batteries are dead?
If you answered “no” to these ten questions, that means you’re in great shape. On the other hand, if you answered “yes” to some of them, it may be interesting to look for the causes – without panicking.
“Before saying that you have back pain because your back is full of it, consult your GP to check for the possible presence of lumbago“, advises Michel Lejoyeux. “Whatever the manifestation of the body, a medical examination is necessary and will first detect the organic cause(s). Diabetes, for example, or hypertension, hyperthyroidism, anemia, can cause great fatigue..”
Next, it can be beneficial to take stock of your mental health, as body and mind are closely linked.
“The link between physiological balance and psychological balance is unmistakable, but the modalities of this correlation still remain mysterious. reminds the professor. “For example, we can suffer from a chronic illness and yet be in good mental health; such as having no somatic symptoms, but having low morale..”
In any case, do not hesitate to consult a specialist who will be able to support you.