A week ago I tripped coming up the stairs at my Dad’s causing my laptop to launch out of my hand, hit the tile floor and go skidding for a few feet before I caught myself from falling on my face.
I had just finished a leg workout that left my legs twit
That morning I woke up early to drive 3.5 hours to my Dad’s so I could go sailing that afternoon so I was trying to get everything in befor
I clearly underestimated my fatigue, luckily I avoided an injury but I created a costly mess for myself as my laptop survived but it’s speakers did not.
Can you relate?
While I ended up having to get a new lap top, I’m glad I didn’t hurt myself and got me thinking about the more subtle signs of fatigue that get passed off as “normal” aging.
Quick responses now come slow, simple tasks feel overwhelming, and the things that used to energize you now drain you?
That’s fatigue at its finest and while research says 1 in 4 people experience fatigue, in my office I feel it’s closer to 1 in 2.
It’s easy to chalk up signs as ADD, aging
…but what if it’s something deeper, something that’s not just stealing your energy, but affecting your health, happiness, and safety?
According to Brain, Behavior and Immunity-Health Journal, fatigue-related drowsiness contributes to over 1,500 deaths and 100,000 car accidents each year in the U.S. alone.
Sure, we know not to drive tired… but
My old athlete mindset told me to “push through” fatigue and rest later.
But what if the “race” is your life and recovery isn’t happening like it used to?
So where do you start when your energy just won’t bounce back and you’re having little mishaps here and there like tripping, falling or spilling things all over?
The Big Picture:
- Lifestyle: Nutrition (electrolytes, B vitamins, aminos), hydration, movement, joy
- Sleep: Insomnia, apnea, anxiety, vivid dreams, shift work
- Chronic pain: The fatigue amplifier
- Responsibility overload: Parents, kids, career, house, social events
- Underlying health issues: Autoimmunity, infections, toxins, metabolic dysfunction
- Emotional load: Stress, trauma, nervous system stuck in fight, flight, or freeze
- Post-viral effects: Lost or altered sense of smell (more on this later this week)
To truly fix fatigue, we have to test not guess.
- Micronutrient testing reveals what your cells need to make energy.
- Stool testing helps uncover gut issues draining your vitality.
- Hormone, thyroid, adrenal, detox, and genetic testingconnect the dots on how your body’s systems are functioning (or not).
Because fatigue is rarely “just tired.”
It’s your body waving a red flag that something is off and pushing through only
Safety is one concern…
….but the real loss is quality of life.
My wish?
That you live a long, adventurous life full of energy and presence for yourself, your family, and yes… even your pets.
Speaking of pets tomorrow’s podcast episode with Angela Ardolinodives into how your energy directly affects your animals and what you can do t
Stay tuned,
Dr. Jannine Krause
