Let’s Talk About Chronic Fatigue: It’s Not Just Being Tired
One of the most common — and most frustrating — symptoms I hear from patients is fatigue. Not just being a little tired after a long day or a short night’s sleep — but a deeper, more persistent kind of exhaustion that doesn't go away with rest. And all too often, I meet patients who’ve been brushed off by other providers. Maybe someone told you, “You’re a mom — of course you’re tired!” or “You’ve got a demanding job — it’s normal to feel worn out.”
But here's the truth: tired and fatigued are not the same thing.
Tired vs. Fatigued
Tired is what happens after you’ve had a long day or exerted yourself physically or mentally. You go to bed, get a good night’s sleep, and wake up feeling refreshed.
Fatigue, especially chronic fatigue, doesn’t work that way. It doesn’t lift after a full night of rest. It’s not always connected to how much you did yesterday. You can sleep 8–9 hours, eat well, and still feel like your body is dragging through mud.
And unless someone has truly experienced chronic fatigue, they likely can’t understand how frustrating and life-limiting it can be. You don’t just “push through” it. If you do, you often crash later — harder than before.
You Are Not Alone
If you’re struggling with this kind of exhaustion, I want you to know two things:
You are not crazy. And you are not alone.
Roughly 1.3% of the U.S. population — about 3.4 million people — live with chronic fatigue syndrome, and many more experience persistent fatigue without a formal diagnosis.
You deserve to be seen, heard, and supported.
How Chronic Fatigue Works
Let’s use an analogy to explain how energy works in the body.
Most healthy people have two types of energy:
Daily energy: What you use to go about your normal day.
Reserve energy: A backup supply you can tap into when life demands more — like staying up late before a big presentation or pushing through a tough week.
After using some reserve energy, you rest, recover, and your body replenishes that reserve.
Now imagine someone with chronic fatigue:
Their reserve energy is gone.
Their daily energy is minimal.
Even small stressors — an unexpected errand, a poor night’s sleep, a tough emotional day — can knock them down for days.
Recovery is slow, and sometimes even impossible without lifestyle changes and medical support.
If everything in their life goes perfectly — full sleep, no stress, balanced routine — they may feel “okay.” But one disruption can set them back significantly.
Step One: Acknowledge It
The first step in healing from chronic fatigue is acknowledging what’s happening.
If this sounds like you, know this: your body is struggling with a low energy balance. You are operating without reserves, and your system needs time and support to recover. It’s not laziness. It’s not in your head. It’s a signal that something deeper is going on.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll walk you through the next two steps:
2. Finding the cause of your depleted energy and correcting it.
3. Rebuilding your energy reserves so you can feel strong again.
You Can Heal
This journey takes time and curiosity, but I truly believe chronic fatigue can be overcome — when it’s accepted, investigated, and treated with compassion and persistence.
If you see yourself in this description, I encourage you to give yourself grace. There is hope. And I’m here to walk with you on the path to healing.
Stay tuned for Part 2 next week.
Warmly,
Dr. Danielle Ivey
