Has it been happening lately that you find it hard to pull yourself out of bed even after a good night’s sleep? Or are you at work and unable to think of anything bright? These early signs of mental exhaustion can make it challenging to focus, find motivation to do things you enjoy and just want to stay still, doing nothing. Long periods of intense mental activity can lead to mental exhaustion.
It happens because the brain has been constantly engaging in stimulating activities without getting much rest. Also, mental exhaustion can lead to physical symptoms like headaches, sore muscles and stomach problems. Timely opting for mental wellness retreats will ensure you are getting a break and can recover before the exhaustion takes over completely. However, understanding the subtle signs and not mistaking them for laziness is the key to ensuring you get the support and assistance you need to feel like yourself again.
If you are experiencing these things, you are probably mentally exhausted:
- Difficulty Staying Alert
In recent times, mental health has become something of concern for many individuals. When a person is experiencing a mental health crisis or fatigue, their brain often resorts to cutting down on unnecessary or unimportant information.
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As a result, they are likely to be less alert to processing information, registering new data, or being aware of their surroundings.
Additionally, exhaustion makes it difficult to concentrate or sometimes remember things, increasing the possibility of missing out on attending to specific details when working on something.
- Becoming Unreasonably Impatient
On a regular day, the brain’s prefrontal region controls the limbic system, preventing us from reacting.
But when experiencing mental fatigue, this connection becomes slow (in extreme cases, it takes a backseat), making one more vulnerable to getting irritated easily or becoming more reactive.
Aside from the hot-headed responses, mental exhaustion can also tap into other feelings like unexplained regrets and even feelings of not being good enough.
- Inability to Focus
Instances where you misspell words, are unable to form coherent sentences, have difficulty combining different pieces of information to create a logical chain of thoughts, and are unable to plan and forget details as simple as the date or more are some signs of exhaustion we tend to ignore.
Fatigue can make it challenging for the brain cells to function correctly and efficiently. Due to this, it becomes hard to focus on what you are working on.
The inability to focus also results in hours spent doing something that would otherwise take less time to accomplish. Mental exhaustion can also enforce unhealthy risk-taking practices and engage in activities like gambling or, worst cases, addiction to alcohol or even drugs.
- Zoning Out Frequently
Prolonged engagement in cognitive tasks or overexposure to staying mentally alert always leads to the brain overprocessing information in utmost detail. As a result, the brain feels too tired to process anything else.
Zoning out is an escape mechanism the brain uses to avoid stressful situations or engage in monotonous activities. It is worth noting that people also tend to zone out when bored.
If you are zoning out excessively for long periods or suddenly, it can be an indication of chronic mental fatigue that must be taken care of at the earliest to prevent further progressions.
- Procrastinating Self-care
Mental exhaustion enforces a sense of never-ending fatigue and an urgent need to sleep. As a result, you may choose to abandon activities and routines to have extra time to rest.
While it may seem to help with fatigue, the truth is otherwise. Oversleeping can stress the body, contributing to anxiety, dizziness and brain foginess. Aside from these symptoms, chronic oversleeping can also lead to health problems, diabetes, increased chances of stroke, and idiopathic hypersomnia.
Bottomline
Mental exhaustion can result from loss of motivation, oversleeping and inability to respond without feeling irritated. It is necessary to create boundaries that help you realise when you are pushing yourself towards achievement and when it is time to pause and prioritise your well-being over anything else. If you cannot relax on a holiday and think extra support is needed, reaching out to a mental wellness retreat can be incredibly helpful.
