Nervous exhaustion: what to know

The phrase is informal rather than a specific diagnosis. Ongoing demands, poor sleep, emotional strain or burnout can leave you drained, less focused and less able to cope. Fatigue may also occur with Anaemia, Chronic Kidney Disease, Coeliac Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, infection, dehydration, alcohol-related problems or low mood. The key clues are duration, sleep quality, activity tolerance and accompanying symptoms such as breathlessness, weight change, pain, fever or palpitations.

Keep a simple record of sleep, energy, meals, fluids, medicines and activities that worsen symptoms. Use a regular sleep schedule, gentle movement within your limits and planned pauses rather than pushing through a crash. Eat and drink regularly, and avoid using alcohol as a sleep aid. Arrange a medical review if fatigue persists, interferes with work or self-care, or comes with another unexplained symptom.

Seek urgent help for chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, new confusion, sudden weakness, black or bloody stools, or thoughts of harming yourself. Prompt review is needed for rapidly worsening exhaustion, dehydration with inability to keep fluids down, persistent fever, or fatigue accompanied by unexplained bleeding or marked paleness.

Ask what causes fit your symptoms and whether an examination or blood tests are appropriate. Discuss sleep, mood, medicines, diet, menstrual or other bleeding, recent infection and activity limits. Ask how to pace daily tasks and when to return if recovery does not begin.