When to worry about fatigue with depression

Depression can affect sleep, motivation, concentration, appetite, and the effort needed for ordinary tasks. Low energy may therefore feel physical as well as emotional. Read more about Depression and Fatigue. Fatigue can also be intensified by medicines, anaemia, thyroid problems, infection, poor sleep, or another health condition.

Tell a clinician if you are sleeping much more or less, missing meals, withdrawing from people, struggling to work, or losing interest in activities. A change in energy after starting or stopping treatment is also worth discussing rather than managing alone.

Arrange an appointment if tiredness lasts, worsens, or makes washing, eating, working, or taking medicines difficult. Keep a simple record of sleep, mood, appetite, activity, and treatment changes. Choose small manageable tasks, maintain regular meals and fluids, and tell someone you trust how you are feeling. Do not stop antidepressants suddenly without medical advice.

If you may harm yourself, feel unable to stay safe, or have a plan to end your life, seek emergency help now and stay with a trusted person; contact local emergency services or a crisis service. Seek urgent assessment for severe confusion, inability to eat or drink, extreme agitation, or several nights without sleep with unusually high energy or risky behaviour. Promptly contact your clinician if fatigue suddenly becomes much worse.

Ask whether your treatment, sleep, mood, or physical health needs review; whether blood tests could check other causes of fatigue; and who to contact outside appointments if your safety changes.