Lisa Smit’s Rants and Other Important Stuff

Fatigue, Depression, or Malaise

February 18, 2009 at 6:20 PM (Fatigue and Related Stuff)

I live with some degree of fatigue every day.  The main obstacles are, obviously, accomplishing tasks that others do without effort and finding satisfaction from small daily accomplishments.  Another obstacle is getting people to understand what I am feeling on a daily basis without getting angry at being misunderstood. It’s very difficult for anyone to communicate about challenges in their lives without others interpreting it as complaining or a plea for help.  I appreciate when others offer advice, however, what I am really looking for is to be understood.

I’d like to explain what fatigue is.  Often, it’s confused with depression or malaise.  These three conditions are often described as being tired all the time.  Being tired is a healthy condition.  Normally, it’s brought on by the activities of daily life.  A healthy person balances the mundane tasks of everyday life with activities that are enjoyable and often strenuous.  Being tired is a good feeling that is relieved by getting a good nights sleep.  Healthy people get up feeling refreshed, attend to their hygiene, perhaps grab a cup of coffee, and squeeze as many activities into a day as possible before becoming tired and ready for sleep.  People who are fatigued, depressed or suffering from malaise don’t enjoy that pattern of life.  The chemistry and structure of their brains makes it difficult to accomplish daily tasks.

I’d like to define these three conditions.  My definitions are based on my experience,  but hopefully can be used as a guideline to open communication.  I’d like to start with what fatigue is not.  Most people, including those in the medical community, confuse fatigue with depression.  This can be very frustrating.  More commonly, friends and casual acquaintances confuse fatigue with malaise.  This can be even more frustrating and even embarrassing.

Malaise is a sluggish feeling most people experience occasionally.  Commonly, it’s referred to as being lazy.  It’s a feeling of not wanting to get up and do anything strenuous.  Healthy people can overcome this feeling quite easily.  Often choosing healthier foods and exercise relieves the feeling and decreases incidences of malaise.  Usually, all that is needed is a boost.  A cup of coffee or just beginning an activity is enough to relieve feelings of malaise.  Some people experience this chronically.  In defense of some people who are considered lazy, their brain chemistry makes it difficult or impossible to overcome this feeling.

Depression is a more serious condition.  It’s characterized by a lack of interest in daily activity and in more severe cases a lack of interest in things that a person usually finds enjoyable.  It’s recognized in the medical community and can often be cured or controlled with medicine and counseling.  Other people who suffer from depression aren’t so easily cured.  When depression becomes severe, people begin to think about ending their lives.   People who suffer from depression cannot get a boost from a cup of coffee or through activity.  Compassion and medical treatment are needed to help depressed people find satisfaction in their lives.

Fatigue is what I have the most experience with.  Unlike malaise, there is no relief through nutrition or exercise.  Unlike depression, daily activities are interesting and desirable. Unfortunately, even enjoyable activities worsen the condition. Fatigue is an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion and need for solitude and rest. The effects of physical or mental activity are dramatic and delaying rest intensifies the condition.  Antidepressants, don’t help and often worsen fatigue. What fatigue has in common with malaise and depression is that it stems from an abnormal physical condition of the brain.

So far, the only relief for myself and others like me is accepting a slower pace of life and avoiding stress as much as possible.  Fortunately, fatigue is starting to get more recognition in the medical community.  One of the first steps in recognition or the search for a cure is communication.  I hope my definitions are helpful as a boost in meaningful dialogue.  Thank you for your efforts to increase your understanding of these three conditions