Mental exhaustion symptoms are treatable, and there are a variety of resources available to help ease your symptoms and cope with stress. Learn about those here.
Table of Contents
Symptoms of mental exhaustion
Mental or emotional exhaustion is the result of prolonged stress. Symptoms can include both physical and mental, often presenting as a combination of the two. The most common symptoms are fatigue, lack of motivation or drive, trouble sleeping, poor concentration and memory issues.
Some causes leading to mental exhaustion include:
- Long work hours/high workloads
- Overwhelming amount of responsibilities
- Poor time management and poor prioritizing
- Issues with concentration and focus
- Relationship issues (including personal and professional relationships)
- Anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns
Mental exhaustion symptoms – Emotional signs
Emotional signs of mental exhaustion include:
- Frequent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- Low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy
- Depression, apathy and other negative emotions
Mental exhaustion symptoms – Physical signs
Physical signs of emotional exhaustion include:
- Pounding headache (or another distinct pain) that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medication; often accompanied by hot flashes, sweating or flushing of the face
- Unusual fatigue or tiredness that doesn’t respond to rest
- Unexplained nausea, dizziness or light-headedness
- Difficulty sleeping through the night without waking up several times
- Problems maintaining focus, lack of motivation/drive and trouble concentrating
- Fatigue that goes beyond feeling tired or having low energy; can include feeling constantly drained, exhausted, lacking in mental clarity or focus, trouble sleeping through the night despite being tired.
Mental exhaustion symptoms – Behavioral signs
Behavioral signs of mental exhaustion include:
- Suddenly not feeling like going out with friends or family
- Lack of interest in hobbies you once enjoyed
- Feeling “stuck” and unable to make decisions about things that used to be easy choices for you
- Procrastinating on making decisions or meetings due to a lack of motivation or drive
- Spending a lot of time in bed, even though you’re exhausted
- Having difficulty caring for your children and other loved ones due to an inability to focus on anything but your exhaustion.
Symptoms of severe mental exhaustion
Mental exhaustion is a major issue in today’s society and can toll both physical and mental health. It has been reported that many people are experiencing symptoms of severe mental exhaustion, which may include apathy or detachment, lack of productivity, weight fluctuation issues, susceptibility to colds and other illnesses, abnormal actions such as inflexibility and bitterness.
Emotional signs such as overthinking or fatigue can be more draining than the typical emotional signs we see every day. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from mental exhaustion.
Triggers or signs occur when someone is too interested in reliving the memories. Severe mental exhaustion can occur when someone has been exposed to a traumatic event that they cannot process. It’s something that can happen in the blink of an eye, but it can also sneak up on you over time.
Signs and symptoms may be subtle at first, but they become more severe over time. Some early signs include feeling trapped or hopeless, having difficulty processing life events, being unable to sleep or eat, feeling overwhelmed with your responsibilities and being unable to focus on anything else for too long.
Severe mental exhaustion symptoms may include the following:
- Intense, overwhelming fatigue that doesn’t go away with rest or sleep
- Difficulty concentrating for long periods due to brain fog
- Anxiety and worry over all aspects of life accompanied by constant fear, insecurity and a lack of confidence
- Depression and sadness accompanied by crying spells for no apparent reason
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep due to racing thoughts and constant worry
- Feeling distant from others even though you want to be close to them
- Constant feelings of emptiness inside that you don’t know how to fill
- Suicidal thoughts and feelings that come on suddenly and don’t go away without counseling or medication
Causes of Mental Exhaustion?
There has been a great deal of research regarding the causes and effects of mental exhaustion, and some common symptoms have emerged which contribute to this condition. Many people lack proper sleeping habits, resulting in a lack of relaxation. This sleep deprivation then leads to physical fatigue, making it difficult for the brain to function correctly.
In addition, many people tend to get into bad or unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking excessively, neglecting exercise and overeating. All of these activities can adversely affect your mental health by making mental exhaustion symptoms much worse. This is why many people commit to developing good habits like sleeping, exercising and eating well to combat mental fatigue.
