There are several potential reasons for feeling tired all the time, and you’ve touched on a variety of them. Let’s break these down in a more structured way.
1. High Cortisol Levels
- Stress and Cortisol: Cortisol is a hormone released by your adrenal glands in response to stress. Chronic stress can lead to consistently high cortisol levels, which can disrupt your body’s natural rhythms and lead to fatigue. High cortisol levels, especially at night, can interfere with sleep, particularly if you find yourself waking up between midnight and 2 a.m. when cortisol should be at its lowest.
2. Sleep Issues
- Poor Sleep Quality: Consistently poor sleep or insomnia can leave you feeling tired throughout the day. Stress and high cortisol levels can contribute significantly to sleep disturbances.
- Sleep Apnea: This condition causes interruptions in breathing during sleep, leading to poor sleep quality and daytime fatigue.
3. Diet and Nutrition
- High-Carb Diet: Consuming a diet high in carbohydrates can lead to fluctuations in blood sugar levels, which can cause periods of low energy and tiredness. A low-carb diet may help stabilize energy levels and improve mental clarity.
- Nutrient Deficiencies: Inadequate intake or poor absorption of essential nutrients, such as vitamin B12 and iron, can lead to anemia, which causes fatigue. Low stomach acid, which becomes more common with age, can impair the absorption of these nutrients.
4. Lyme Disease
- Chronic Infection: Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, can lead to chronic fatigue. The body’s immune response to this persistent infection can cause ongoing symptoms, including tiredness.
5. Other Medical Conditions
- Thyroid Disorders: Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, can cause fatigue, weight gain, and other symptoms.
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: This complex disorder is characterized by extreme fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest and may worsen with physical or mental activity.
- Depression and Anxiety: These mental health conditions can lead to feelings of exhaustion and low energy.