I always feel so lethargic...

[Kiddo]

Even though I usually get plenty of sleep and eat decently, I am always feeling slow and sluggish. It takes me 4 or 5 hours before I feel awake in the morning. This feeling undercuts my motivation to get things done that I need to get done. I want to get out more and even get some exercise but I'm always so tired? Anyone else suffer from lethargy? What are some probable causes and are there any cures? I'm just too damn young to feel this way!

[substitute]

Do you spend a lot of time on the computer? I counselled someone a while ago with a similar problem to switch off his computer and go outside and play, and after much deliberation and trying of many other things, he finally did it. A month later he e-mailed me to say like wow, that was totally it!

I have sorta the opposite problem to you though... no matter how shattered and exhausted my body is, my brain drives it with big whips and stuff, relentless... relentless... can't sleep, can't sit still, must pursue ideas... I'm like the Pink Panther in that episode where the fly gets into his room and won't let him sleep. The fly in my room is my infernal, inexhaustible mental energy.

But anyway, back to you - J's generally tend (it's my observation) to like to be 'people of action', people of their word. Specially FJ's - they need to know (and sometimes have it known) that they live by their beliefs, their values, their principles. The IFJ's I know can be prone to sometimes taking too much 'alone time', namely with that thief of all time, the Internet, and thereby making of themselves a Person Who Does Fuck All. It makes them lose their self-respect a bit, which affects their motivation a lot. Switching it off and going out and doing some stuff you believe in, rather than spending time telling strangers that you believe in it, often works wonders.

Dunno if that applies to you, just a wild stab in the dark, since you haven't given me much to go on.

[ptgatsby]

What are some probable causes and are there any cures?

In my view, these are the things you should attempt to look into;

1) Diet. Have you changed your diet? Are you sure it is balanced? Have you changed and does your diet need to change with you (this is true up to about 25 for sure, and then at 25 as your metabolism changes - you say you are young, but how young?)

2) Hormones. It depends on your age here, but there are periods where things just become difficult... teen years for sure, but it is possible that the opposite is true if you are just leaving your teens.

3) Stress/depression. Anything that would trigger this? If this is very recent, it could be as simple as seasonal depression (winter is hitting now). If you have never felt this before... well, that doesn't mean anything for sure, but if you have noticed a change in mood with any sort of sun cycle (easier to see if you use to live somewhere where the weather is different, etc), then it could be something along those lines.

4) Lifestyle change - job, school etc changed in the last 6 months? Good chance that it is related to that. This is normally the case if you are either working long hours, shift work or jobs without much physical activity.


You don't mention if you are male or female, but females have more triggers biologically that could influence this. If none of these apply, then it is likely a motivational or cycle issue. The best way to deal with that is to increase your excersize and/or decrease your food intake (if you are already eating sufficiently, attempt to reduce calories by introducing more nutrient rich foods). It will be difficult at first but would likely break the current cycle. If sleep is an issue (irregular sleep), improve sleep hygiene at the same time - go to sleep at the same time, don't use your sleeping area for anything else, don't excersize or drink caffeine (and similar) close to bed (although cutting caffeine our entirely except first thing in the morning would be the best advice).

[Athenian200]

Originally Posted by Kiddo

Even though I usually get plenty of sleep and eat decently, I am always feeling slow and sluggish. It takes me 4 or 5 hours before I feel awake in the morning. This feeling undercuts my motivation to get things done that I need to get done. I want to get out more and even get some exercise but I'm always so tired? Anyone else suffer from lethargy? What are some probable causes and are there any cures? I'm just too damn young to feel this way!

Oh, it happens to everyone. Just get yourself some strong coffee, a healthy breakfast, maybe some vitamin tablets, and you'll be fine. Also, just make a schedule, and say to yourself, "I'm going to do X at Y time, and that's final." Eventually, you'll get in a routine, and you'll do things at the right time without even thinking about it. You just have to push yourself through, sometimes even if you're kind of ill. That's the way you get through life.

I'm just assuming it isn't too severe, since it goes away in a few hours? If you feel it is, you should talk to a doctor. Dangerous forms of anemia do exist.

[Usehername]

if you're still a teen, teens are just wired to be awake at different times of the day (and why there's always talk of switching high school to start later in the day and continue later into the night).
I think 2 am is the "biological bedtime" for a teen whereas adults are 10:30ish. But don't ask me where that stat came from. it's just floating in my head.

And that's also why old people are always awake by 6am even when they have nothing to do. Their bodies are just supposed to be awake at that time.

[lastrailway]

Drink a lot of coffee always helps (me, at least).
Seriously thought, there can be many reasons for feeling lethargic, including a sleeping disorder. You might want to check for a case of EDS, maybe hypersomnia. That is, if you find yourself continuously on that situation.
It is very easy to overlook sleeping disorders. I have had DSPS a lot of time before I actually got diagnosed with it. I was just attributing my lack of sleep to various irrelevant factors.
You might want to consult a doctor, if you believe you might have a sleeping disorder, they ll probably tell you you need to be submitted to a polysomnogram (sleep study), and you will have to spend a night in the hospital for the various parts of the study.
In all cases, don't overlook it, it might affect your normal rythmes

[Kiddo]

As I expected from this group, that all sounds like good advice. I think I'll try to decrease my food intake and set up a regular sleep time like ptg suggested. I'll also try to get out more and do something I like to do like sub suggested and set up a regular routine like Athenian suggested. If all that doesn't work then I'll go see a doctor like last said. Thank you all.

Also, I'm a guy and I'm in my early 20's. I probably should have mentioned that, but I'll look into sleep cycles for guys my age.

[Wolf]

My best hour is between 2A and 3A. I don't know why this is...

Sadly, the world liked to run 8-5.

[shen]

yes all good advice their

but i would also like to add, because your only young, you should be bouncing with energy in your prime. sounds like you have stagnant/blocked energy in
your channels in your body. you would also benefit from recieveing therapy from a qualified energy healer. good luck

[Economica]

Originally Posted by Kiddo

Even though I usually get plenty of sleep and eat decently, I am always feeling slow and sluggish. It takes me 4 or 5 hours before I feel awake in the morning. This feeling undercuts my motivation to get things done that I need to get done. I want to get out more and even get some exercise but I'm always so tired?

Am I really the first one to mention that the likely cause of your lethargy is, ironically, your lack of exercise? Using energy gives you energy.

The exception is getting started. If you've been inactive for years, your first workouts will kill you. But it gets much, much better. Trust me.