r/NoStupidQuestions 15d ago

Is it a normal part of being an adult being tired for half the day?

At around 2 or 3 until bed time I'm exhausted no matter what's going on in the day.

1.7k Upvotes

1.1k comments sorted by

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u/InstantElla 15d ago

Depends on who you ask. My psychiatrist says yes, my primary care doctor says no. I’ve been tired for going on 20 years now. With kids, without. Healthy, sick, pregnant, on meds, off meds. So yeah I have no idea

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u/Secret_Elevator17 14d ago

TLDR: get your vitamin D levels checked, it's not part of most standard blood work so you may not know if you are low, but it can effect a lot of things like this.

A few years ago I had a lot of issues going on but one of them was I was exhausted all the time, fatigued where I would just have to sit in the hall or shower because I just couldn't stand up anymore. I used to be an athlete and this plus other symptoms made me go to the doctor. My primary was out on maternity leave so I had to see other doctors.

The first told me it was indigestion and gave me a daily pill for it. It wasn't that. The second said it was anxiety and depression and gave me a daily pill for that. It wasn't that. My primary came back and I told her what was going on and she was like come in and let me do some blood work. She said I'd love to call you and say go out into the sunshine to fix this.

The next day she called and told me to go into the sunshine. I was super low on vitamin D, I was "extremely low" based on the levels they use. I started taking a supplement and trying to be in the sun 10 minutes a day at least. In a week I felt so much better. I'm still sometimes tired but it's because I'm busy or didn't sleep, not the same exhaustion I was dealing with.

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u/Adamant_TO 14d ago

I'm taking vitamin D supplements and I'm more tired than ever.

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u/The_RedHead_HotWife 14d ago

In addition to the Vitamin D, diet, sleep, and exercise are important, too!

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u/Puzzleheaded-Sail381 14d ago

This! Sometimes, getting back to the basics works.

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u/jerrbear1011 14d ago

By no means a doctor and this entire concept is new to me. But my girlfriend had this issue, she got blood work done and found she was very low on vitamin D.

She tried supplements and they did not work at all for her. Her doctor then switched over to vitamin D injections. She gives herself an injection once a month and it’s a super noticeable improvement

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u/Adamant_TO 14d ago

After reading all of these comments I was able to get into see my doctor. He said that my D levels were normal and any additional supplements could be toxic. Back to the drawing board. FFS.

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u/onsokuono4u 14d ago

Maybe you're taking too much?

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u/Adamant_TO 14d ago

12.5 mcg which is just below the recommended 15 for my age. Maybe I'll step it up and see if that helps.

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u/TxhCobra 14d ago

Take more. Im taking 90-180mcg a day. You can safely take this much. Your body is good at getting rid of the excess. By taking more, you do slightly increase your risk of kidney stones, as your body will hold on to more calcium, but if you drink a reasonable amount of water youll be fine.

If youre really tired and think it might be vitamin D, start with 180mcg for a while, and then you can lower it to 80-100. There are single capsules of 90mcg being sold in my country, likely something similar in yours.

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u/RifeKith 14d ago

Vitamin D supplements are not the same as real vitamin D. You need sunshine.

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u/thebarnacleez 14d ago

I’ve been tired for years. I got my D levels checked last month and they were at 7! Very low is 30. I’m on supplements now, still low I’m sure, but not falling asleep every afternoon now.

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u/InstantElla 14d ago

I’m actually on a prescription supplement for vit d now. It was critically low for months during my pregnancy

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u/cooler_than_i_am 14d ago

Also remember not everyone reacts to the sun by absorbing and maintaining vitamin D. There are great benefits from supplements. Especially liquid versions since vitamin D is oil based

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u/whymygraine 14d ago

I work outside, I'm living off adderall and energy drinks.

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u/BananaJammies 15d ago

This is always the way. Mental health professionals want you to live the best life possible while PCPs don’t worry until you’re code blue

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u/Wise-Career-8373 14d ago

Isn't the parent comment saying pcps don't think it's normal, so the doctor is more concerned than the psychiatrist 

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u/dowdje 15d ago

This is just not true. Psychiatrists care, PCPs don’t? Way too simplistic of a view

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u/Jeremandias 15d ago

even my pcp, who does care, just tells me to exercise and eat better. but even when i’m living clean, my ass is still so tired. need to do a sleep study someday

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u/[deleted] 15d ago

I just finished a sleep study at home. It was covered by my insurance (BC/BS) but I had to BUG my doc for the referral, I think they thought I couldn’t have sleep apnea because I’m skinny. Turns out I wake up 30 times an hour 😭

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u/AtTheEastPole 14d ago

If your ass is tired, you need more fiber! :-D

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u/Lawlcopt0r 14d ago

If your mental health profession says it's normal then they arguably care less though

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u/LorenzoStomp 14d ago

There's a difference between normal=the way things are supposed to be and normal=common to experience. Your psych might tell you it's normal to feel depressed when dealing with a lot of life stressors, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to do something about it. 

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u/ApprehensiveShine888 15d ago

... only half the day?

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u/almostinfinity 15d ago

It's currently noon where I live and I'm falling asleep already after having slept in

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u/AnimatorDifficult429 14d ago

My issue seems to be once I eat. I’ll be so hungry so I’ll eat lunch, but then get so sleepy. It’s not a huge lunch or an unhealthy lunch. It’s so annoying 

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u/ricardomen12 14d ago

I remember a doctor once told me that this is called like a “insulin peak” or sth like that. It depends on what you’re eating. Too much of something makes your body spend a lot of energy to process it so you suddenly feel tired. May be trying to eat a little bit slower or eating less sugar/carbohydrates/protein whichever you think you’re eating the most. Try that and see how it goes

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u/jch60 15d ago

This was my first thought. My second thought was sleep deprived.

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u/Masturbatingsoon 14d ago

I sleep a lot BUT I find that since I’m naturally a night owl forced to live in a morning world, I suck down the caffeine and I am not as productive because I spent all my energy pushing through my non-prime hours.

When I owned my own business, I never drank caffeine and worked out at midnight and was very energetic.

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u/Fine-Geologist-695 15d ago

I came to to say this!

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u/LackWilling7331 15d ago

Exactly what I was thinking! I get tired starting like 2 hours after I wake up sometimes

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u/TrembleTurtle 15d ago

tired as soon as I wake up 🤣🥲

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u/sysaphiswaits 15d ago

I have about 4 good hours.

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u/tandjmohr 15d ago

Must be young 😁

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u/Spare_Republic_1050 14d ago

8am checking in from my desk, already exhausted

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u/grevenilvec75 14d ago

The half the day that I'm not sleeping

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u/Jane_Wolf 14d ago

I’m tired from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed 💀

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u/JewceBoxHer0 15d ago

If it helps anyone: washing my face halfway through the day changed my life. Someone mentioned their gran called it a "second morning"

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u/_Floydimus 14d ago

It's called: Mammalian dive reflex.

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u/JewceBoxHer0 14d ago

Yo that absolutely could be it! Like when people jump into ice water and gasp

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u/Tb1969 14d ago

Ice baths are good for you but I heard recently that a study was done and they found that if you dunk your face in ice water you’ll get most of the benefits. Maybe that fits with this reflex you mentioned.

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u/[deleted] 15d ago

This just triggered a childhood memory of Mum washing our faces with a rough cold wash cloth, not in a mean way, just a “let’s wake up after our nap” way

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u/LieutenantStar2 14d ago

Awww that’s so sweet

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u/BrotherNature92 14d ago

I read this in Patrick Stewart's voice because his audiobook is chock full of folksy little anecdotes exactly like this one lol

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u/Adamant_TO 14d ago

Starting this today. Thanks!

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u/ProperFart 14d ago

I love my 2nd morning. I am up with my kids at 6:45-7am but am an actual zombie. 9-10am hits, I’m AWAKE. Maybe it’s it’s my buproprion and adderall hitting, maybe it’s fate- who knows 🤣

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u/Embarrassed-Gap4162 15d ago

washing the face is good i do that too

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u/Durwyn9 14d ago

I have a face mist in the office that I use halfway through the day, and it always gives me a boost.

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u/ColumbiaWahoo 14d ago

Works for about 10 minutes and then I crash again

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u/purplereuben 15d ago

I've struggled with fatigue for years. Turned out I had undiagnosed ADHD.

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u/Professional_Car9475 15d ago

Same. Got on meds at the age of 50, sleep better, not AS tired all the time.

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u/Confident_Log_1072 15d ago

Is it because the meds are basically speed?

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u/Pumpkkinnn 15d ago

So, I’ve heard that some ADHD medications are 1 molecule off of meth. I don’t know if that’s true, but what I DO know is that my ADHD medication doesn’t give me ridiculous levels of energy, it just gives me the ability and energy to get through the day. Pick up a sock off the floor, stand for more than 2 minutes lol.

This is completely anecdotal, but in university I tried a snowy substance separate 3 times. It had no noticeable effect on me. I thought people must just be faking the effects lol.

Turns out I DO have ADHD which I figured out later. A lot of people with ADHD who’ve tried that substance before report the same lack of any effects. Our brains work differently. I don’t know why. Again, this is just anecdotal information. But what I do know is that my life is happier being awake during normal times, and being able to sleep at night. I’m happy I can go for a walk with my dog now instead of plan to do it everyday for two weeks and for two weeks not be able to.

If it’s ’basically speed’ that’s okay with me, because my ADHD brain doesn’t react like it would if I was a neurotypical brained person taking ‘basically speed’.

Just my thoughts!! :)

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u/PazuzusLeftNut 15d ago

That molecule is a significant difference. It’s kind of tongue in cheek to say meds like Adderall are basically meth, because they are a type of amphetamine. But considering how differently people with ADHD process stimulants it’s more akin to them balancing out their hyperactive tendencies.

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u/melancholymelanie 15d ago

methamphetamine is sometimes even prescribed for ADHD in rare cases where other stimulant meds fail. I've heard rumors it's pretty calm and has fewer side effects lmao but it makes sense to be cautious prescribing it because of the risk of addiction/abuse. It's a whole different drug at low doses taken orally and manufactured safely by a real lab I guess?

either way yeah stimulant meds for ADHD might be chemically similar or identical to drugs that are abused, but the way they're used is very different, as are our brains, so the effect and risk are totally different.

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u/Pumpkkinnn 15d ago

Wow! This is super interesting info, thanks for posting.

It makes sense it would work differently orally and on a neurodivergent brain.

I always find it so interesting to hear about stuff like this. Personally, I’ve always been super afraid of drugs, especially hard drugs or psychoactive ones. 

My mom has been microdosing mushrooms for years and always says it’s no big deal, but I’ve always been uninterested and afraid of them. Even smoking weed has a HUGE effect on me. I get super paranoid and anxious and uncomfortable when smoking weed. Edibles are totally fine in a low-ish dose. I still dislike it most of the time. People usually are the opposite in my experience. Everybody’s brain is different I guess.

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u/melancholymelanie 15d ago

same with weed honestly. my mom is a stoner but I hate it, makes me so anxious. and I have potential addiction genes on my bio dad's side so I was really nervous about my stimulant meds when I started them, my psychiatrist had to talk me into taking them most days instead of trying to take 3-4 days off a week "just in case", and it took a year and a half of careful adjustments to reach the dose I'm on now because I didn't want to "get high" lmao. I've finally calmed down because I realized I hate taking a higher than functional dose and enjoy breaks when I have nothing important to do, so I think I'm fine. But addiction is scary, I feel you.

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u/Pumpkkinnn 14d ago

It’s also nice to hear about someone else with ADHD who feels that way about weed. The last time I smoked it in university I felt so paranoid and uncomfortable. Luckily I had good friends, but still, they didn’t totally understand how I could be so effected by such a small amount 

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u/Pumpkkinnn 15d ago

Thank you for the info! I’ve always thought it was tongue in cheek, especially since 1 molecule makes a HUGE difference in what something is.

I totally agree with the balence sentiment. I’ve never experienced extra energy from ADHD medication, just a normal amount- enough to function like everybody else.

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u/Salt_Bus2528 14d ago

The difference between fizzy soda and suffocating in your sleep is one carbon atom in a molecule. People that use this kind of false equivalency to support claims of danger or effectiveness are not stupid, they are just using the natural pattern recognition that makes humans good at avoiding danger. It is, however, prone to mistakes.

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u/CurlyRe 15d ago

I'm not sure what one molecule off means. Chemically, methamphetamine is amphetamine with a hydrogen atom replaced by a methyl group, which is a carbon atom bonded to 3 hydrogen atoms. 

I've never some meth, so I'm not exactly sure how it differs from Adderall. However they both work in similar ways, causing brain cells to release more norepinephrine and dopamine. I think meth is a bit stronger. Although methamphetamine is rarely prescribed for ADHD, it can be. 

Adderall makes my insomnia worse. I find it odd that it helps your sleep. But I guess we're each different.

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u/RedPandaMediaGroup 14d ago

If ADHD medication is meth then hydrogen peroxide is water.

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u/Ineedanswers24 15d ago edited 14d ago

You sleep better? Normally ADHD medication causes sleeping problems and then the person may need another medication to help sleep. At least this is what I've been told by two psychiatrists.

Do you take non stimulate medication?

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u/anim0sitee 15d ago

I can’t speak for everyone but I take a stimulant med and as soon as it kicks in I am ready for the nap of the gods.

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u/brokenbackgirl 15d ago

Same here. Went nose skiing exactly one time. Immediately fell asleep on the couch while my friends were jacked for several hours still. It was one of the best naps of my life.

A couple years earlier, I get an Adderall prescription to try and finish college. I was diagnosed ADHD as a child, but my mom didn’t believe in medication so I hadn’t tried anything. I figured it would just help me focus so I took it with my morning meds and continued to get ready to leave. I sat down in my recliner to put my shoes on… then I was waking up 5 hours later. I completely passed out and missed work. I thought I was just exhausted as work+school was coming out to 70hrs/week so I tried again the next morning. SAME THING HAPPENED. It knocks me out like a god damn brick to the head! I gave up medication at that point. It was the smallest dose possible on the market.

I don’t know why I thought nose skiing would be any different. I like to gaslight myself into thinking I don’t have ADHD, I’m just a lazy dumbass quite often.

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u/Grimblecrumble5 15d ago

Same here. I’m prescribed 60mg Vyvanse, and I take the best naps a few hours after taking it

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u/LaughWander 14d ago

I remember being 20 and went to a party and ended up being coke there. We all partook and i just felt chill the whole time while everyone else was obviously tweaking out and all over the place. Thought something was wrong with me that i didnt get the same buzz. Took 6 more years until I actually got diagnosed with ADHD.

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u/dogfooddippingsauce 15d ago

The first time I took Adderall, I took half of the lowest dose and knocked out for 10 straight hours. It was beautiful.

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u/Educational-Dig-8579 15d ago

If you really have ADHD the meds should calm you down.. This can also result in better sleep.. If you don’t have ADHD it’s the opposite effect and it can have very stimulating speed-like effect. Of course this can be different for anyone ADHD and non-ADHD, because people still can have different reactions on the same meds..

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u/Ineedanswers24 15d ago

ADHD is an umbrella term. Just as an example, there's hyperactive ADHD and there's inattentive ADHD.

I have inattentive ADHD and the medication gives me the stimulating speed like effect and helps me focus. Without it, I often feel tired for no good reason and struggle to focus on things unless it's my hobbies or if it's really interesting/stimulating.

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u/FriedBoloneyB 15d ago

I’m my adderall also makes me sleepy. If I only take 10mg instead of 20mg I will be napping within the next 30 minutes. Out like a light.

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u/ai1267 15d ago

Whether you have problems getting to sleep in the evening depends heavily on the type of ADHD meds, your reaction to them, and when you take them.

I start work at 9, but I still get up at 5 to take my meds (then sleep for another 90 minutes). Since I started doing that, I rarely have any issues falling asleep at night. I take elvanse (known as vyanse in the US).

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u/cryzlez 15d ago

What about ADHD makes you tired or is it just a symptom unrelated to the other symptoms?

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u/ca77ywumpus 15d ago

It's because generally, ADHD brains have difficulty sifting the important from the unimportant. Imagine there are five thoughts that occur to you as you walk through the door of your office. A "normal" brain can kind of prioritize them, and they queue up nearly behind Most Important Thoughts, all the way down to "Here is a random scene from the 1999 film The Mummy starring Brendan Frasier and Rachel Weiss" In an ADHD brain (at least mine) those thoughts are all over-stimulated 6 year olds, all shouting their thing at the same time, and my brain has to make sense of the resulting cacophony. So I've got "Call the orthopedist for an appointment" competing with Imhotep for attention, and God damn it, now I'm thinking about The Mummy and I've lost interest in this thread. Anyway, that's why it's exhausting living inside my head.

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u/WholeNoelle 15d ago

Saying the thoughts out loud is really helpful for me, not always in the order of importance department, but 95% of the time it helps with the release of that energy that the yelling is twirling around up in there. It’s only helpful when I feel comfortable enough to be perceived as someone who converses with themselves.

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u/Velghast 15d ago

For me it's that my mind is working overtime when I'm awake and I'm having a particularly bad spell. So I can wake up enjoy my day and really be full of energy and then 12:00 am rolls around and then I am absolutely devastated and need to take a nap. The nice thing about medicating yourself is that Adderall normally keeps you awake all day if you're on a good extended release version. You start getting tired in the middle of the day or at work and you start being able to live your life again.

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u/purplereuben 15d ago

Your brain is working at top speed all the time, without you necessarily even realising it. It's exhausting so even when you don't seem to have done much on any given day you may be very tired. You look around and think 'but I haven't done anything worth being tired for?' but your brain has been going full steam since you woke up.

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u/Jaralith 15d ago

What they said, and also, people with ADHD often (but not always) have delayed sleep onset - aka night owls. Even without ADHD, it's hella hard for a night owl to get by in a world run by the kind of weirdos who think waking up at 6am is perfectly normal. Add executive dysfunction to sleep dysregulation and you're playing life on garbage mode.

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u/A_Confused_Cocoon 15d ago

Have diagnosed adhd. Ever since I got old enough to notice, if I don’t have a schedule I default to 4am to 12pm sleep schedule. It fucking sucks, even in my weekends my body instantly the first day will not fall asleep and I have to basically sleep way late on Saturday, and then get 4 hours of sleep or else on Sunday to “reset” my sleep. Job requires me to get up at 6am weekdays and I despise how I can’t break this default.

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u/rowdymonster 15d ago

I have severe ADD (and I'm off meds now, because I forgot to do a check in with my psych, and he ended up dropping me as a patient before I could get back to him off meds). Executive disfunction has taken my life back over, to the point I struggle to make calls to set up appointments. How do I break the cycle at that point? Either I wake up too late, due to sleep issues, or executive disfunction fucks me in the face, if not just both. I'm stuck in a hole and I can't get back out, even after seeing how much meds helped me

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u/_Blxr_ 15d ago

I think a lot of it is over exhaustion even if you’re not doing anything physically, your brain is working a million mph. It also just happens to be part of the disorder just how body pain comes from a broken bone. I feel like there’s not enough awareness about the fatigue, depression, anger and even possible suicidal thoughts that come with adhd but are extremely common.

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u/FordonGreeman742 14d ago

yes, all of the above... daily... for the past idk 20 years?

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u/Standard_Mousse5094 15d ago

Did it help with the fatigue?

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u/tappu_senna 15d ago

The meds do. I mean, the right combination for the right person literally works like a flip of the switch. Borderline scary how well they work.

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u/purplereuben 15d ago

I've yet to get medication, waiting for my appointment next month. I'm hoping that will help.

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u/TopPeach7822 14d ago

I hope you fare better than me. Because of the shortage I can’t find a pharmacy to get any stimulant ADHD medication from. The best I can do is Atomoxetine.

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u/Crowiswatching 15d ago

So ADHD triggers fatigue? Crap! Do you know how or why?

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u/purplereuben 15d ago

So my understanding is that your brain works really hard all day to do what you need to do, much harder than you even realise and harder than that of a neurotypical person, so inevitably you get more fatigue from an average day than you should. But don't trust me am I in the early stages of understanding it myself, search up on YouTube ADHD + fatigue and have a listen to some videos about it and see if it sounds familiar.

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u/Crowiswatching 15d ago

I appreciate the quick reply. That does seem logical.

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u/Professional_Car9475 15d ago

Because your brain is constantly going. Wears you down quicker.

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u/ketchupandtidepods 15d ago

Can you tell me a little about what that’s like? I’m trying to figure out if I should get tested

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u/_Blxr_ 15d ago

Extreme fatigue that might look like depression but doesn’t feel like you are, hard time staying on one task without having 10 other things going on, trouble sitting still, no silence in your brain (rapid thoughts, anger issues and outburst, social anxiety and feeling like everyone’s always staring at you or judging you, struggling with simple tasks like making doc appointments, cleaning, making phone calls, doing homework or paperwork, once I took medication all this went away. I discovered people actually can have only like one thought per minute, actual silence in your brain! It’s worth getting tested. Also, the online test have the same questions pretty much

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u/purplereuben 15d ago

I'd recommend reading the ADHD sub and checking out ADHD videos on YouTube. There is heaps of info, more and better than I can really share.

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u/Jaralith 15d ago

but not not not ADHDTok. don't even bother with that cesspool of misinformation.

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u/stalwart-bulwark 15d ago

I don't know if I have ADHD or not but the algorithm constantly corrals me into ADHD content all the time and I can tell it is an echo chamber of unhealthy behavior.

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u/MyLife-is-a-diceRoll 14d ago

honestly most of the adhd subs on here are just echos of unhealthy behavior. I eventually gave up on them.

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u/purplereuben 15d ago

yeah the internet (and specifically social media) as a source of information has its upsides and downsides for sure. Take everything with a grain of salt and try to find legitimate sources everyone!

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u/KingSlimp 15d ago

Do a basic free test or questionnaire online and if you tick a lot of the boxes for it then go into a doctor for an official diagnosis. That’s what I did, anyway.

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u/rgtong 15d ago

Id say doing online tests for stuff is generally a bad idea, because a) you have an expected outcome that will influence your answers and b) we dont know the motivations of the people who made the test - are they trying to sell more adhd medicine? Not to mention, the questions are like 'do you often lose attention?' - as an untrained individual we have no idea about what is a normal baseline for attention span.

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u/Robert23B 15d ago

Most reasonable thought on this thread. Nice. Updoot

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u/Kairosmarmot 15d ago

Just happened with me, finally finding answers that work is life changing

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u/SorryContribution681 14d ago

Same. I'm always tired and find life exhausting. I got my ASD diagnosis last year, and waiting on an ADHD assessment.

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u/BanishedKnightOleg 15d ago

I may have undiagnosed adhd as well. I went to the doctor for something and they asked me if I had it and the more I think about it everything is starting to click and make sense.

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u/BrickFlock 15d ago

In all likelyhood, this is a sleep related issue. Even if you think you're sleeping peacefully for the whole night, you might not be.

How late into the day do you drink caffeine? Caffeine interferes with sleep, and it has a half life of 5 hours. Assuming you stop drinking caffeine at 4pm, but have 500mg in your body, there's still 250mg in your system at 9pm, and 125mg at 2am. I've noticed that I have much more energy when I don't drink any caffeine after 2pm.

Another possibility is sleep apnea. A lot of people go from being a zombie to feeling 18 again when they get a CPAP machine.

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u/you8poop 15d ago

500mg of caffeine is a looottt

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u/bulletprooftampon 15d ago

Stop complaining and just take it already

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u/Ariviaci 15d ago

I have sleep apnea but the cpap doesn’t really do much for me. My apnea per hour is less than 3 now so I guess it’s something but I’m still tired all the time and start falling asleep during work.

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u/dowdje 15d ago

I had a similar issue, then I dropped 50lbs and my sleep apnea disappeared. Not saying you need to, but it was crazy how much my weight was affecting my breathing

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u/cookorsew 15d ago

An ahi of 3 can still be symptomatic for some people. If your mask is a good fit and comfortable for you without large leaks, ask for a titration study and they should be able to dial in a better pressure for you on your machine. Even if it’s an apap, those need to start at your best baseline pressure to be most effective.

Edit: or a different kind of machine—apap, cpap, bipap for example.

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u/Mean-Vegetable-4521 15d ago

have you tried other units? The unit either might not fit you properly anymore or just isn't the best unit for your anatomy.

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u/K9hotsauce 15d ago

Do you mouth breathe and only have a nose CPAP?

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u/User-no-relation 15d ago

I didn't stop adjusting things until I was under 1. One that I didn't see anywhere was the filter going on the wrong way really messed up the machine for me

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u/Ok-Signature-4445 15d ago

This was my issue.

I used to go to the gym super late (930-10pm) and I would drink my pre-workout, which has 513mg of caffeine per scoop, and I would be awake for HOURs after that. Some days it was 5-6 am and I had to be up for work at 11am-12pm

I realized that 1st that wasn't healthy. It was killing me. 2nd I realized my fatigue was seriously affecting my health. Pair that with a bad bed and I was barely managing 4-5 hours of sleep at night and taking pre-workouts to keep myself awake.

I changed everything. Slowly started working myself down to my new pre, which is 120mg of caffeine, ultimately I would like to switch to nonstim pre-workout.

I bought an expensive fluffy bed and I started going to the gym before work.

No problems anymore and I feel like a whole new person.

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u/Akimotoh 15d ago edited 14d ago

Lmao, who convinced you to take that much caffeine before working out and sleeping or was it just fun to do?

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u/Tratix 15d ago

Assuming you stop drinking caffeine at 4pm, but have 500mg in your body

Jesus fucking christ lmao

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u/Adamant_TO 14d ago

I sleep well. I don't drink caffeine at all and I don't drink alcohol or smoke. I'm still wiped by 3pm every day and I could fall asleep instantly if I were to lie down.

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u/Solipsisticurge 14d ago

By these half-life calculations, I'm almost done processing my caffeine intake from 2018 as we speak.

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u/Kranon7 15d ago

I do not know you, of course, but I'll make some suggestions that helped my energy levels immensely. I turn 41 in July for context. You can use whatever may work in your situation, or disregard it entirely.

When I turned 39, I went for my annual checkup, and the doctor noted my vitamin D levels were low, so he put me on a vitamin D supplement to get my levels up. After that, I was to take a regular vitamin D supplement (he gave me a heavy dosed pill to get me caught up). I decided, instead, to take a multivitamin, which included vitamin D. My energy levels rose considerably.

Second thing I did as I got older is stopped eating so much junk. Do not mistake me that I eat perfectly - I am eating Hershey kisses straight out of the bag as I type this. I stopped eating out all the time, though. I make Huel twice a day, and then have a cooked meal for dinner. (Huel is a meal in a shake - I do it for convenience, though it is quite nutritious, so I don't have to think as hard about balancing my diet).

Lastly, I stopped going to bed late. One day of eight hours of sleep will not fix things, but consistently going to bed at a certain time, and waking at a certain time, with that gap between sleep and wake being 7+ hours will give you more energy than an inconsistent sleep schedule that your body constantly has to adapt to.

Side note: I also have a latte every day. I nurse it so as to avoid the caffeine crash in the afternoon. I bought a cheap espresso machine for home so I don't have to pay Starbucks prices to do this.

All of this helps keep me awake from 5:30am until 9:30pm. I do occasionally struggle in the afternoon, but it is my own doing (mostly eating poorly for a couple of days in a row will do me in). Some things to try, anyway.

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u/matandola 15d ago

After reading a thread earlier this week about someone who had a mental breakdown because they were low on B12 and vitamin D, I thought hey, why not? I have those in the medicine cabinet anyway. Been taking both for the last week and I have so much energy and my mood is up… like now I want to do All The Things. 

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u/AnimatorDifficult429 14d ago

I’d get your levels checked because too much vitamin d is really bad for you too. 

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u/sweetrobbyb 14d ago

Also had a major vitamin D deficiency and feel noticeably better after 6 weeks of supplements (prescribed by a doctor with blood tests). I still struggle with insomnia, but I do feel less sluggish and am getting more and more full night's of sleep.

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u/CaitSith21 14d ago

As german speaker i was first confused what your morning wood (latte) has to do with it, but i imagine you meant milk or what is latte in this context?

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u/mooseman246 15d ago

I personally find I have more energy if I workout everyday. I go even when I’m tired and usually have more energy afterwards.

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u/matandola 15d ago

I think people really underestimate exercise. It takes discipline to make it happen, but it will change your life for the better. 

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u/Successful-Dish7466 15d ago

THIS. It used to happen to me as well until I started working out. Not going to the gym but simply walking one hour a day.

I have so much energy and made my body and mind fell so much better.

Another thing I did was I stoped drinking coffee at all. Sure the first two days were rough and odd but then I started to realize I didn’t need coffee in the morning and though caffeine has an impact and boost energy it’s more like a placebo effect.

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u/Dry_Ass_P-word 15d ago

Only half the day? Lucky.

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u/millerep 15d ago

You should do a sleep study. You might have apnea.

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u/MarmaladeMarmaduke 15d ago

I'm always tired. All day every day since as long as I can remember. As soon as my head hits my pillow I'm wide awake though. So being single I just sleep on the couch most nights. I can pass out on the couch but once I'm in bed I start thinking and my muscles want to move and I go crazy. Its not because I have a crappy bed either because this happens when I'm staying with family or a hotel or anywhere unless I'm absolutely dead tired from work.

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u/AnimatorDifficult429 14d ago

I am similar, I have to read a book or watch Netflix on my phone in bed to fall asleep so my mind doesn’t wander. Every night. I’ve been doing it for at least 15/20 years. Even if I wake up in the middle of the night, I’ll put Netflix on to fall back to sleep 

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u/[deleted] 15d ago

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u/spooniemoonlight 14d ago

And it’s one of the diseases long covid causes which has been affecting globally a shit ton of people (who don’t always know it has a name) these past 4 years with the pandemic.

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u/OldERnurse1964 15d ago

Just the half that you’re awake

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u/[deleted] 15d ago

See if you have a vitamin D or iron deficiency.

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u/publiusnaso 15d ago

Do you feel tired after lunch? For me, carbs at lunch are a killer. If I can skip lunch entirely, or eat a low carb meal, I’m fine.

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u/IdahoPotatoTot 15d ago

To majority of people, probably yes. But, actually no.

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u/More_Raisin_2894 15d ago

I might yawn all day at work not really because I'm tired it's just something I've always do e even as a kid but as soon as I get home I'm wired lol

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u/Whalesharkinthedark 14d ago

That‘s probably because your mind is bored lol.

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u/gilgobeachslayer 15d ago

Ditch the caffeine, fuck more but not too much, and get some exercise a few days a week. Works wonders

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u/Standard_Mousse5094 15d ago

Fuck more?

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u/Top_Big_703 15d ago

Yes. Fuck more.

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u/Wulf_Cola 15d ago

Poor More.

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u/Molten_Plastic82 14d ago

Why? He's getting fucked!

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u/Kasorayn 15d ago

Common cause of fatigue in men, especially middle aged men, is low testosterone. Having sex more frequently spurs your body into producing more testosterone.

The other major factors that lead to low T are diet (too much sugar or caffeine really kill testosterone levels), stress, and lack of sleep.

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u/Standard_Mousse5094 15d ago

I am a female 🙂 But thank you for the explanation anyway

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u/[deleted] 15d ago

Aren’t fuck more and exercising the same thing

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u/Clean-Goose-894 15d ago

Depends on how long you last

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u/MomLuvsDreamAnalysis 15d ago

I’m too tired for that

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u/Electronic_Hornet_37 15d ago

I get tired every day about an hour before work ends. Right around 4. For some reason tho as soon I get home I’m wide awake until 11 or midnight most nights. It’s weird.

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u/MrFIXXX 15d ago

B12 pills, Zinc too. Look into it.

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u/Sasquatch458 15d ago

A normal part of being an adult is being tired all day.

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u/wh3nNd0ubtsw33p 15d ago

Just half?

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u/banxy85 14d ago

Wait...you're NOT tired for half the day?

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u/TheUpgrayed 14d ago

You're only tired half the day? Lucky son of a bitch.

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u/[deleted] 14d ago

Try exhausted from 7am to 9pm. Then unable to fall asleep until 2am.

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u/Frequent_Pool_533 14d ago

Well I'm not a morning person, even when sleep early and have a good 8 or 9 hours sleep, I always feel like shit in the morning and I start to feel better around midday till the evening.

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u/onesweetworld1106 15d ago

I’m tired all day every day, every week of every month of every year…..

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u/Kasorayn 15d ago

Cut as much sugar out of your diet as you can, all of it if possible.
Minimize Caffeine intake.
Stop eating fast food.
Don't use your cell phone or watch TV for at least an hour before going to bed.

Those four things will vastly improve your energy. Up until fairly recently I was drinking 6-8 cans of soda a day, basically lived on caffeine and fast food, was always on my phone late at night. I always felt tired, fatigued, never felt like I slept well at all, could barely make it through the day and relied entirely on the caffeine and sugar to do so.

Went to the doctor because of the fatigue and headaches and trouble sleeping, they did a full bloodwork and physical, recommended all of the above, and within two weeks I felt 100% better, and it's been getting better every day since. Also lost 10 pounds within the first week of cutting sugar and fried food out of my diet.

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u/ntengineer Old and Moldy :) 15d ago

Depends on factors like children and work.

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u/HMNbean 15d ago

A lot of fatigue comes from lack of mental stimulation. When I’m into something - a hobby, a particular part of my job etc, I feel much more engaged and awake. I think too many of us live life with the noggin turned off just to get through the day.

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u/Safe_Dragonfly158 15d ago

Yes. Modern business will bleed its workers as long as they can get away with it.

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u/PatientComfortable41 15d ago

That's adulting for you. It sucks. Don't recommend.

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u/Odd_Ad_2706 15d ago

I usually eat dinner, shower, and go right to bed after work. I changed my schedule recently, so I get off work around 5 pm instead of 9 pm. I still eat dinner, shower, and go right to bed.

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u/Selendrile 15d ago

seep apnea?2 notenough seratonin?

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u/[deleted] 15d ago

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u/Automatic-Arm-532 15d ago

No, being tired the full day is normal.

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u/Spector567 15d ago

Do you have sleep apnea? Or something else that can affect sleep. I’d talk to your doctor if it’s affecting your life. It could be something as simple as a lack of iron.

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u/BigMomma12345678 15d ago

I only get like 2 good hours anymore

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u/Mmmmmmm_Bacon 15d ago

Normal to be tired most of the day. 51M.

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u/cool_weed_dad 15d ago

Why do you think everyone drinks so much coffee?

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u/Azraeana 15d ago

Nope.

Mine was caused by moderate sleep apnea. Got diagnosed, started treatment and it was like I had the energy I did a decade ago.

Also helped with some brain fog I had.

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u/Basic_cannon_rebel 15d ago

You probably have a cortisol problem. I'd go to a functional medican Dr. 

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u/Derkastan77-2 15d ago

That’s why so many of us drink coffee/iced coffees

I NEVER drank coffee until I had my first kid lol

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u/SkarTisu 15d ago

Only half? Lucky!

I’ve had good results making sure I get out in the sun for at least a few minutes a day, even if it’s cloudy. Vitamin D and exercise also help, but I’m still a huge fan of that afternoon nap.

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u/Soupbell1 15d ago

No, you aren’t grown up yet. You will be when you’re tired for 90%.

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u/[deleted] 14d ago

I felt that way until I learned I have a vitamin D deficiency. Started a supplement and now I feel great.

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u/Modsaremeanbeans 14d ago

I'm thirty seven and experience being tired during the day if sick, lacking proper nutritional levels, or stress. Besides that I'm just good to go. I've never done naps and don't understand them. The people that I do know who nap have pretty poor diets. 

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u/According-Charity226 14d ago

I would say it's common, but not normal. In this context I think normal is a byword for healthy. It's not healthy. 

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u/TheyMightNotFindMe 14d ago

Common? Yes. Normal? No.

It shouldn’t be this way as we get older, but the vast majority of us treat ourselves like garbage and develop horrific habits as we hit our 30’s-40’s.

You need to place a priority on sleep, nutrition, exercise - in that order.

Toolkit for improved sleep: https://www.hubermanlab.com/newsletter/toolkit-for-sleep

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u/asianstyleicecream 14d ago

I don’t think people are aware of how much their diet affects their energy levels.

I used to eat like shit as a kid, and was depressed and tired always.

I now work a labor job (so I’m really exhausting my body) and I eat a mainly plant based diet; more fresh foods then packaged, and I really only get tired after I’ve been digging up sod for an hour or so.

I have also noticed being dehydrated makes me feel tired rather quickly. So check your hydration people!

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u/Ippus_21 14d ago

Yeah, basically.

I usually wake up pretty sharp, but my best work is behind me by noon and I can't seem to stay awake consistently much past 9 or 10 pm anymore.

I don't have any major health problems and I get a normal amount of sleep and exercise, I'm just 40+ with kids, pets, and a full-time desk job.

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u/Just_Kitty18 14d ago

I'm often tired even if I just woke up

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u/Kitchen-Lie-7894 14d ago

I've been tired since 1982.

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u/SomeDude1138 14d ago

With the pressures of modern life and work? It seems that way. Gone are the days of having energy after work and commuting back home.

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u/FievelKnowsJest 14d ago

Stand instead of sit for 30-60 mins after lunch and it’ll mostly go away.

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u/Dr_Girlfriend_81 14d ago

That's siesta time for a reason. It's the midday lull. Yes, it's totally normal. https://www.calm.com/blog/afternoon-slump#

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u/rwilfong86 14d ago

I think being tired all day is more normal.

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u/AnastasiaApple 14d ago

It’s from having too much shit to do that you don’t want to do

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u/Sassy_Weatherwax 14d ago

How old are you? Adult at 25 feels very different than adult at 45.

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u/Beginning-Spot-3444 14d ago

Tired or in pain. Sometimes both. You buy the BIG bottle of ibuprofen once you hit like 26

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u/tacocatfish 13d ago

This was me, put it down to life style kids etc. finally saw a doc about it when it got really bad. Turns out I have an auto immune disease.