30 Memes That Nail What It's Like to Have Chronic Fatigue

Chronic fatigue can be a symptom of a wide variety of chronic and mental illnesses, and is different than chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis – a disease with its own particular set of symptoms. Chronic fatigue may involve feeling sleepy, but the weariness and exhaustion is generally more severe and debilitating than the tiredness a healthy person may feel after not getting enough sleep one night.

Living with chronic fatigue can be challenging both physically and emotionally, and can affect a person’s ability to do everyday tasks – even activities most people don’t give a second thought to, like taking a shower or even just standing up. But sometimes, humor can be a powerful coping mechanism for dealing with the struggles of always being fatigued. If laughter helps you cope, you may enjoy the following memes.

1. When your fatigue is chronic:

2. When getting out of bed is an accomplishment:

3. When you feel permanently exhausted:

4. When the fatigue strikes during morning, noon and night:

5. When it always feels like a good time to collapse in bed:

6. When the fatigue is hitting hard and you’re still trying to function:

7. When your bed is your ride-or-die:

8. When healthy friends try to relate:

9. When you know the fatigue isn’t going away anytime soon:

10. When you’re exhausted, always:

11. When you’re talented enough to nap anywhere:

12. When healthy friends say they “get it”:

13. When getting out of bed just isn’t going to happen:

14. When you need to be ready to collapse anywhere, anytime:

15. When the fatigue hits out of nowhere:

16. When you’re always in the mood to rest:

17. When each task requires a few recovery days:

18. When one night’s sleep just isn’t enough:

19. When your weekend plans involve pajamas and your bed:

20. When the fatigue hits, regardless of what you have (or haven’t) done:

21. When people don’t understand that sleep is not the “cure”:

22. When you wake up even more tired than before you went to bed:

23. When you just don’t have the energy to go out:

24. When sleep doesn’t affect how tired you are:

25. When you’re too fatigued to get out of bed:

26. When the energy just isn’t there:

27. When dry shampoo is your BFF:

28. When even coffee can’t touch your level of fatigue:

29. When you’re trying to explain that chronic fatigue isn’t just “being tired”:

30. When you’re finally able to shower and celebrate with a two-day nap: