6 Things People Don't Realize You're Doing Because of 'Depression Fatigue'

Clouded thoughts, restlessness, overwhelming emotions, difficulty concentrating, total exhaustion of the body and mind. These are some of the things people with fatigue from depression experience. Coping with this fatigue can be difficult, but explaining to others why you’re so tired can be even harder.

Unfortunately, not everyone will realize or understand how exhausting depression can be. Oftentimes, the “depression fatigue” comes unannounced, can’t be easily explained and can have major impacts on your everyday life.

To get a better understanding of what depression fatigue is actually like, we asked people in our mental health community to share one thing people don’t realize they’re doing because of their exhaustion.

Here’s what our community shared:

1. Isolating

“Self-isolating. Socializing in any form is just too tiring.” — Sara K.

“I cut people off. I feel it’s too exhausting to continuously explain why I don’t hang out or why I have trouble keeping up with conversations, so I cut it off at the source once I convince myself that they don’t need such a negative person in their life.” — Madison S.

“Avoiding calls and texts because I’m just too drained to hold a conversation.” — Brittany S.

“Not wanting to talk or participate in any kind of communication… just being silent.” — Sophia S.

“Not reaching out. It somehow drains me in a way that I don’t really have energy to initiate contact or keep it.” — Eva T.

2. Experiencing ‘Clouded Thinking’

“Not processing information, needing things to be repeated and explained.”– Cheryl W.

“Calling myself ‘blonde’ or ‘air-headed’ to make light of my mistakes. I am literally always tired and I constantly make silly mistakes, whether it be verbally or physically. I’ll demean myself to make light of the mistakes that fuel my insecurities.” –Katie V.

“I’m always asking someone to repeat themselves because I am having a harder time processing audio information, then that makes me feel like I’m being inconsiderate and rude, as if I don’t care about what they have to say, which I completely do! I’m just really consumed in my own thoughts at the moment to fully process someone else’s the first time.” — Ashleigh B.

3. Not Showering

“Not showering. I’d tell myself, ‘I didn’t go anywhere today, so I don’t need to shower,’ but then it would turn to days.” — Devyn T.

“Not showering or changing out of pajamas for a week.” — Louise J.

3. Oversleeping 

“Exhaustion: constantly sleeping and when I say that, I mean literally so tired I can sleep all night and all day for days.” — Brittany E.

“Sleeping all day, then up all night.” — Shawna-leigh M.

“Always in bed once an activity is done, sleeping for long periods, falling asleep easily.” — Whaheeda I.

“I stay in bed all day and I’m extremely irritable. I’m not lazy. I’m not isolating myself on purpose. I’m just tired mentally and physically.” — Holly B.

“Napping during the day and getting irritated when I can’t.” — Sbonny S.

4. Lack of Motivation

“I procrastinate at my college classes, this has got to be the symptom I struggle with the most. I’m not lazy; I have been exceptionally successful in my education. I have always been on the dean’s list, but lately I’ve been making up excuses to get extensions.” — Samantha B.

“I’m tired all the time and have no motivation or energy to do anything.” — Jemma S.

“As a college student, I tend to start skipping my classes. My friends and family think it’s because I’m lazy or not dedicated to my schoolwork, but in reality my depression makes it difficult to get out of bed, let alone pay attention and participate during three hour classes.” — Lisbet F.

“I become agitated when some mentions the things I should be doing. I know I should be doing them but can’t find the want to actually do them and it frustrates me.” — Amanda C.

5. Skipping Chores

“Not cleaning the house. My boyfriend thinks I’m lazy, which makes it worse and harder for me.” — Lex F.

“Not cleaning my bedroom. It is a complete and total train-wreck and honestly it’s so embarrassing.” — Alexis D.

“I have a hard time getting daily chores done, especially dishes.” — RaeAnn S.

6. Planning Ahead

“Planning slow cooker meals. I just dump all ingredients in it in the morning and turn it on so I don’t have to worry about having the energy to cook in the evenings.” — Lauren L.

“I write myself lists/notes to remind myself of things that have to get done. If I don’t write things down that are important I tend to forget them quickly.” — Alyssa H.

“People don’t realize that I’ve made sure my work life is structured to work in the afternoons/early evenings so I no longer have to worry about not sleeping; I now can stay up really late at night and sleep late every morning no matter what. I can spend hours gearing up for my day.” — Jody M.

What would you add? Let us know in the comments below.