Can I get a hands up if anyone else out there feeling like this today!??
So tired that you just can’t. So tired that by the end of every day you can barely keep your eyes open?
Every so often this happens to me. My body goes into complete shut down – it enters a realm of complete and utter exhaustion – the kind of exhaustion that you experience in your first trimester of pregnancy or the first two months after giving birth. (Although I’m usually high on adrenaline in those few months after birth) It’s the kind of tired that has you in tears by 3pm and wondering whether you need some kind of therapy. The kind of exhaustion that has you turn down a sushi date night with your husband (GASP!) and choose to rather zone out on the couch. It’s the kind of exhaustion that has you question your mental health.
The last time this happened to me, I went for blood tests – you know, thinking I had cancer or one of the other serious illnesses where tiredness is a common symptom, the doctor told me in a pretty casual matter-of-factly way that I had a case of the Motherhood virus. My blood was in tip top shape and all seemed well on the inside. I looked at him dead in the eyes for 20 seconds and then laughed hysterically on the examination bed for about 20 minutes – which only confirmed that my tiredness had in fact turned me into a full blown crazy person.
For obvious reasons, I don’t really feel like going back to my doctor with the same story about how exhausted I am and how I feel like booking myself into Cresent Clinic come 4pm everyday. The fact that I struggle with anxiety obviously doesn’t help matters, but I can help but feel ashamed that I can’t get over the hurdle on my own. I see moms who have to work long days, sometimes two jobs, see to kids, cook and make lunches for school. I see single moms who have to do this all on their own and still manage to keep their shit together. Surely I should be able to just get on with it already? I have more help and support than the average person yet there are days where I just feel i can’t do it anymore. Days where I just can’t even open my laptop or wash my hair.
Good Golly could I be more depressing on a FRIDAY!!! But all this has got me thinking: If it really is the motherhood virus then, I can’t be alone! Cant be the only one who has day/weeks like this. I can’t be the only one who feels so tired at times that I just want to bury my head in the sand and pretend nobody needs me. Tell me mamas, what do you tell yourself when it all gets too much and you feel the need to sleep for 5 years? Do you have any pick-me-up tricks to share? Anything I could maybe be missing? Like my iron?? I’m thinking of starting a food diary to see how my diet is effecting things.
On a happy note… I had my eyelashes filled yesterday at Rouge Day Spa and they are looking super gorgeous again. They even (hearing how tired I was) treated me to a foot rub while I had a lash nap! I felt so pampered by the lovely girls there and walked out feeling so much better! I am going to be giving a way a set of lashes on my blog next week worth R750! So keep your eyes peeled 🙂
Another happy note: I’m taking my niece to her ballet eistedfodd tomorrow! I’m beyond excited to be able to share that with her. Something I have looked forward to doing for ages, not having girls myself! Let’s hope I don’t embarrass her with my crazy
excitement. HAHA!
Thanks for letting me ramble – I feel better already ! ♥
Happy FriYAY xx
Hi I’m Leigh! Did you enjoy reading this post? I really hope so and would love you to stick around a little longer! Please feel free to browse my blog for other articles or to keep up with all the latest news and to be the first to hear about some great competitions, come and find me me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also email me directly at leeloobaggins@hotmail.com or simply subscribe below and never worry about missing out!
Hi Leigh,
You are not alone with Motherhood Virus. We have all had it, and get it again, and those who say they have never had it are either already mad or are lying! Since having my darling boy, 2,5 years ago, the only thing that keeps me sane is the following:- sending him to pre-school for half a day, so that I can spend half of my day with some sane people in the office, where I can have civilised conversations that don’t end up with me having toy trucks chucked at my head or having a sippy cup thrown at me while driving (I kid you not!).
I don’t care what people say about coffee, coffee is and will always be my very best friend, she is always there for me, day or night, and she always makes me feel good.
Having a hubbie, who after he has had a long hard day at work, will sometimes walk through the door, see my face and tell me that he will bath and put the angel to bed. So that I can have some time to myself with the TV and the couch.
We all lose our shit, we are not perfect, we have the hardest jobs in the world. We are not only making sure that our little one’s are fed, cleaned, watered and safe, we are ensuring that they also grow into well-rounded, respectful, kind people. Which is flipping hard !! xx
Thank you for this awesome and encouraging moment and i agree on all fronts – coffee, alone the and support go a long way. You are amazing xxx
Currently also suffering a case of the Motherhood virus. Totally understand where you are coming from.
Hi Leigh
Sorry to hear you are feeling like that. When my first child was 13 months old I was diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome and when my second child was 14 months I crashed again. I was not sure if it was delayed post natal depression or if maybe all sleep deprived mom’s felt that way. Fortunately my sister is a doctor who went on to study Funtional Medicine and recognised it for what it was. Conventional doctors don’t recognise Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome and their blood tests only consider adrenals a problem when the adrenals are basically dead. Functional Medical doctors and naturopaths recognise 4 levels of adrenal fatigue. After starting treatment my life changed and the second time I crashed I knew what it was and started treatment immediately which turned things around pretty rapidly. It seems that Adrenal Fatigue happens largely to anxious, driven and perfectionist people, especially women who these days burn out so easily after striving on so many fronts. I am actually going to be starting a series of posts on AFS on my blog: https://livingconsciouslyblog.wordpress.com as I believe more people need to know about and understand it. I am seeing more and more people in my practice these days battling with AFS and struggling emotionally as a result (I am a psychologist). Perhaps you are simply tired but I thought I would share with you as I can so relate to what you describe. I hope you feel better soon! Take care. Kerry
WOW Kerry that is so interesting and I would definitely consider looking onto if this could be my problem. It not even just sleepy tired, its like i can’t move and my brain gets clouded and I feel like I’m going to just shut down. Its def not just a normal tired so i would love to look into this more. Can you make any recommendations of who to see in the western cape area? Did yours have any effect on your weight? I would also love love love to read your series when it starts! so please let me know when it does. Thank you for taking the time to comment and offer a possible solution. xxx