Is trauma making you tired?

Most people know what it’s like to feel physically exhausted at the end of a long day. It can happen after any activity that requires more exertion than you typically exert. For example, maybe you took a tough workout class, did hours of yard work, or just spent more time on your feet than usual. All of these activities can make you want to crawl into bed a little early.

But physical exhaustion isn’t the only type of fatigue a person can experience. Emotional strain can deplete your energy as well, and research shows a strong relationship between trauma disorders — like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) — and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). 

So if you’ve experienced trauma and are dealing with fatigue, know that you’re not alone and help is available. Learning more about the connection between these experiences can help you get the support you need to increase your energy levels.

What is trauma fatigue?

Physical and emotional exhaustion is common in the aftermath of trauma, and fatigue is a known symptom of trauma disorders like PTSD. Further, research shows that many people with PTSD also live with chronic fatigue syndrome. CFS is a long-term condition characterized by severe tiredness that impacts a person’s ability to function in daily life. 

However, you don’t need to have a medical or mental health condition to experience trauma fatigue. There are many reasons you might be feeling extra tired if you’ve been through something traumatic. For example:

• Trauma can impact your sleep routine either because you’re having trouble falling or staying asleep and/or because you’re dreaming of the traumatic event. If you’re not getting restful sleep at night, you’re more likely to feel tired during the day.
• Trauma can lead to hypervigilance, or the need to constantly scan your environment for potential threats. This can lead to mental exhaustion because your brain is working extra hard to keep you safe.
• People respond to trauma differently, but it often leads to uncomfortable emotions, like anxiety, guilt, shame, or anger. Managing those intense emotions requires extra energy, which can result in fatigue.

Why does processing trauma make you tired?

It takes considerable cognitive and emotional energy to unpack trauma. This is because the process shifts the part of the brain that helps you process emotions, recall memories, and detect potential threats into overdrive. 

In addition to changes in brain activity, there can also be considerable emotional labor involved in processing trauma. Having to recall painful memories — especially if you’ve been avoiding them or experiencing dissociation — can be a difficult experience. 

Of course, there are also physical reasons why you might feel tired in the aftermath of trauma. But you don’t need a bodily injury to experience trauma fatigue.

How long does fatigue last after trauma?

People who survive the exact same traumatic event will often respond in different ways. For example, some people may experience short-term fatigue due to the onset of acute stress disorder (ASD). This condition usually resolves in about a month. 

But when trauma symptoms continue beyond that time frame, it could be a sign of a more chronic mental health condition like PTSD. PTSD symptoms last longer than symptoms of ASD, and they can cause ongoing challenges. However, with the right support, you can learn to navigate the effects of trauma and experience relief from fatigue and other symptoms.

Guidance for healing from trauma and exhaustion

Healing from trauma and exhaustion can be a bit of a balancing act. On the one hand, it’s important to make sure you’re taking things slowly and getting the rest you need to recover. On the other hand, it may take some extra effort to engage with the care you need at this time. 

If you’re working with a therapist and feeling exhausted after your appointments, don’t be afraid to bring it up in your next session. You and your provider can work together to come up with a plan to preserve your energy while working toward your treatment goals. 

For example, perhaps you could explore:

• Changing the number of therapy sessions you attend each month
• Adjusting the focus of some of your sessions
• Forgoing some in-person sessions in favor of teletherapy
• Increasing self-care
• Improving your sleep hygiene

If you’re not already receiving professional help for trauma, starting the process of looking for a therapist might feel a little daunting. And if you’re already exhausted, the last thing you may want is to add another item to your to-do list. 

However, keep in mind that trauma-focused therapists understand that fatigue and trauma often go together. Many of these providers will do everything they can to streamline the process and make it easier for you to access the care you deserve. Together, you can work toward addressing the underlying cause of your fatigue and create a personalized plan to maintain your energy throughout your treatment experience and beyond.

Find care with Rula

Trauma can take a serious toll on your mind and body. And while it can affect people differently, many people who survive traumatic events experience fatigue. This can be due to sleep disturbances or the extra emotional energy it takes to process trauma. 

Sometimes, significant fatigue can signal the presence of mental health conditions like ASD or PTSD. So if you’re feeling exhausted in the aftermath of a traumatic event and it’s negatively affecting your ability to function, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. 

When you need a trauma-informed provider you can meet with via convenient virtual appointments, we want to welcome you to Rula. With our therapist-matching program, you can quickly sort through over 10,000 providers, find an in-network therapist or psychiatric provider, and schedule your first live video session for as soon as tomorrow.

Get started with Rula today