The Problem: Restless Nights
I sleep seven to eight hours a day.
Yet, every single day I dread the mornings. I dread waking up and having to get out of bed. The night before, I lay in bed filled with anxiety — countless negative thoughts and worries running through my mind.
The cycle will only keep repeating itself.
I’ve tried meditation, bringing essential oils, and changing my diet.
I’ve tried taking a bath or drinking a glass of warm milk before I go to bed.
Nothing seems to work.
I’ve had people with good intentions tell me that it’s probably due to a lack of nutrients. Others give me plenty of brilliant ideas in an attempt to help.
The Culprit: Unexplainable Mental Fatigue
Many years later, I learned that my unexplainable mental fatigue was the cause of my tiredness. My head space was filled.
The only way to feel less physically tired was for me to make space in my head. Which then begged the question, what exactly was I thinking about? What exactly was causing my head space to be filled up, draining all of my energy?
I started questioning myself and I found no answers.
Sometimes, I wished that the person next to me could just sit by me. Instead of giving advice or solutions, I only wished for them to sit with me and hear me out.
I realised then that I was keeping all my troubles trapped inside my head.
I had no safe space or anyone to share my troubles with without getting judged.
I was looking for validation of my feelings and emotions.
But getting that validation seemed nearly impossible.
Instead of getting the validation I was seeking for, I was judged and called names.
People told me:
You’re not trying hard enough. You don't want to get better. You’re just being lazy. Stop allowing yourself to be in that state, do something about it if you want your life to change.
With that, everything just got worse.
I fell deeper and deeper into a hole that only stretched further down, without me even realising.
Mental Fatigue is REAL
I would like to share this: mental fatigue is real — the constant worrying and episodes of anxiety are real.
Constantly living in our heads without us realising drains us out before the day has even begun. With a mind that’s filled up all the time, there was no rest to even begin with.
And with no rest, how can there ever be recovery?
Instead of telling someone what they should or should not do, perhaps we should look at things externally from a different lens — by validating a person’s feelings, thoughts and emotions. We cannot remove the mental fatigue but we can be there as a support by doing nothing.
Sometimes just being there, even if we are doing nothing, is all that is needed.
Ling Anne Hsieh
Ling has developed a strong passion for mental and social work due to her personal struggles in life. Ling strongly believes in “The power of healing yourself through the act of helping others.” and the mantra “Charity Begins From Home”.
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