Take a Rest! All the Major Signs You May Be Battling Mental Exhaustion

Mental exhaustion is just like physical tiredness, except it’s your mind instead of your muscles.

It tends to show up when you focus on a mentally tough task for a long time. New parents also find this kind of brain drain because they’re always alert to the sound of a crying baby. You may be stressed out from the constant care of aging parents or any number of ongoing situations that require your complete attention for long periods of time.

These signs may show that you’re mentally fatigued.

You may be short-tempered or irritated, snapping at people more often. It’s harder to control your emotions when you’re mentally tapped out.

Mental exhaustion can make it really hard to concentrate. You might get distracted easily or start to miss deadlines. Even small tasks may seem overwhelming.

This can look like mind wandering or drowsiness. It makes it hard to pay close attention to what you’re doing, and you may not react to things very fast. Mental fatigue is a known cause of car accidents.

You might think it’d be easier to snooze when your brain is tired. But that’s not always the case. A lack of shut eye can make mental fatigue worse.

You may start to drink, smoke or use drugs more than normal. Mental fatigue puts you under stress and makes you less likely to control impulsive behavior.

Brain fatigue lessens your ability to catch and fix your mistakes quickly or at all. This can lead to serious problems if you have a job in which you use a machine or drive a vehicle.

You may not have any energy or feel like you’re moving in slow motion. Some people say they feel numb. This can make it hard to finish things at work or even do daily activities.

Mental fatigue triggers your sympathetic nervous system — your “fight or flight” mode. You might start to feel panicked or worried all the time.

The condition can affect your appetite in different ways. You may snack a lot or forget to eat. Stress can also make you crave salty, sugary or fatty foods.

You may get more headaches, sore muscles, back pain or stomach problems than usual.

If you see yourself in the above signs, you need to take a rest from whatever it is that’s draining you. If you’re a caregiver, ask someone to take your place for an afternoon and go to a park or a movie. If you sit at a desk, take a break for a few minutes every two hours and take a short stroll. Exercise is a good short-term remedy for mental fatigue if you can’t get away. Get up and do a few jumping jacks, stretch for a few minutes or go on a 10- to 15-minute brisk walk.

You can also get a massage, try meditation or yoga, or just zone out and watch your favorite comedy on TV. If the mental fatigue persists no matter what you do, make a doctor’s appointment immediately and follow the expert’s advice, especially if you can’t get to sleep or you’re drinking or smoking more. And don’t be embarrassed. You won’t be the only one with the same complaint in this fast-paced world!