Why depression makes you tired and how to deal with fatigue

By Madeleine Burry, 4/13/2020

“Fatigue and depression can look quite similar,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, psychiatrist and sleep medicine expert, and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. With both depression and fatigue, symptoms include low energy, low motivation, and anhedonia, or a loss of interest in pleasurable activities, Dimitriu says. One distinguishing factor can be the desire to engage in activities — people who have fatigue wish to do things, but lack energy, whereas people with depression have lower interest in activities, he says. “Another important consideration is the duration of the low mood and if it improves with sleep,” Dimitriu says. A single good night’s sleep can improve a tired person’s mood, he notes.

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