Trauma and fatigue: When rest isn’t enough​

Fatigue is one of the most common and persistent symptoms reported by trauma survivors. Even after a full night’s sleep or a restful weekend, many individuals find themselves waking up feeling physically exhausted and emotionally depleted. This type of fatigue isn’t simply about physical tiredness—it’s deeply intertwined with the way trauma reshapes the nervous system.

When someone experiences trauma, their body often stays in a prolonged state of hypervigilance. The nervous system becomes stuck in survival mode, scanning for danger even when there’s no immediate threat. The brain, particularly the amygdala and hypothalamus, remain overactive, contributing to sleep disturbances and poor-quality rest. Over time, this constant state of hypervigilance depletes the body’s energy reserves. 

Additionally, trauma can lead to dysregulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which plays a central role in managing stress and energy levels. This dysregulation can result in either hyperarousal (feeling wired but tired) or hypoarousal (a sense of shutdown and disconnection), both of which contribute to chronic fatigue.

It’s important to recognise that this tiredness is not laziness or lack of motivation. It is a biological consequence of living in a state of prolonged threat. A crucial first step toward healing is to compassionately acknowledge the body’s need for safety and restoration. 

What You Can Do

Incorporating gentle body-based practices on a daily or regular basis can help to regulate the nervous system. Some examples are:
– Deep and slow breathing
– Gentle stretches 
– Humming a favourite tune
– Grounding exercises that engages your 5 senses
– Many, many others…

There are countless tools and methods available that have been proven to help regulate the nervous system. Sometimes, what works for others may not always work for you, and that’s okay! There will be other tools or methods that would be effective in calming and resetting your nervous system. Working with our trauma-informed therapists can be helpful to explore and identify which method is useful for you. In addition to that, therapy is also a space to explore how past experiences may be impacting you and the way your interact with your world, consequently, impacting your energy levels.