How can I make myself feel energized?

tastybrains — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 12:07:48 -0800

How can I get myself to feel refreshed & energized after feeling run-down for awhile? I constantly feel overwhelmed with life and thus stressed out and burnt out. I'm looking for advice on how to feel energetic again. I feel sleepy, somewhat sick, and run-down most of the time. I have trouble concentrating a lot, and can fall asleep at the drop of a hat. On the weekends when I don't have an alarm to wake me, I can sleep 14 hours no problem.

I'm in my mid-twenties, working full-time, married, living with my husband & two cats. I have been dealing with depression/anxiety (currently being treated with Wellbutrin and Celexa) and am also working to lose a lot of weight. I feel like I'm too young to feel so stressed and tired.

My diet has been pretty darn good as of late, as I've been losing about 1 lb per week - I've cut out almost all sugar that isn't naturally occurring in fruit and have been getting plenty of whole grains, vegetables, legumes, lean protein, and "good" fats (olive oil, etc). I've been exercising about 4 times a week for about 30 minutes and breaking a sweat.

I thought these things would "fix" me, but I still feel like crap almost all of the time. I still have a lot of weight left to lose, but I don't feel like extra weight alone should make me feel so BAD.

This has gone on for more than a year. I have been working with my doctors who basically have no answer except "depression", but honestly since being on the meds, I don't feel depressed anymore. I feel motivated, and there are so many things I want to do, but I just don't have the physical energy.

My doctor has done tons of blood tests and follow up blood tests. She has tested for lyme, lupus, and a gazillion other things. The only thing that is abnormal is my C-Reactive Protein and another inflammation marker are elevated, but they cannot figure out the cause of that.

I don't know what to do to feel better, but I'm looking for advice as to things I myself can do. I know exercise is important and has in the past made me feel better, but lately it just makes me feel even more run-down.

I was thinking I could take a week off in the spring to try & get my energy back, but I don't know how. Most likely if I took a vacation or a long weekend, I would take naps & read, which is all I ever seem to feel like doing.

Help?

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How can I make myself feel energized?