Feeling Tired? Fatigue, Stress & Acupuncture in Towson, MD
Updated: Aug 28
Feeling Tired? Fatigue, Stress & Acupuncture in Towson, MD
Summer is supposed to be relaxing. So why do so many people reach the end of it feeling more tired than they did at the beginning?
By late August, the long days, heat, vacations, family activities, travel and changing schedules can start to catch up with us. Sleep may be less consistent. Meals happen at odd times. Exercise routines change. We may not drink enough water. And even the fun things can become exhausting when there isn't enough time to recover between them.
Then, just as summer begins winding down, life starts speeding up again.
School schedules return. Work gets busier. Vacations end. Calendars fill.
If you've been feeling unusually tired, sluggish or simply not quite yourself, your body may be asking for a little attention.
Why Am I So Tired Lately?
Fatigue can have many causes, and persistent or unexplained fatigue should always be discussed with your healthcare provider.
But sometimes the explanation is hiding in the way we've been living for the past several weeks.
1. Heat and Dehydration
You don't have to be severely dehydrated to feel the effects of not drinking enough.
Hot weather, outdoor activities, travel and simply getting busy can make it easy to fall behind on fluids. Pay attention to your water intake throughout the day, particularly if you're spending more time outside or exercising.
2. Your Sleep Schedule Has Changed
Later sunsets, vacations, travel and summer activities can all change when we go to bed and when we wake up.
Even if you're technically spending enough hours in bed, an inconsistent schedule or poor-quality sleep can leave you feeling tired during the day.
And sometimes difficulty sleeping isn't just about your schedule. Stress, tension and a mind that won't quite switch off can make getting restorative sleep more difficult.
3. You're Doing More Than You Realize
Vacations aren't necessarily restful.
Packing, traveling, entertaining visitors, taking children places, catching up on work and trying to fit everything into summer can create a surprisingly demanding schedule.
Sometimes we're physically tired.
Sometimes we're mentally tired.
Frequently, it's both.
4. Stress Can Be Exhausting
Stress doesn't only affect how we feel emotionally.
It may also accompany muscle tension, headaches, difficulty sleeping and that familiar feeling of being tired while your mind somehow refuses to slow down.
If you've spent months feeling like you're constantly “on,” your body may be telling you it needs some recovery time.
I wrote more about this connection between ongoing stress, physical tension and burnout in When You Are Always “On”: How Acupuncture Helps Reduce Nervous System Tension and Burnout – Towson, MD.
5. You've Had Too Much “Doing” and Not Enough Rest
There's a difference between not working and actually resting.
Scrolling through your phone isn't necessarily restorative. Neither is answering emails from the couch, running errands all weekend or filling every free hour with activities.
Sometimes the simplest thing you can do is leave a little empty space in your schedule.
Your body doesn't always need you to do more.
Sometimes it needs an opportunity to recover.
A Few Simple Ways to Support Your Energy
Before looking for complicated solutions, start with the basics.
Try returning to a more consistent sleep and wake schedule. Drink water regularly throughout the day. Eat regular meals instead of running on coffee until mid-afternoon. Get some gentle movement. And give yourself permission to have periods of actual downtime.
Also pay attention to patterns.
Are you exhausted after a poor night's sleep? Does your energy crash when you skip lunch? Are headaches returning when you're stressed? Are you carrying tension through your neck and shoulders?
Those patterns can tell you quite a bit.
Acupuncture for Fatigue in Towson, MD
When someone comes to my practice looking for acupuncture for fatigue in Towson, MD, I don't look at fatigue as an isolated symptom. I want to understand what else may be contributing to how they're feeling.
I want to know what else is happening.
How are you sleeping? Are you under more stress than usual? Are you experiencing headaches or migraines? Are you in pain? Is muscle tension keeping you uncomfortable? How is your digestion? When did the fatigue start? What makes it better—or worse?
Traditional Chinese Medicine looks at patterns within the whole person, and acupuncture treatment is individualized according to your symptoms, health history and how you're presenting at that particular time.
Acupuncture may also help address concerns that often occur alongside fatigue, including stress, sleep difficulties, headaches, migraines, pain and muscle tension.
When Fatigue and Headaches Show Up Together
For some people, being overtired, stressed or sleeping poorly also seems to coincide with an increase in headaches or migraines.
That's another reason I don't treat symptoms as though they exist independently of everything else happening in your life.
If migraines are part of what you're dealing with, I have also written about why migraines can keep returning and how acupuncture may help.
You Don't Have to Wait Until Something Is Really Wrong
This is especially important for my existing patients.
You don't have to wait until your back is hurting badly again, your migraine has returned, you're overwhelmed with stress or you're completely exhausted before scheduling another acupuncture treatment.
Sometimes you simply notice that you're not feeling quite as good as you were.
That's enough reason to check in.
Maintenance treatment can give us an opportunity to address smaller changes before they become the reason you're suddenly thinking, I really need to call Jean.
Personalized Acupuncture in Towson, Maryland
At Jean Donati Acupuncture & Facial Rejuvenation in Towson, MD, treatments are personalized to your individual concerns, health history and goals.
With more than 34 years of healthcare experience, I provide thoughtful, focused care—one patient at a time, never double booked.
If you're experiencing fatigue along with stress, sleep problems, headaches, migraines, pain or muscle tension, you can learn more about the conditions I treat and my approach to acupuncture here:
And if it's been a while since I've seen you, you're always welcome to come back.
Call or text 410-984-3700 to ask a question or request an appointment.
Jean Donati, M.Ac., L.Ac.Jean Donati Acupuncture & Facial Rejuvenation604 E. Joppa RoadTowson, MD 21286
Thoughtful, focused care for people who carry a lot. One patient at a time. No double booking.
Persistent, severe, new or unexplained fatigue can have many causes. Please consult your healthcare provider when appropriate.
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