9 Alarming Signs You're Mentally And Emotionally Exhausted

Never overlook these signs of emotional exhaustion.

A woman with long, blonde hair leans against a white wall, her right hand running through her hair. She gazes pensively to her left, casting a soft shadow on the wall. She wears a black long-sleeve top, and the lighting is soft and natural.

Do you sometimes feel like a zombie, stumbling around, mindlessly interacting with people without your usual zest for life? Chances are your battery is drained. Your mind is exhausted from all the stresses and struggles of life, not to mention the requirement to always be “on” digitally regarding work and maintaining social connections. Here are 9 of the clearest signs that you are one major emotional event away from complete burnout.

1. You feel constantly fatigued.

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Emotional exhaustion manifests in more ways than you may realize. Because your brain is so tired, you may find that you also suffer from tiredness in other ways. It may be that you’re physically exhausted, your cognitive abilities decline, or you sleep excessively while not feeling rested. You may also suffer from insomnia, find your sleep erratic, or experience restlessness.

2. You lack motivation.

A man with short hair, glasses, and light facial hair is wearing a black shirt and a silver wristwatch. He is resting his head on his hand and appears to be in a contemplative or tired state, with his eyes closed and lips slightly parted.

Motivation keeps us moving. However, a person suffering from emotional exhaustion will find it hard to find motivation because their brain is using so much energy just to keep working. Your brain may simply be too tired to provide the motivation you need to do what you do. A telling sign is that you find everyday tasks overwhelming.

3. You experience increased irritability.

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Small things that normally wouldn’t bother you now cause anger or frustration. The more emotionally exhausted you are, the less skin you have between the stressor and the raw nerve that is being touched by it. It’s much easier for those negative feelings to surface from small issues.

4. You have difficulty concentrating.

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You may find that your mind feels foggy. People who are emotionally exhausted may experience cognitive difficulties and find it hard to focus on tasks to completion. Your memory may also be affected as your brain is simply too tired to retain the information that’s been presented.

5. You socially withdraw.

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People suffering from emotional exhaustion often withdraw from others because social interaction requires additional emotional energy. A good analogy is to think of your mind as a gas tank. Emotional exhaustion is essentially running on empty. You lack the fuel to do what you need to do, so you stop doing what you need to do.

6. You may feel increased anxiety.

A man with short dark hair and a beard leans against a train window, resting his chin on his hand and looking out. His reflection is visible in the glass, showing a thoughtful or pensive expression. The blurred scenery outside the window suggests the train is moving.

Increased anxiety indicates emotional exhaustion because your brain just can’t handle the additional stimulation. You may experience anxieties and fears of things that did not previously affect you. This anxiety may seem like it surfaces out of nowhere but it is actually fueled by your lack of emotional energy.

7. You may experience depressed moods.

A woman with long blonde hair is sitting against a textured gray wall. She wears a light gray turtleneck sweater and jeans, gazing thoughtfully with one hand resting on her head and the other on her knee. The lighting is soft and subdued.

Positive moods require the fuel of emotional energy. When you don’t have that emotional energy to spend, it may manifest as depressed moods. People experiencing a depressed mood may feel empty, hopeless, or sad for no reason. Furthermore, they may feel these things more intensely if they encounter stressors that may normally cause depression. Depression may also manifest as an inability to feel either positive or negative emotions at all.

8. You may experience physical symptoms.

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Unhealthiness in the mind may manifest as unhealthiness in the body through physical symptoms. You may find that you have unexplained aches and pains, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, or muscle tension. You may find yourself asking what caused a particular issue but be unable to identify a specific reason. It also weakens your immune system, so you may get sick more than you normally would.

9. You may find yourself crying more often.

A woman with long brown hair is pictured with her eyes closed, and tears are visible on her face. She appears to be emotional or in distress. She is wearing a black, lacy top, and the background is plain and light-colored.

Crying is another physical reaction to emotional processes. Crying may accompany feelings of being overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, or for no identifiable reason. You may find that you just feel overwhelmed and break down into tears for small reasons or no reason at all. Frustration and anger may prove to be easy triggers for your tears.