Burnout to Balance: Using Meditation Practices to Combat Chronic Fatigue

The following article has been written by mental health researcher and founder of the Yoga of Immortals (YOI) meditative program, Dr. Ishan Shivanand.

Chronic fatigue is more than just feeling tired all the time. It is a condition in which you experience persistent physical and mental tiredness, weakness or exhaustion, which can seriously affect your quality of life. Within the spectrum of neurological and psychiatric disorders, studies show that chronic fatigue is caused by a combination of factors, one of the main ones being the depletion of the brain's energy resources.

The brain is a complex organ that operates through a network of neurons that communicate using electrical signals. These signals require energy for transmission and processing. When you are engaged in mentally challenging tasks, such as solving problems or making decisions, your brain consumes even more energy. It's like running a marathon for your brain, and when it doesn't get the energy it needs, you feel mentally and physically exhausted.

Similarly, waste products accumulate in the brain during normal functioning, and the brain typically removes these waste products efficiently to maintain optimal functioning. However, in chronic fatigue, this cleansing process doesn't work as well, so waste products build up, further impairing cognitive function. It's like having a clogged drain in your brain; the more it gets clogged, the less efficient your brain becomes.

1. Chronic fatigue can be caused by several factors, such as high stress, lack of sleep, multitasking, or information overload. Imagine your brain like a computer: it can only handle so much before it starts to slow down and freeze.
2. One way to relieve chronic fatigue is through yoga-based meditation practices. These practices, which originate from ancient Indian knowledge systems, have been shown to reduce inflammation, pain, stress, anxiety and depression, factors that commonly contribute to pathological fatigue.
3. Meditation training encourages attentional and emotional self-regulation, reducing reactivity to negative experiences. In both healthy people and people with medical conditions, meditation-based interventions (MeBI) have shown promise in improving quality of life, relieving stress, anxiety and depression, and improving pain management. Of the numerous studies conducted, approximately 76% have reported a notable decrease in fatigue symptoms following meditation interventions, suggesting its potential as an alternative non-pharmacological approach for fatigue management in various pathological conditions.
4. Non-pharmaceutical meditative interventions guide the creation of awareness, self-knowledge, and improved feelings of self-esteem and self-confidence. They contribute to mental serenity and reduce repetitive thought patterns. During meditation, you sit in a comfortable position and focus on your breathing, body sensations, or a mantra under the guidance of a guru or experienced meditation practitioner.
5. When distracting thoughts arise, such as those related to sleep or other worries, you recognize them (Drishtabhav) and gently redirect your attention to the present moment. With regular practice, meditation can help calm the mind and reduce repetitive thoughts, ultimately helping you combat chronic fatigue and improve your overall quality of life. It's like giving your brain a much-needed vacation: a chance to rest and recharge so you can take on whatever life throws at you.