CHRONIC (PATHOLOGICAL) FATIGUE

Closely akin to anxiety, and perhaps an­other form of it, is the condition often de­scribed as chronic, or pathological, fatigue. Chronic fatigue may also be called "emotional fatigue"; it is something different from sheer muscular or physiological fatigue that follows after strenuous work or exercise, as we have seen in Chapter 2. Since the factors that help to produce chronic fatigue and those which tend to relieve it are somewhat different from those involved in the generation of anxiety, we shall discuss this subject in its own terms.

Chronic, or pathological, fatigue is a symp­tom that something is wrong with the person who suffers from it. Many people are chroni­cally fatigued without realizing it. This fa­tigue may be expressed in changed moods, attitudes, and behavior, for example, excep­tional irritability, loss of a sense of humor or even loss of weight, poor appetite, and rest­less sleep. A constant state of muscular ten­sion considerably beyond normal muscle tone commonly accompanies chronic fatigue. This abnormal tension, or hypertonus, arises because the muscles are being constantly stimulated by unconscious motivations to make first this move and then that. However, the stimulus to complete the move is inhib­ited and countermanded before the muscles can fully obey. These alternating commands keep the muscles constantly on stretch. Fa­tigue products are never completely enough dispelled, so the feeling of fatigue persists.

External pressures and environmental cir­cumstances are factors in bringing on chronic fatigue. This has been studied particularly in the field of industrial hygiene- Workers be­come fatigued and less productive when they must work under conditions of poor light and glare, poor ventilation, too much noise and heat, uncomfortable seating, and exposure to dusts and fumes.

Other factors that induce fatigue are ex­cessive hours of work, lack of properly spaced rest pauses, awkward working positions, "speed-up" of work beyond capacity to perform, and the monotony of simple, repeated opera­tions. Workers are less productive also when they are afraid of and hostile toward their jobs and bosses.

Some of the facts discovered in the study of industrial hygiene can be profitably applied by the wise student in eliminating fatigue factors from his own life. He can arrange to do his studying under the best possible con­ditions of physical comfort and efficiency; it will be rare, however, that perfect or ideal conditions exist. Equally important is a rhythm of work balanced with relaxation. A rest pause of five minutes during each study hour is advisable. There should be some regu­larity in the student's schedule of study, play, eating, and sleeping. Too much extracur­ricular pressure should be avoided. On the other hand some interests beyond study and some fruitful methods of relaxation should be encouraged. Procrastination, delay, and over-crowding of hours bring on fatigue and reduce efficiency. Careless students work the hardest.

Why to Stay away from Stimulants

CHRONIC (PATHOLOGICAL) FATIGUE

The wrong way to fight fatigue is by indul­gence in chemical stimulants. The reason? Too often, when taken in sufficient dosage to have any genuine effect, they create a "re­bound reaction" and, after a short while, you end up feeling more fatigued than before you took the drug.

Probably the best known and most widely used stimulant drug is caffeine, which is the active   ingredient   in   coffee,   tea,   chocolate drinks, some cola drinks, and many non-pre­scription "stay awake" drugs.

There are, of course, many other drugs known to stimulate the central nervous sys­tem, including amphetamines (such as Ben­zedrine) and whole new series of psychic stim­ulants that have been developed in the 1960's. When prescribed by a physician upon proper indications, these are valuable medications.

Many college students, however, have the mistaken idea that they can take these so-called pep pills indiscriminately and without harm. Pep pills are often used by students to cram for exams or to drive all night to get home or back to college after an exciting weekend. This is a dangerous practice, be­cause all potent stimulant drugs may have side effects (in addition to rebound reactions) and untoward reactions that were not antici­pated by the indiscriminate self-medicator. There are better ways than chemicals to deal with fatigue; notably by better organization of one's time, by recreation, relaxation, good sleeping habits, and the control of factors and problems which induce needless psychic stress and muscular tension.

In summary: This chapter has covered the sequence of normal personality development, from infancy onward. It has presented the concept and the construct of the unconscious mind, divided conventionally into id, ego, and superego. It has discussed the conflicts in the unconscious mind and described a number of the "ego-defenses," also called mental mecha­nisms and mental dynamisms, by which the ego protects itself for example, repression, regression, rationalization, etc. The impor­tant subject of anxiety and several ways to relieve it have been discussed; notably through sharing and communication and by means of tranquilizers. The topic of chronic or pathological fatigue, akin to anxiety, has also been presented. In conclusion, the uncon­scious mind is a powerful force in deter­mining human personality and behavior.