When to seek urgent help
Sudden weakness with chest pain, severe breathing difficulty or signs of a stroke needs emergency medical attention. Do not wait for a wellbeing consultation.
- Tight or squeezing chest pain, particularly with severe breathlessness.
- Sudden weakness on one side, facial drooping or difficulty speaking.
- Loss of consciousness with an abnormal response.
Contact your local emergency service. Suspected stroke symptoms need urgent attention even if they have stopped.
Possible causes to discuss with a doctor
Fatigue, sleepiness and muscle weakness describe different difficulties. Explain what you mean: falling asleep, feeling exhausted or struggling with a physical task. Several causes may coexist; matching a symptom is not a diagnosis.
Sleep and recovery
Too little sleep and frequent waking can leave you tired during the day. Tell your doctor about loud snoring, reported pauses in breathing and daytime sleepiness.
Iron deficiency and anaemia
Iron deficiency anaemia can cause fatigue, breathlessness and palpitations. Heavy periods and pregnancy are common causes. Do not assume iron is the answer to unexplained weakness.
Thyroid conditions
An underactive thyroid may cause tiredness, feeling cold, constipation, weight changes and difficulty concentrating. Symptoms alone do not confirm it; medical assessment may include thyroid blood tests.
Perimenopause
Night sweats, hot flushes and disrupted sleep during perimenopause can affect daily wellbeing. Tell your doctor about changes in your cycle or bleeding as well as fatigue.
Mood and emotional strain
Low energy, sleep difficulties and loss of interest can occur with depression. These deserve professional assessment, rather than a judgment about willpower.
Other causes
Illnesses and some medicines can also contribute to fatigue. A vitamin B12 deficiency is one possible cause of weakness, but that does not mean a supplement will help everyone.
What to prepare for an appointment
If fatigue lasts for weeks or affects everyday life, arrange a medical appointment. A brief account of what changed is more useful than trying to find a diagnosis yourself.
- When it started and whether it was sudden or gradual.
- Which ordinary tasks became harder and what happens after activity.
- Sleep, daytime sleepiness, periods and any changes in bleeding.
- Other symptoms, recent illnesses, medicines and supplements.
- Previous test results and what has already been tried.
Investigations depend on the history and examination; not everyone needs a large test panel.
How to notice everyday overload
Discuss health questions with a doctor. Separately, you can explore everyday situations in which you repeatedly take on too much.
Start with one recent example. You may plan to rest, then agree to extra work or continue replying to messages late into the evening.
For a few days, note sleep times, demanding tasks, opportunities for rest and when your wellbeing changes. Record observations without forcing yourself to complete an ambitious tracking routine.
| What you notice | A useful next step |
|---|---|
| Fatigue persists and disrupts ordinary tasks | Describe the symptoms to a doctor |
| You keep agreeing to extra work | Discuss priorities and available capacity |
| Your plan for change feels unmanageable | Choose a smaller action and identify support |
If you want a separate prompt for reflection, try the free six-question questionnaire. It explores habitual responses, not your health.
Answer six reflection questions
A framework for reflecting on familiar habits
Nav–Yav–Prav is Alexander Zharkov’s framework for discussing experience and choices. Here, Nav means past experience, Yav means present circumstances, and Prav means a future direction. It does not establish the medical cause of fatigue.
The “Glasses of Illusion”, or matrix filters, are a metaphor for habitual assumptions. For example, “I must finish everything before I can rest” may make it harder to discuss a realistic workload.
- Past: which learned rule makes me agree to more than I can manage?
- Present: what am I postponing — asking for help, rest or a conversation about workload?
- Future: what support can I seek, and what small decision is available now?
One person can recognise several patterns. They are not personality labels or evidence that you caused an illness.
Four steps for observing your workload
- Name one fact: “I worked late on three evenings.”
- Separate circumstances from a decision you can discuss.
- Choose one manageable action, such as clarifying a priority.
- Review what happened and what support is still needed.
“Zhiva” is the institute’s term for vitality and attention. The model is not a medical measurement. Complementary practices should not delay assessment or replace prescribed care.
About Alexander Zharkov and his role · Personal experience and scientific evidence.
Yaroslava’s personal account
Yaroslava describes changes in her mornings, mood and desire to create after a 40-day programme. In her account, getting up at nine had been difficult; afterwards, she reports enjoying a six o’clock start.
Difficult mornings: 01:30–01:56. Creative energy and getting up at six: 02:54–03:10. The account does not describe all daily activities or other changes during this period.
This is personal experience. It cannot establish why her wellbeing changed or predict another person’s outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Which doctor should I see for persistent fatigue?
Start with a GP or primary care doctor. They can assess your symptoms and decide whether investigations or another specialist are needed.
Which tests do I need?
There is no single mandatory set of tests for everyone. A doctor selects investigations based on symptoms, medical history and examination.
Do normal initial tests mean that stress is the only cause?
No. Normal results from individual tests do not automatically explain every symptom. If fatigue persists or changes, discuss the next steps with your doctor.
Should I start taking iron or vitamins on my own?
Fatigue alone does not establish a deficiency. Discuss testing and supplements with your doctor: appropriate treatment depends on the cause.
How does a personal consultation differ from medical assessment?
A personal consultation explores one recurring situation, your responses and possible actions. It does not diagnose conditions, order medical tests or treat illness.
Your next step: a personal consultation
A personal consultation explores one recurring situation at work, in relationships or in your decisions. It does not determine the medical cause of fatigue.
You could begin: “I keep taking on more than I can manage. I would like to explore one example and choose my next step.”
Individual text consultation with Alexander Zharkov · €30. Continuing a programme afterwards is optional.
How the text consultation works