Anergia: When Is a Lack of Energy Cause for Concern?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Causes Anergia?Anergia and Mental HealthImpact of AnergiaWhen to Seek HelpHow Is Anergia Treated?Coping With Anergia

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Causes Anergia?

Anergia and Mental Health

Impact of Anergia

When to Seek Help

How Is Anergia Treated?

Coping With Anergia

Here, we’ll look at some of the mental health and medical conditions that cause anergia, the impacts anergia can have, and how and when to seek help for anergia.

13 Possible Reasons Why You’re Tired All the Time

Other conditions that can cause anergia include:

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Anergia is a symptom of quite a few psychiatric conditions, such as:

Anergia is a common symptom in elderly people, often linked to health conditions that are more common as people age, as well as sleep issues and cognitive decline. However, late-life depression is a common cause of anergia in older people, and one that’s often overlooked.

Perhaps the most common psychiatric cause of anergia is depression. A 2016 study found when people visit their primary care provider with symptoms of extreme fatigue, the most common cause is depression. In the study, 18.5% of patients visiting their provider with this complaint were diagnosed with depression. This diagnosis was more common than medical causes like anemia or a thyroid disorder.

Anergia is a main symptom of depressive disorders. People with depression often experience extreme exhaustion, and find that they move slower. They also feel unmotivated, unable to enjoy things, and may frequently decide not to participate in activities that require physical exertion.

Other depression symptoms that may accompany anergia include:

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

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Anergia doesn’t just make you feel tired. People who are simply tired will feel better after a nap or a decent night’s sleep. But if you have anergia, your fatigue persists for long periods of time, and doesn’t generally improve—or at least doesn’t improve dramatically—when you get more sleep.

As such, anergia can affect all facets of your life, and can do so on an ongoing basis. The way that anergia impacts people will vary from one person to another and will depend greatly on what’s causing the anergia.

Some of the most common impacts of anergia include:

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Extreme fatigue that lasts a few days and gets better with sleep,relaxation, and other common sense solutions, doesn’t require medical or psychiatric attention. But anergia that lasts over a period of weeks or months, and that makes it difficult for you to function, should be brought to the attention of a healthcare professional.

In particular, depression—which is one of the most common causes of anergia—is diagnosed when your symptoms have been present for at least two weeks and are significantly impacting your life.

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Treatments for anergia depend on the cause. If a medical condition is causing your anergia, your provider will recommend a treatment plan to manage your condition. Treatment options may include medications, surgeries, and lifestyle modifications.

When it comes to treating depressive disorders, the best treatment usually involves a combination of talk therapy and medication.

Therapy For Depression

There are several psychotherapy approaches that have been found helpful in the management of depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has a large evidence base for its effectiveness in treating depression. CBT involves becoming more aware of the thought and behavior patterns contributing to your depression, and then learning to manage them in more healthy ways. Other types of therapy used to treat depression include behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy,psychodynamic psychotherapy, supportive therapy, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).

Medications For Depression

Antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), are what are most commonly prescribed for depression. These medications usually take 4-8 weeks to fully work. Different antidepressants work for different individuals, and it’s important to work with your provider to find the best antidepressant or medication combination for your needs.

Benefits of Mindfulness

If you are experiencing anergia, it’s important to get a proper diagnosis and treat the underlying cause. Otherwise, your symptoms may linger. That said, there are certain lifestyle approaches that can be used in conjunction with medical and psychiatric treatment, to help increase your energy.

Here are some things to consider:

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11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Shaffer JA, Davidson KW, Schwartz JE, et al.Prevalence and characteristics of anergia (lack of energy) in patients with acute coronary syndrome. American Journal of Cardiology. 2012;110(9):1213-1218. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2012.06.022Stadje R, Dornieden K, Baum E, et al.The differential diagnosis of tiredness: a systematic review. BMC Family Practice. 2016;17(1):147. doi:10.1186/s12875-016-0545-5Salamone J, Correa M, Yohn S, et al.Anergia and Effort-Related Aspects of Motivational Dysfunction in Animal Models of Depressive Symptoms: The Role of Mesolimbic Dopamine and Related Circuitry. Biological Psychiatry. 2018;83(9):S101. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.02.269NHS Inform.Coping with fatigue.NHS Inform.Coping with fatigue.National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.American Psychological Association.Depression Treatments for Adults.National Library of Medicine.Antidepressants.Gujral S, Aizenstein H, Reynolds CF 3rd, et al.Exercise effects on depression: Possible neural mechanisms. General Hospital Psychiatry. 2017;49:2-10. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2017.04.012National Health Service.Why am I tired all the time?National Health Service.Self-help tips to fight tiredness.

11 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Shaffer JA, Davidson KW, Schwartz JE, et al.Prevalence and characteristics of anergia (lack of energy) in patients with acute coronary syndrome. American Journal of Cardiology. 2012;110(9):1213-1218. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2012.06.022Stadje R, Dornieden K, Baum E, et al.The differential diagnosis of tiredness: a systematic review. BMC Family Practice. 2016;17(1):147. doi:10.1186/s12875-016-0545-5Salamone J, Correa M, Yohn S, et al.Anergia and Effort-Related Aspects of Motivational Dysfunction in Animal Models of Depressive Symptoms: The Role of Mesolimbic Dopamine and Related Circuitry. Biological Psychiatry. 2018;83(9):S101. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.02.269NHS Inform.Coping with fatigue.NHS Inform.Coping with fatigue.National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.American Psychological Association.Depression Treatments for Adults.National Library of Medicine.Antidepressants.Gujral S, Aizenstein H, Reynolds CF 3rd, et al.Exercise effects on depression: Possible neural mechanisms. General Hospital Psychiatry. 2017;49:2-10. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2017.04.012National Health Service.Why am I tired all the time?National Health Service.Self-help tips to fight tiredness.

Shaffer JA, Davidson KW, Schwartz JE, et al.Prevalence and characteristics of anergia (lack of energy) in patients with acute coronary syndrome. American Journal of Cardiology. 2012;110(9):1213-1218. doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2012.06.022Stadje R, Dornieden K, Baum E, et al.The differential diagnosis of tiredness: a systematic review. BMC Family Practice. 2016;17(1):147. doi:10.1186/s12875-016-0545-5Salamone J, Correa M, Yohn S, et al.Anergia and Effort-Related Aspects of Motivational Dysfunction in Animal Models of Depressive Symptoms: The Role of Mesolimbic Dopamine and Related Circuitry. Biological Psychiatry. 2018;83(9):S101. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.02.269NHS Inform.Coping with fatigue.NHS Inform.Coping with fatigue.National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.American Psychological Association.Depression Treatments for Adults.National Library of Medicine.Antidepressants.Gujral S, Aizenstein H, Reynolds CF 3rd, et al.Exercise effects on depression: Possible neural mechanisms. General Hospital Psychiatry. 2017;49:2-10. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2017.04.012National Health Service.Why am I tired all the time?National Health Service.Self-help tips to fight tiredness.

Stadje R, Dornieden K, Baum E, et al.The differential diagnosis of tiredness: a systematic review. BMC Family Practice. 2016;17(1):147. doi:10.1186/s12875-016-0545-5

Salamone J, Correa M, Yohn S, et al.Anergia and Effort-Related Aspects of Motivational Dysfunction in Animal Models of Depressive Symptoms: The Role of Mesolimbic Dopamine and Related Circuitry. Biological Psychiatry. 2018;83(9):S101. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.02.269

NHS Inform.Coping with fatigue.

National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.

American Psychological Association.Depression Treatments for Adults.

National Library of Medicine.Antidepressants.

Gujral S, Aizenstein H, Reynolds CF 3rd, et al.Exercise effects on depression: Possible neural mechanisms. General Hospital Psychiatry. 2017;49:2-10. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2017.04.012

National Health Service.Why am I tired all the time?

National Health Service.Self-help tips to fight tiredness.

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