Are You Feeling Like a Zombie? Signs Your Low Energy Could be Low Testosterone

You’re feeling like a zombie day in and day out and your life is a mere blur. When you drag yourself out of bed in the morning, your body feels heavy and you’re struggling to keep your eyes open. You know, low T can do that to you because unfortunately, testosterone deficiency and fatigue tend to come in pairs.

And while you’re getting ready for work half-asleep and with zero desire to leave the house, you absent-mindedly pick out your clothes with a toothbrush in your mouth and drool dripping on your beautifully striped rug. Your excitement about a new day ahead is gone, replaced by deep exhaustion and a battle you’re fighting every day. 

You’ve been sucked dry of every ounce of energy your tank had to offer. There’s not a drop left in it — and you can feel it. But the truth is, you’re not the only one feeling like a zombie. In fact, there are zombies everywhere, pushing through the demands of long workdays and eager to see the night.

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Why Does My Body Feel Heavy?

We’re tired, all of us. The way our work-life balance is non-existent, the way our lifestyle is tailored around convenience because there’s simply no time for anything, and the way you rush from one task to another just to stay afloat. Your body feels heavy, oh-so heavy.

But you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 13.5% of adults reported feeling exhausted most of the time or all the time. The older you are, the more tired you will likely be. For men, individuals aged 18 to 44 indicated feeling the most drained out of all age groups.

How did we get here?

There are many factors that can drain you and pierce the shiny metal of your energy tank. And little by little, the arrow on your fuel gauge will approach the “empty” mark.

While testosterone and fatigue often go hand-in-hand, factors like diet, sleep quality, alcohol consumption, and level of hydration, can also make your energy drop. 

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Testosterone and Fatigue: What Low T Will Do to You

Testosterone deficiency is gaining prevalence, affecting about 10% to 40% of all men worldwide. Because of increasingly unhealthy lifestyle patterns, low testosterone is expected to become even more common and, as a result, side effects of low T may gain traction as well. Foremost, fluctuations in testosterone levels will cause fatigue — which, in turn, can impact your overall quality of life.

In fact, fatigue is one of the most common side effects of testosterone deficiency, making you feel tired and causing your energy levels to plummet.

Fatigue is considered a non-specific symptom and as such can be triggered by countless underlying conditions, which makes it difficult to pinpoint its exact origin. Alongside low endurance, low energy levels have been linked to testosterone deficiency. But in a state of exhaustion, performing cognitive or physical tasks can become quite a challenge.

Because a relationship has been established between testosterone and fatigue, individuals with low T levels may feel sluggish and tired even after sufficient rest. Because of their low energy, they may also lose interest in physical activity and opt for convenient foods, getting stuck in a hamster wheel of negatives that may worsen their fatigue long-term.

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Does Low Testosterone Cause Depression?

Since fatigue is one of the most prominent symptoms of depression, the relationship between testosterone and fatigue can be observed especially well in patients with depression. In fact, fatigue is so common in individuals with major depressive disorders that it can be found in over 90% of patients.

So if you’re feeling like a zombie, there’s a reason for it! 

An interesting correlation is that both rates of depression and hypogonadism, the medical term for low testosterone, naturally increase as we get older. Much of research done on the topic suggests that low testosterone can cause depression and that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is effective in reversing said symptoms of depression.

A study published in 2021, found both low and high testosterone levels to trigger depressive disorders but suggested that testosterone imbalances may only be responsible for some of the many possible symptoms of depression.

Because more than 6 million men experience signs of depression every single year, you should ask your doctor to check your testosterone levels if you’re fatigued or feel more moody than usual — especially, if you’re also observing sexual and reproductive changes associated with low T.

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Buh-Bye Zombies: Replenish Your Energy Tank

Nobody wants to feel like a zombie all the time. It’s bad enough if your body feels heavy and sluggish every day, weighing you down like a block of concrete every time you try to roll out of bed. The good news is that there are ways to refuel and replenish your energy tank. 

So what can YOU do?

There are many factors that cause exhaustion — testosterone is just one of many contributors to fatigue. One of the most important things to watch out for is your lifestyle. 

• Get enough sleep, even when days are crazy busy. Aim for at least 7 to 9 hours every night to ensure your body gets the rest it needs.

• Eat a well-balanced and healthy diet, and make sure to eat in moderation. Overeating can quickly turn into an everyday habit of yours and cause you to gain weight. It will also make you feel fatigued. 

• Stay hydrated — through urination and sweating your body loses water and can make you feel drained and weak.

• Consult with your doctor about starting TRT (testosterone replacement therapy). Research shows that men with low testosterone and fatigue respond well to TRT with their fatigue improving when taking TRT.

You don’t have to feel like a zombie, instead take matters into your own hands and choose a healthy lifestyle for your well-being.

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It’s Time to Feel Alive Again!

Low testosterone frequently causes fatigue and can be responsible for a lack of motivation. But low testosterone can also cause depression, which constitutes many mental health symptoms, in addition to fatigue and fluctuations in your mood.

Say bye to your zombie self! Instead, it’s time to get in your convertible and enjoy the view of a secluded mountain road as the leaves begin to change color. It’s time to feel alive again! 

What else can you do to avoid feeling so tired and to support testosterone balance? Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll be in touch with more tips.