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[stardust_rifle]

Took my morning shower and now I feel like I ran a marathon. Hoping that the bone-deep exhaustion was just a result of getting two trauma nightmares for the price of one two nights ago and that it's not. Like. Permanent. God I'm so tired.

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Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

My sympathies.

Trauma nightmares can totally wreck your ability to recharge in multiple ways. This can cause semi-permanent exhaustion if they are persistent; that is, the exhaustion itself is not permanent but is caused so often that it behaves as permanent until the cause is removed. Sleep disturbance (e.g. nightmares, insomnia) is a nearly ubiquitous trauma symptom and a common reason why trauma survivors seek therapy and/or self-help solutions. However, for most people it does slowly wear down over time even if you have to work at getting down to an acceptable level.

There are lots of tools for processing trauma and for improving sleep. These are familiar topics for me if you wish to explore further (and have the energy to think about it).

Showering is surprisingly effortful. One thing I came across while researching something else is that people who use supplemental oxygen for exertive tasks should use it in the shower. A shower seat reduces the energy expenditure and is recommended for people who find showers tiring. Another option is placing all bathing items (e.g. soap, washcloth) in a tray within easy reach so you don't have to keep reaching up and moving around for everything. You only have to lift your arms high to wash your hair and maybe manipulate the showerhead (depending on your stall fixtures).