Sickness behaviour
Some forms of tiredness feel different.
They settle into the body like a heaviness, a slowing, a quiet turning inward.
This is often what we call sickness behaviour. A gentle withdrawal that happens when your inner world has been working far harder than anyone can see.
When emotional or psychological stress builds, the body responds instinctively.
The immune system can activate as though it were defending you from a physical threat, even when the strain is emotional.
This creates a kind of deep, whole-body fatigue, not just tired muscles, but a system choosing to conserve energy and protect itself.
It’s the body’s way of shielding its resources, pulling inward so it can cope with what feels overwhelming.
Why sickness behaviour happens
Deep fatigue often arrives slowly, and quietly.
It begins in the places where you’ve been carrying more than your system can comfortably hold. When emotional stress builds and hasn’t had space to be processed, the body steps in with its own ancient intelligence.
Your system knows when you’ve been living in a long stretch of “holding it together.”
It knows when you’ve been absorbing stress, moving through overwhelm, or adapting to things that feel too heavy.
Even when your mind keeps going, the body feels the weight immediately.
In moments like this, the immune system can begin to respond as though it’s protecting you from something harmful.
Not because you’re physically unwell, but because psychological stress can feel just as demanding to the body as a real threat.
The immune system doesn’t separate emotional pain from physical danger, it simply reacts.
And so the whole system shifts. Energy is redirected inward. Drive and motivation soften. The spark you rely on becomes quieter. Your body slows itself because slowing is protective.
It is a way of conserving resources when everything inside feels overworked.
This is why the tiredness feels so different. It’s not the tiredness of needing more sleep.
It’s the tiredness that arrives when your body is trying to keep you safe.
It’s a natural, instinctive pause. A retreat. A protective cocoon while your system gathers itself again.
How it shows up in the body
Deep fatigue often arrives as a soft dimming inside you.
The body slows, the mind feels heavier, and everyday tasks begin to require more from you than they once did.
This often happens because emotional stress can activate the immune system in the background, as if it were responding to something it needs to defend you from.
That inner activation quietly uses energy, creating both physical heaviness and a low mood that feels more biological than emotional.
Here’s how this state commonly expresses itself:
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a deep, whole-body heaviness
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fatigue that doesn’t improve with sleep
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brain fog or slow thinking
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digestive changes or bloating
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low appetite or eating for comfort
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aches or pressure in the body
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sensitivity to noise, light, or stimulation
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feeling physically “slowed down” or easily depleted
The result is a fatigue that feels layered: part emotional, part physical, part energetic — as though your system is quietly conserving itself.
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a muted or flattened emotional tone
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low mood that feels physical rather than psychological
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reduced motivation or spark
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irritability or emotional sensitivity
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feeling overwhelmed more quickly than usual
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a sense of wanting to withdraw or cocoon
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moments of numbness or disconnection
How therapy can help
Together, we explore the emotional load you’ve been carrying, the stress your system has absorbed, and the quiet places inside you that have been working far harder than you realised.
As we create safety and space for your experience, the body begins to loosen its grip.
What once felt heavy starts to feel more breathable.
Our work isn’t about forcing energy to return.
It’s about understanding why your system slowed down in the first place, and helping it feel supported enough to gently come out of that state.
This might look like reconnecting with parts of yourself that have gone quiet, understanding the patterns that drained your energy, or learning how to soothe the inner tension that keeps your body on alert.
As the pressure inside begins to ease, your energy naturally becomes more available again.
You may notice clearer thinking, a brighter mood, deeper rest, and a sense of aliveness returning in small but meaningful ways.