Fatigued and Frustrated? Your Energy Crisis Might Be Metabolic
Do you wake up tired no matter how much you’ve slept? Struggle to focus, think clearly, or keep up with daily tasks? Feel like your body is constantly “running on empty”, even though every test comes back “normal”?
What if the root of your fatigue wasn’t just “in your head,” but in your cells?
It’s time we start calling chronic fatigue what it really is: a breakdown in your body’s energy delivery system. The issue begins at the microscopic level, with your mitochondria.
Rewriting the Fatigue Narrative: The Metabolic Connection
For years, conventional medicine has misunderstood or dismissed chronic fatigue. But forward-thinking researchers like Dr. Sarah Myhill, Dr. Norman Booth and Dr. John McLaren-Howard have uncovered something critical: people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) don’t just feel tired, they’re experiencing a failure in their ability to generate energy at the cellular level.
Their work reveals that in people with CFS, the mitochondria (the tiny power plants inside your cells) aren’t functioning properly. When your cells can’t produce enough energy (in the form of ATP), it’s like trying to power your home with a dying battery. Lights flicker, appliances fail, and you’re left in the dark.
Fatigue, brain fog, muscle weakness, digestive issues, and sensitivity to light, noise, or chemicals - these are all symptoms of deeper metabolic dysfunction. And for many, this dysfunction is triggered or exacerbated by viral infections, toxic exposures, or prolonged stress.
Mitochondria, Hormones and Your Inner Energy System
Imagine your body as a car:
Your mitochondria are the engines: they burn fuel (from your food) to create energy.
Your thyroid gland is the accelerator pedal: it determines how fast the engine runs.
Your adrenal glands are the gearbox: they help your body respond to stress, shifting energy use up or down as needed.
When one of these systems fails, or when they fall out of sync, you’re left stuck in first gear, unable to accelerate or perform. And that’s when fatigue sets in.
But this isn’t just about being “tired.” True metabolic fatigue is persistent, debilitating, and often worsens with activity. It doesn’t improve with rest because rest alone can’t fix broken energy production.
Post-Viral Fatigue: A Familiar Story with a Modern Twist
It is well known that acute viral infections such as Epstein-Barr Virus (Glandular Fever), or (more recently) Covid-19, can leave people experiencing something similar to those with CFS: lingering fatigue, cognitive fog, unrefreshing sleep, shortness of breath, and even worsening symptoms after activity. This is also now commonly seen in people after receiving the COVID-19 mRNA gene therapy injections.
This is post-viral fatigue - essentially a modern face of chronic fatigue syndrome. It’s rooted in the same disrupted energy systems: chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, dysregulated immune responses, and stress hormone imbalances.
Emerging research continues to draw connections between environmental triggers, immune system exhaustion, and long-term mitochondrial impairment. And the longer these systems remain dysregulated, the more entrenched the fatigue becomes.
What Causes the Mitochondria to Break Down?
Your mitochondria aren’t just victims of bad luck. Many of the pressures of modern life slowly erode mitochondrial function over time:
Poor diet and nutrient deficiencies
Chronic stress and adrenal dysfunction
Lack of quality sleep and disrupted circadian rhythms
Breathing dysfunction
Gut dysbiosis and digestive inflammation
Environmental toxins and heavy metal exposure
Thyroid imbalances and hormonal disruptions
Eventually, these stressors overwhelm the body’s ability to produce energy. Cells burn out. Inflammation rises. Detoxification slows. And every system begins to falter.
Fatigue Isn’t Just a Symptom - It’s a Signal
Fatigue is your body waving a white flag. It’s a clear message that your cells are struggling and your metabolic systems need support - not suppression.
Conventional medicine often responds to this signal with a symptom-management approach. You may be offered stimulants, sleep aids, antidepressants, or told “there’s nothing wrong with you.” But none of these fix the problem at its root.
As a Holistic Health Coach, I take a different approach. I see fatigue as a clue - a map pointing toward the deeper imbalances in your body. And with the right tools, we can begin to restore the systems that generate true, sustainable energy.
Is There a Path Forward?
Research by Dr. Myhill and colleagues has shown that mitochondrial function can be measured and supported. Their clinical work has explored nutritional and lifestyle protocols that help repair energy production, support adrenal and thyroid health, and reduce the inflammatory processes that sap vitality.
But there is no one-size-fits-all solution. And that’s where working together becomes powerful. Because your story - your exposures, your triggers, your symptoms - is unique.
Working Together to Reclaim Your Energy
When I work with you, we won’t just chase symptoms. We’ll explore your full health history, your environment, your nutrition, and your lifestyle to uncover what’s driving your fatigue. We’ll look at the science behind:
Mitochondrial repair and energy regeneration
Gut-healing protocols to reduce inflammation
Breathing techniques that support oxygen delivery
Sleep hygiene strategies that promote true rest
Hormonal and adrenal support
Detox pathways and environmental toxin reduction
These strategies are personalised to your body, your rhythms, your life.
What Could Life Look Like with Energy Again?
Imagine waking up with clarity. Moving through your day with energy and presence. Feeling like yourself again. Imagine understanding your body’s needs and having the tools to meet them.
If you’ve been dismissed, overlooked, or told to “just get on with it,” I want you to know: fatigue is not your fault. And it’s not forever.
There is a reason you feel the way you do. And there is a way forward.
If you’re ready to explore the root causes of your fatigue and learn what your body needs to heal, I invite you to get in touch. Together, we’ll uncover what’s been holding you back and create a path toward the vibrant energy you deserve.