That Tired Feeling by Nina Mae Baierle

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 26, 1908

“That Tired Feeling”

By Nina Mae Baierle

NINA MAE BAIERLE, M. D.

The world is full of tired men and women. “I feel tired all the time;” “I am as tired in the morning as when I retire at night;” and “I have no ambition,” are common expressions heard every day. Thousands and thousands of bottles of “patent” medicine are sold because they claim to cure this almost universal feeling of weariness. Many apparently receive benefit while taking the medicine, but as soon as its use is discontinued, the false strength disappears, and greater lassitude and weakness are the final result. In most of these “cure-alls” the principal effects are produced by the alcohol and vicious drugs they contain. More havoc is wrought among the living body cells by this daily administration of stimulation and poison than can be estimated. Constantly forced to work beyond their power, while no real help is given them, the cells use up their stored energy, and sooner or later signs of degeneration appear from which they may never recover.

“That tired feeling” is not a disease; it is only a symptom of some greater disturbance, which, if ignored, may result in the total wreck of health. As soon as it manifests itself, an earnest, thorough investigation should be made to find out and remove the cause.

The causes of “that tired feeling” are numerous. They might be classified under two heads: First, mental causes; second, physical causes. The majority of tired people will find the cause to be one of the following mental disturbances: a guilty conscience, discontent, worry and sorrow, self-pity, or licentiousness.

The physical causes are certain organic diseases, such as diseases of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, and blood, or much more frequently lack of exercise, errors in diet, overwork, and enslaving habits.

When we say physical weariness may be due to a guilty conscience, many are surprised and incredulous. It is, however, a true and most important cause. “Six bottles” of peruna, “Payne’s celery compound,” or “Hood’s sarsaparilla” will never cure “that tired feeling” when due to this cause. Sin-sickness may never be diagnosed by either physician or patient as the real cause of many physical ailments; but many can count the complete restoration of physical health and the birth of new energy and ambition from the time when victory over sin, through Christ, was obtained. The average Christian’s experience of being overcome by sin instead of overcoming sin is enough to make one soul-and-body weary. Those who indulge in faultfinding, gossip, displays of temper, or who excuse themselves from walking in revealed light, will find their physical health depressed accordingly.

A person whose mind is quiet and satisfied in God is in the pathway to health. The message of health reform was given to prepare a people to stand through the last great time of trouble. To do this we must be strong spiritually and physically, able to endure privations, exposure, hardships, and persecutions. Health reform means more than “peanut butter” and a “fomentation cloth.” Many of us must get a new idea of this matter. God is not going to work a miracle to save us when he has given light which, if followed, would give us health and strength sufficient. When we have done all we can, then God will finish to a glorious completion the work begun.

The greatest aid to health is an earnest seeking after God. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” said Jesus.

Discontent is cousin to a guilty conscience, and similar in its effects upon the body. It will cause sleeplessness, headache, indigestion, and loss of appetite, and will terminate in a run-down condition of the body, which will take months to repair. The whole disposition is changed. I am acquainted with a young man who illustrates this perfectly. A few months ago he was filled with enthusiasm for his work, knowing it was the Lord’s work; he worked long hours in the open air, drinking in the beauties of nature, eating good, wholesome food, and was full of joy and gladness. He was transformed in a few months from an invalid to a strong, muscular, sun-browned man, radiating health and energy. A few weeks ago he became discouraged, opened the door to discontent, and the result is astonishing. He moves around slowly, complains of sleeplessness, and nothing suits him. He spends hours in bed that were formerly filled with cheerful whistling in the glad, fresh outdoors. His looks and actions in every particular bear out his statement, “I feel tired all the time.” A rigid physical examination reveals nothing but discontent as the cause.

Sorrow and worry cause more physical breakdowns than real disease. In a few days they will make such sad changes in an individual as to cause great anxiety among friends and loved ones. The whole organism is depressed. Food lies for hours in the stomach undigested. The hands and feet are cold from depressed circulation, the processes of waste and repair are hindered, and shortness of breath and utter weariness will take possession.

On the other hand, joy and gladness of heart will stimulate the functions of the body to increased activity. Even real fatigue is forgotten in some great joy. It will banish tired feelings, hasten digestion, increase the circulation, and stimulate metabolism. A whole-hearted trust in God and in the great life plans he has for us, and a patient acceptance of his ways, will make us glad and happy under the most trying circumstances. Believe that “all things work together for good to them that love God.” A fearful looking forward to the future will drive rest from the heart, and grim disease will linger near to stalk in when the resistance is depressed to the right level.

Self-pity, sensitiveness, and selfishness are synonyms. Those who are listening eagerly to every word to detect some hidden meaning, who “carry chips on their shoulders,” and keep their feelings where they are sure to get hurt are kith and kin to the unhappy, the fretful, the discontented, and the guilty. The physical effects are the same.

Licentious thoughts, vicious day-dreams, and novel reading are productive of much physical harm and disease. The delicate nerve-cells are exhausted and devitalized. The highest ambitions and enthusiasm are blunted and weakened. The bodily weariness and lassitude are so marked as to need no further comment.

“That tired feeling” may be due to some underlying organic disease. The lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, stomach, blood, and general body state should be carefully examined and considered. Many of these diseases are under the patient’s control. By careful, temperate living in obedience to all natural laws, the body will often repair itself, and health be regained.

It sounds strange to say that lack of exercise will make a person tired. Some of the most tired people I have ever met, were tired because they did so little. They stayed in bed until the refreshing, invigorating, inspiring hours of the morning were gone. They had no appetite for breakfast. Before dinner they had a headache, and were faint and weary. After a hearty dinner, a little work completely exhausted them. When extra work had to be done, the unused muscles were sore and lame, and real illness was the result. This may seem a little extreme, but I could cite you many such cases. If such a one had risen at five or six in the morning, taken a dash of cold water, or a brisk walk around the square, and assisted in preparing breakfast

or chopped wood, the food would have tasted good. A day of busy employment brings sweetest rest and enjoyment at its close. Steal a few minutes from your busy day for a brisk walk in the open air. Be sure you walk as if you were going somewhere. Do not wear high heels; that in itself will bring great weariness. Do not neglect a morning sponge-bath in cold or cool water. It will waken and tone up the entire body. Get out in the sunshine, out in the snow; run, jump, laugh, take in deep full breaths of pure fresh air, and that tired feeling will leave you. It is often due to sluggish elimination. Work, air, sunshine, and a happy heart will start the body “house cleaning.” In a few hours all the accumulated rubbish disappears, and rest and quiet prevail.

Errors in diet are responsible for most of the stomach troubles, which in turn cause, among many distressing symptoms, “that tired feeling.” It would be impossible to consider this question fully in this article, but a word to the wise is sufficient. Overeating, eating too little (rarely), hasty eating, eating between meals, drinking at meals, bad combinations, too much pastry and sweets, and large amounts of indigestible foods are productive of much evil.

All agree that the use of alcohol and tobacco are health-destroying habits, but many still cling to tea, coffee, and meat, and they wonder why they realize so little of the blessing of God, and why life seems so little worth while. What has been said in the beginning of the use of moderate doses of alcohol and poisonous drugs as contained in patent medicine, might well be repeated here. The same stimulating and destructive processes go on in a degree proportional to the dose of poison contained in each. No fixed rules can be laid down for each one to follow in matters of diet, but seekers after light and truth will find the way to obey and follow where light leads. Get the right motive in the heart, then as the little birds chirp and flutter around the “morning bath,” singing sweetest songs of praise over simple, plain, wholesome food, so our life, eating, drinking, sleeping, and all our habits, will be a spontaneous outflow from a happy heart to the glory of God.

You who are tired from whatever cause, bring yourselves in harmony with physical laws, secure nature as your ally, then take a daily dose of Isa. 58: 7, 8: “Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily.” There is eternal health in a cup of cold water given in the name of Christ.

Melrose, Mass.