Lethargic

Lethargy is a state of tiredness, weariness, fatigue, or lack of energy. It can be accompanied by depression, decreased motivation, or apathy. Lethargy can be a normal response to inadequate sleep, overexertion, overworking, stress, lack of exercise, improper nutrition, boredom, or a symptom of an illness or a disorder. It may also be a side effect of medication or caused by an interaction between medications or medication(s) and alcohol. When part of a normal response, lethargy often resolves with rest, adequate sleep, decreased stress, physical exercise, and good nutrition.

Lethargy’s symptoms can last days or even months.

Causes: • carbon monoxide poisoning • dehydration • fever • hyperthyroidism • hypothyroidism • hydrocephalus or brain swelling • kidney failure • Lyme disease • meningitis • pituitary diseases, such as pituitary cancer • nutrition deficiencies • sleep apnea • stroke • traumatic brain injury

Symptoms: • chest pain • unresponsiveness or minimal responsiveness • inability to move your limbs on one side of your body • disorientation, such as not knowing your name, the date, or your location • fast heart rate • paralysis on one or both sides of your face • loss of consciousness • rectal bleeding • severe headache • shortness of breath • vomiting blood • aches and pains that don’t go away with treatment  • difficulty sleeping • difficulty tolerating hot or cold temperatures • eye irritation • fatigue that lasts longer than two weeks • feelings of sadness or irritability • swollen neck glands  • unexplained weight gain or loss • changes in mood • decreased alertness or decreased ability to think • fatigue • low energy • sluggishness

Lethargy can also be the result of mental health conditions that include:

 • Major depressive disorder • postpartum depression • premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Or the Covid-19 pandemic causing home imprisonment and self-deprivation.

The first week is an adventure, like camping but you know it will be over. This time it isn’t. The fun of having all the family together isn’t the wonderment you had always talked about. The children run out of things to keep their interest, the adults find petty arguments and abundant alcohol runs.

Normally to get away, you’d hop in the car and venture off to get some air but there is nowhere to go.

Slowly your body functions start to fade (like in a hospital). Changing clothing becomes struggle. The walk down the hall to the bathroom has become exercise. Delivery has replaced the effort of cooking. Naps are not treats but necessity.

Your eyes fog over with the constant push of the remote buttons to finally watch wherever it stopped.

The dishes pile up in the sink. The homework is not being finished or checked. Personal hygiene is become infrequent. Tomorrow will be the same.

In my sink there is a red pot. One of those enameled cast iron Dutch oven beauties I bought last Christmas for no reason than it was on sale. I cooked my routine chili in February and ate beans and beef for the next two months. I’d hoped it would cook better than the aluminum pot I used the year before. I also hoped it would clean up better.

I burnt the bottom just as I’d done the year before for I don’t watch the pot and stir.

The plan was to put both pots in the sink, give them a good soaking and scrub away to sparkling clean. It was a good plan.

Now almost June the two pots sit in the sink. They have been filled with water and poured out and moved back and forth while other utensils and plates have been washed of their food crust.

Tomorrow I will wipe them off, scrub the bottom, place in the rack to dry and be done with that project.

Or not.

That is lethargic.