😮‍💨 I Thought I Was Just Tired: The Overlap Between Burnout and Low Iron in Women

Written By mobs alex

When exhaustion isn’t just in your head — or your schedule

“I’m just tired.”
It’s a phrase many women repeat to themselves daily between meetings, meals, and everything else that falls into the invisible workload. But what if that tiredness isn't just from doing too much?

What if it’s also a sign your body is running low on one of its most basic resources: iron?

This post explores how burnout and low iron symptoms can overlap, why they’re often missed in women, and how to start decoding your own energy levels with more clarity.

🧠 1. What Burnout Feels Like

Burnout isn’t just about stress it’s a deeper state of physical, emotional, and mental depletion. Signs include:

  • Constant fatigue, even after rest

  • Feeling emotionally flat or numb

  • Brain fog and forgetfulness

  • Low motivation or irritability

  • Trouble sleeping or waking up tired

Many women experience burnout in silence, often blaming themselves or brushing it off as "just life."

🩸 2. What Low Iron or Ferritin Feels Like

Iron is essential for carrying oxygen in your blood. When it’s low (even if not anaemic), your body might show signs such as:

  • Extreme tiredness or heaviness in the body

  • Shortness of breath during normal tasks

  • Change in skin or dark circles

  • Feeling cold more often

  • Heart palpitations or dizziness

Low ferritin (your stored iron) is especially common in women who menstruate, are postpartum, or follow plant-based diets and it’s often not checked unless you push for it.

⚖️ 3. The Symptom Overlap

Here’s where it gets tricky:
Fatigue. Brain fog. Mood changes. Sleep issues. These can all be symptoms of either burnout or low iron or both happening at once.

This is why so many women blame themselves, or believe they just need to "try harder," when what they may actually need is:

  • A ferritin blood test

  • A break

  • A nutrition review

  • Or all three

🥗 4. What Can Help

If any of this resonates with you, know that support is possible. You might try:

  • Speaking to your GP: Ask for a full iron panel including ferritin, not just haemoglobin.

  • Reviewing your meals: Iron-rich foods include red meat, lentils, beans, spinach, pumpkin seeds, and tofu.

  • Pairing iron with vitamin C: This helps absorption. Avoid tea/coffee with iron-rich meals.

  • Resting without guilt: True rest isn’t earned. Your body might be asking for it.

  • Considering a supplement (only after testing): Some women need this to rebuild levels, especially after heavy periods or postpartum.

🌿 Final Thought

If your body feels like it’s dragging through the day, don’t dismiss it as weakness or laziness. There’s wisdom in your fatigue. Whether it’s burnout, low iron, or both it’s worth looking into.

You’re not just tired. You’re tired of being tired. And that matters.

📚 Further Reading

💬 Let’s Talk

Have you ever been told your tiredness was "just stress" only to find out something else was going on? What helped you get clarity? Share your story below your experience could help someone else feel less alone.

mobs alex
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