Imagine waking up every single day not just tired, but utterly exhausted. It feels like you’ve been running a marathon in your sleep. Your body aches, your brain is foggy, and you’re struggling to remember even the simplest things. Sound familiar? If it does, and no one around you seems to understand what you’re going through, you might be dealing with something much deeper than exhaustion.
It might be Chronic Lyme Disease.
Thousands of people are affected by this condition worldwide, and many struggle to get a proper diagnosis because the symptoms often mimic other illnesses. That’s why it’s crucial to recognize the signs early on. Understanding these symptoms can be the first step toward reclaiming your health and life. Let’s dive into the top five signs that might indicate you have Chronic Lyme Disease, and how knowing these signs can empower you to take control of your healing journey.
1. Persistent Fatigue
This isn’t your typical tiredness that goes away after a good night’s sleep or a restful weekend. Chronic fatigue associated with Lyme is a whole different beast. Imagine doing just a couple of hours of light work, and instead of feeling tired in a manageable way, you’re utterly wiped out—sometimes for days. It’s not just physical; it’s mental and emotional exhaustion that leaves you feeling like you’re running on empty, even though you’ve been resting.
When I was battling Lyme, no matter how long I slept, it was as if my energy tank never filled up. I’d sleep for 12, sometimes even 14 hours, and wake up feeling just as drained as when I went to bed. For those of us with Lyme, this kind of fatigue is a sign that the body is constantly at war with an underlying infection, consuming energy reserves just to keep up the fight. It’s not laziness or being overworked—it’s your body sending out distress signals that something much deeper is happening.
If this describes you, you’re not alone. Many Lyme patients feel this overwhelming fatigue, and it’s one of the earliest and most consistent signs of the disease. This level of exhaustion can make even the simplest tasks, like getting out of bed or making breakfast, feel like monumental efforts.
Pro Tip: Start slow. Incorporating gentle, restorative practices can help manage this kind of fatigue. Focus on breathwork, yoga, or even meditation—anything that allows you to connect with your body without pushing it too hard. Start where you are, even if that’s just a few minutes of movement or deep breathing. Over time, these small steps can help you begin to reclaim your energy.
2. Chronic Pain
Pain is another hallmark of Chronic Lyme, but it’s not just any pain—it’s migratory and often mysterious. One day, you might wake up with sharp pain in your knee, and the next day, it’s your shoulder or hip that’s throbbing. This pain can shift around your body without warning, making it incredibly frustrating to pinpoint and treat. And, often, traditional medications don’t help, leaving you feeling stuck and misunderstood by healthcare providers.
Remember: Migratory pain is a hallmark of Lyme disease.
In my case, Lyme found its home in old sports injuries. Even though I had mostly recovered from them, Lyme seemed to reactivate those weak spots, causing intense flare-ups that were hard to predict. All that on top of brand new, body wide pain.
For others, the pain might manifest as stiffness, burning sensations, or even numbness in areas that weren’t previously injured. It’s this unpredictability that makes Lyme so challenging—not just for those suffering from it but also for their doctors.
If you’ve been experiencing this kind of pain—where it moves around, lingers for months, or even intensifies without a clear cause—Lyme disease should be considered as a possibility. The pain is often linked to inflammation caused by your immune system, which is constantly battling the Lyme bacteria.
Pro Tip: Adopting an anti-inflammatory diet can be a game-changer when it comes to managing chronic pain. Reducing sugars, processed foods, and artificial additives can help lower inflammation levels. But remember, it’s not just about your physical diet—your mental and emotional “diet” plays a huge role too. Feed your mind with positivity and reduce exposure to stressors like negative social media or toxic news. Your body and mind are deeply connected, and what you consume mentally affects your healing just as much as what you eat.
3. Cognitive Difficulties (aka Brain Fog)
Brain fog can be one of the most disorienting and frustrating symptoms of Chronic Lyme Disease. You may find yourself forgetting simple things, like why you walked into a room, or struggling with basic mental tasks that used to come easily. This cognitive dysfunction doesn’t just affect your memory—it impacts your ability to think clearly, focus, and process information. It can make even routine tasks feel impossible.
For high achievers, this symptom can be particularly devastating. You’re used to functioning at a high level, excelling in your work, and managing multiple tasks efficiently. But with Lyme, even simple mental math or decision-making can become overwhelming. I remember during my own illness, I reached a point where I couldn’t do basic calculations in my head. Tasks that used to take me an hour suddenly stretched out over several hours, leaving me mentally drained and frustrated.
The cognitive decline associated with Lyme often sneaks up on you. It can start with small lapses in memory or concentration, but over time, it can feel like you’re constantly living in a mental fog. This isn’t just fatigue; it’s a neurological symptom that can be caused by the inflammation Lyme triggers in your brain and nervous system.
Pro Tip: You can help your brain by feeding it the right nutrients—both through diet and activities. Engage in exercises that challenge your mind, like puzzles, reading, or learning something new. And don’t forget about rest: giving your brain the time to heal is just as important as stimulating it. Meditation and mindfulness practices can help reduce stress and improve cognitive function, so carve out a few minutes each day to disconnect and reset your mind.
4. Sleep Disturbances
Sleep disturbances are incredibly common in those suffering from Chronic Lyme Disease. You might have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up multiple times during the night. And even if you do sleep through the night, you might wake up feeling just as tired as you were before you went to bed. This is known as non-restorative sleep, and it’s a frustratingly common issue for Lyme patients.
Without proper sleep, your body struggles to heal. Sleep is when your body performs essential maintenance—repairing cells, reducing inflammation, and detoxifying your brain through the glymphatic system. But Lyme disease can interfere with these processes, leaving you trapped in a vicious cycle of poor sleep, worsened fatigue, and increased pain.
For many people, the cause of these sleep disturbances can be traced back to inflammation, pain, or neurological issues caused by Lyme. Anxiety and stress, which often accompany chronic illness, can also play a role in disrupting sleep patterns. If you find yourself waking up several times throughout the night or simply not feeling refreshed after sleep, Lyme might be the underlying cause.
Pro Tip: Establishing a consistent bedtime routine can help signal to your body that it’s time to wind down. Limit screen time before bed—blue light from devices can interfere with your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. Consider using blue light blockers or winding down with natural sleep aids like chamomile tea or melatonin. Your bedroom should be a sleep sanctuary: cool, dark, and free from distractions.
5. Mood Changes
Chronic illness, particularly Lyme, takes a heavy toll on your emotional well-being. The constant pain, fatigue, and lack of understanding from others can wear you down emotionally. It’s not uncommon to experience mood swings, irritability, depression, or anxiety when dealing with Lyme. But these mood changes aren’t just a response to feeling unwell—they can be a direct result of the disease itself.
Lyme can cause inflammation in the brain, which can lead to mood disturbances. I was once misdiagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder when, in fact, the root cause was Lyme. This is an important distinction because treating the emotional symptoms without addressing the underlying infection won’t lead to lasting relief.
If you’ve noticed significant mood changes since dealing with chronic illness, it’s essential to consider Lyme as a potential cause. It’s easy to feel isolated and frustrated when people don’t understand what you’re going through, but knowing that your emotional swings are part of the illness can help you approach healing more compassionately.
Pro Tip: Start a “mental diet.” Just like with your physical health, what you feed your mind matters. Surround yourself with positivity, whether it’s through music, podcasts, or supportive people. Meditation can also be incredibly helpful in managing mood changes by reducing stress and promoting relaxation. Remember, your body is always listening to your mind, so feed it nourishing, uplifting content to help support your emotional healing.
What To Do Next
If you recognize one or more of these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it’s crucial to take action. Chronic Lyme Disease is serious and requires comprehensive medical care. This includes both conventional Western treatments and holistic approaches like herbal supplements, detoxification, and mindfulness practices.
At Origins Of Health, we’re here to help you every step of the way with our holistic approach, combining the best of both worlds—body, mind, and spirit. If you think you might have Lyme, reach out. We have the tools to help you reclaim your health.
