You should talk to your doctor about what's going on. I'm assuming from your letter that you're not tired because you're trying to get by on too little sleep (the common recommendation is eight hours a night). Feeling tired all the time — even when you've had your eight hours — can be a sign of many different problems. Some conditions that could cause this problem include mononucleosis, sleep apnea (a disturbance in your breathing that causes you to sleep fitfully without realizing it), or a thyroid hormone imbalance. These medical conditions — and many others that could also be the cause of your fatigue — can be treated by a doctor.

Depression is another illness that can cause tiredness. Other signs of depression are irritability, overeating or loss of appetite, insomnia, withdrawing from friends, feeling hopeless or helpless, and thinking about suicide. If you have any of these other problems, you should see your doctor or counselor soon. If your current family doctor isn't someone you feel comfortable seeing about this, you should find a new one. Some doctors specialize in adolescent medicine and see mostly teens. Your school counselor may be able to help you find a doctor, or your local teen center could be a good resource for finding a doctor or counselor.

The good news is that all of these problems can be treated, and with some kind of medical attention, you could be feeling rested and healthy again soon.

— Kate Forest, MSW