Why Do I Feel Sick all the Time?
Do you feel run-down a lot? Are you experiencing strange aches and pains that even repeated trips to the doctor can’t explain? If so, you’re not alone and you’re not crazy. The reason you feel sick all the time most likely has to do with one or more of the five common causes of mystery symptoms.
“It’s All in Your Head”
If you’ve been told by trained physicians that it’s all in your head and you’ve heard the word, ‘hypochondriac’ muttered in your direction more than once, it’s not your fault. People who have never suffered from any type of chronic illness or pain simply don’t understand what it’s like to feel terrible all the time.
Your Doctor Doesn’t Understand
Doctors are trained to perform tests that tell them what is wrong with their patient. When nothing turns up, the suffering patient often gets the brush-off. The problem with conventional medicine is that there are plenty of health conditions that don’t fit the traditional expectation and therefore, cannot usually be treated conventionally. Let’s take a look at those.
Mystery Symptoms Cause # 1 – Autoimmune Disorders
There are many autoimmune disorders that can cause mystery symptoms and the symptoms vary. However, there are some common characteristics of undiagnosed autoimmune disease. These are:
- Extreme Fatigue
- Muscle Pain/Weakness
- Frequent Colds and Flu
- Inflammation
- Digestive Complaints/Food Allergies
- Frequent Yeast Infections
- Mental Confusion (“Brain Fog”)
- Sudden Weight Loss or Gain
- Infertility
- Difficulty Sleeping
The immune system is both complex and delicate. It can be thrown off balance by any number of factors including poor diet, chronic stress, food intolerances and heavy metal toxicity to name a few. Getting the immune system back in balance is the first order of business to relieve symptoms and help the body heal. It is important to control stress, get adequate sleep, eat a balanced meal of whole foods and cleanse the body of stored waste materials.
Mystery Symptoms Cause #2 – Food Intolerances
Those who feel sick all the time, especially if most of the sickness is in their gut, could be suffering from one or more food intolerances. Symptoms of food intolerance include:
- Abdominal Cramping
- Chronic Diarrhea
- Chronic Constipation
- Flatulence (Gas)
- Gurgling Intestines
- Sudden Weight Loss or Gain
- Mental Confusion (“Brain Fog”)
The most common food intolerance that causes the above mystery symptoms is gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. A person with gluten intolerance cannot digest this protein and it remains undigested in the intestines, leading to difficulty absorbing nutrients from any food. Basically, a person with gluten intolerance who is eating gluten is slowly starving to death no matter how much they eat. The immune system treats gluten as a foreign invader and the body stays in “fight or flight” mode struggling to fight it off after every meal.
The best way to see if gluten intolerance is causing your mystery symptoms is to do an elimination diet.
Other common food intolerances are dairy, citrus, eggs, corn, soy, shellfish and food preservatives.
Mystery Symptoms Cause #3 – Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
Those with food intolerances or other digestive health condition may have vitamin and mineral deficiencies that cause mystery symptoms. In order to function properly, the body needs to be able to take its nutrients from food. If diet or digestion is poor, it is very important to supplement the diet with whole food vitamins and minerals. Common vitamin and mineral deficiencies are:
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin C
- Omega 3
- Folic Acid
- Iron
- Vitamin K
- Niacin
- Zinc
- Potassium
- Magnesium
Those with vitamin and mineral deficiencies will often experience symptoms of a mental illness. To learn more about how vitamin and mineral deficiencies may be cause your mystery symptoms, click here.
Mystery Symptoms Cause #4 – Environmental Allergens and Toxins
Most people would never think to look right under their nose for the cause of their mystery symptoms but, believe it or not, the allergens and toxins in your home could be making you feel terrible. Common household sources of allergens and toxins include:
- Carpeting
- Flooring
- Mattresses
- Mold
- Laundry Detergent
- Household Cleaners
- Air Fresheners
- Make-up and Skin Care Products
If you often break out into hives, have headaches, sneeze and cough often, have chronic post-nasal drip and feel run-down, achy and have shortness of breath, the mystery symptoms you experience could be related to a household allergy. Start by switching to natural household cleaners and laundry detergent and ditch the air freshener. If relief isn’t found, a mold allergy could be to blame. If you’ve recently put in new carpeting or flooring, the culprit could be just under your feet.
Mystery Symptom Cause #5 – Drugs, Vaccines and Dental Fillings
If the first four causes of mystery symptoms didn’t seem to apply to you, it may be the medications you’re currently using to treat your symptoms. Have you been taking a prescription or over-the-counter drug for some time? If so, look into the side effects and see if they match the symptoms you’re experiencing.
Do you have any dental fillings? Mercury poisoning can mimic hundreds of diseases and disorders and dental fillings are filled with heavy doses.
Is getting the flu vaccine a yearly ritual for you? Both mental and movement disorders have been noted to be caused by the mercury preservative in vaccines.
Some of the common symptoms of mercury toxicity are:
- Neurological Problems
- Learning Disabilities
- Mental Illness
- Insomnia
- Tinnitus/Hearing Impairment
- Constant Metallic Taste in Mouth
- Autoimmune Disease
- Food Allergies
- Abnormal Blood Pressure/Cholesterol Levels
- Bowel Diseases
You Don’t Have to Feel Sick all the Time
After reading this article, you’ve probably come to the conclusion that autoimmune disease, food intolerance, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, household allergies and mercury toxicity are all related to one another. The best way to treat mystery symptoms is not to treat the symptoms, but to treat the person as a whole.
To start, eliminate as many toxins as possible, including processed foods, reduce stress and cleanse the body to get the immune system functioning in a more balance way.
Remember, you’re not alone and you’re not crazy. If you’re suffering from mystery symptoms, you’re simply trapped in a vicious cycle you may not have, up until now, realized you were in.
Alternatives to Conventional Doctor Visits
There are plenty of resources available to you. Do your own research and book an appointment with a trusted naturopath or doctor of chiropractic medicine in your area to get some professional support. You deserve to experience a whole new world of good health!