Wow, this is totally the same situation I'm in. I'm actually okay and awake when I get up in the morning, I feel like I get a good night's sleep, but a couple hours into the work day...exhaustion, not just tiredness, but full on exhaustion sets in. It's because of the mental gymnastics I'm doing to keep myself "normal" and not looking like the mentally ill person that I am.

Someone mentioned tasks lists. Tasks lists are my best friend. Making a list and prioritizing what's most important then just methodically going through and getting the day's work done...this has been my best friend. It helps to alleviate the exhaustion and helps me stay focused. Also, I hate to admit it, but caffeine is definitely my friend. Coffee doesn't do much for me, but I love those little 5 hour energy shots.

I have also found that if I'm so exhausted that I can't keep my eyes open then a break from my desk is required. I'll go talk to a co-worker (that's what I prefer, just to have some human contact) or use my lunch time to run an errand, even if it's just to run home and take the dog for a walk. It just breaks my day up and helps keep me awake. Sometimes I even just walk across the street for a soda or some gum, but just something to take me away from the desk and kill some time. I prefer going to talk to a co-worker because I'm new in my position and, even though none of us have a lot of time to just chat, I really do need to get my co-workers better. So I'll be honest and say "I needed to step away from my computer screen for a few minutes, want to chat and take a little breather?" Then usually they'll tell me what they're working on and I'll mention what I'm working on, we suggest things to each other, before I know it, a half hour is gone and I'm feeling energized again.

That's one thing I don't like about my current working space. I have an office. Yes, one of the lucky few who has an office...but my office is in the back corner away from the rest of my department...I feel like I get very little human contact during the day and I don't like to be isolated, I feed off the energy of others. I would almost prefer to be in a cubicle if it meant I could sit near another human being and just feed of their energy. Maybe that's weird, I dunno.

So to recap: for the fatigue: lists help keep me focused, which helps fight off the fatigue...taking time to step away from desk to chat with co-workers energizes me...and taking a walk away from my office for a lunch break also helps. And caffeine.

You might also want to check into what meds you're taking and see if they're involved in your fatigue. One doctor told me to take my Abilify in the morning, and I was so exhausted and couldn't figure it out. New pdoc said WHAT? no you have to take it at night, Abilify will make you tired for sure. So I switched that and things got easier.

A couple of times, when I was taking the Abilify at the wrong time, I napped in my car at lunch. I really HATE doing that, but the little cat naps did help when I was just so exhausted I couldn't make it. And hey, it's your lunch hour, you do what you want with it.

Hope this is helpful. I totally know what you're going through right now.

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