Lyndzie wrote:Hi Jeff.
You recently updated your Top 10 reasons for failure. Can you elaborate on adherence fatigue, and how to manage that?
Thanks as always,
Lindsey
Sure.
Adherence fatigue is similar to pandemic fatigue, treatment fatigue and as I mentioned, it is a feeling of fatigue over time for doing what is necessary to maintain adherence to the program (ie, special ordering, meal prep, preparing ahead for social situations) in a world that doesn’t support us.
For years, I have listened to clients talk about it not only in regard to adhering to the program but recovery from substance abuse, . They have done all the right things to maintain the program and have reaped the success of their actions but they get to a point where they just tire of having to do the “different” thing one more time. In treatment fatigue, is is tiring of having to organize their pills, remembering to take them, dealing with the side effects etc.
In regard to adherence fatigue and this way of life, it can come from any one of the things we do to maintain the lifestyle including (but not limited to)…
- feeling like an outsider
- having to special order when out
- having to always prepare ahead
- bringing your own food when out
- being different at social gatherings
- being asked over and over about their lifestyle choices
- having to set aside the time necessary to be active
- not being able to “indulge” in all “food” around them
- having to give up things they used to enjoy
Sometimes, people just tire of doing the right thing especially when it is outside the norm. Sometimes it comes even years after success and the initial thrill of getting well and overcoming their health challenges has waned.
Managing it will be dependent on the person, their situation, what is causing the fatigue. Maybe i will write a more in-depth article on it. I have asked Doug a few times to do a talk on it and maybe one day he will.
I am willing to bet that you, and many others here, have experienced this and can share your own example of it.
In Health
Jeff