How do I know if my fatigue is burnout, hormones, or something else?

Fatigue can come from burnout, hormone imbalance, poor sleep, gut dysfunction, blood sugar swings, or mitochondrial stress. In functional medicine we map patterns and, when helpful, use advanced labs to pinpoint what is actually driving your exhaustion, so you stop guessing, stop chasing symptoms, and start restoring steady energy.

Fatigue is a signal, not a diagnosis

Think of fatigue as your body waving a flag. The question is why. As a functional medicine practitioner, I look at how systems connect rather than isolating one symptom. At Dr. Kenny’s clinic we follow the clues in your story, daily rhythms, and labs to see what is overworked, underfed, or out of sync.

Common drivers we investigate

  • HPA axis dysregulation, “burnout.” Long stress blunts your natural cortisol curve, making mornings sluggish and nights wired.
  • Thyroid and sex hormones. Low or poorly converting thyroid hormones, estrogen dominance, or low testosterone can tank stamina and mood.
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction. Your cellular “power plants” underperform when inflamed or nutrient depleted.
  • Gut health issues. Impaired digestion or dysbiosis can block absorption of iron, B vitamins, amino acids, and can disrupt neurotransmitters.
  • Blood sugar instability. Skipped meals, high-carb snacks, or over-caffeinating can trigger energy crashes and brain fog.

Why “burnout” alone is rarely the full story

Stress is real, but many people who feel burned out also carry hidden physiologic stressors like low iron stores, suboptimal thyroid conversion, stealth gut inflammation, or poor nutrient recycling. That is why a one-size stress fix falls short. We zoom out to the system level, then zoom in on the root contributors unique to you.

How we get clarity with fatigue, test then target

Instead of asking “What pill do I need?”, we ask “Which system needs support?”

  • Advanced Hormone Panels to assess cortisol rhythm, sex hormone balance, and metabolites.
  • Advanced Stool and Microbiome Test to check digestion, microbes, and gut inflammation that sap energy.
  • Organic Acids Testing to spot mitochondrial strain, nutrient needs, and detox bottlenecks.

We pair data with your lived experience, sleep, cycle or andropause changes, nutrition, movement, and stress load. From there we design a phased plan, starting with sleep-wake consistency, balanced meals that steady glucose, gentle conditioning, nervous-system downshifts, then targeted nutrients that match your findings. As the Root Cause Health Detective, my job is to connect the dots and keep it practical.

What you can start today to influence fatigue

  • Stabilize rhythms. Fixed wake time, morning light, and a wind-down routine.
  • Balance plates. Each meal includes protein, fiber, healthy fat, and color to blunt glucose spikes.
  • Tame caffeine. Cap by noon, swap late coffee for herbal tea.
  • Move gently, often. Short walks after meals, low-to-moderate strength two to three times weekly.

Breathe to reset. 4-7-8 or box breathing before bed and during midday dips.

Additional resources you can choose from

Feeling stuck and exhausted?

Book your FREE Health Clarity Consult

Answered by Dr. Kenny Mittelstadt, DACM, DC, IFMCP
Certified functional medicine practitioner specializing in advanced lab testing and personalized healing protocols to uncover root causes of health roadblocks.

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