Worksheet
Why You Feel Tired: The Mitochondrial Science of Fatigue and Burnout
Fatigue is often mistaken for laziness or a lack of willpower. This worksheet reframes it as a biological signal instead. Built with Dr. Martin Picard, an expert in the science of energy and mitochondrial psychobiology, it walks clients through the concept of "energy resistance" (éR) - the gap between what the body is asked to do and what it can currently power. Clinicians can use this resource to help clients understand fatigue and burnout as protective, adaptive states rather than personal failures.
How to Use This Worksheet
Introduce this science-based worksheet during sessions to help clients unpack persistent physical or emotional exhaustion. Guide them through the core concepts of energy resistance, cellular signaling, and the protective role of the metabokine GDF15. Have clients complete the seven-question reflection exercise to map their personal energy demands, identify physiological mobilization signals, and discover non-essential demands they can reduce or delegate.
Who This Worksheet Is For
This guide is designed for individuals navigating persistent physical fatigue, emotional burnout, chronic illness, or high-stress demands like caregiving and heavy workloads. It serves as a validating, research-backed workbook for anyone struggling with self-blame or guilt over low energy levels. It also provides an actionable psychoeducational tool for somatic therapists, health psychologists, integrative counselors, and medical social workers
Expected Outcomes
- Increased understanding of fatigue as an adaptive, protective response
- Reduction in shame around low energy or motivation
- Greater insight into personal stressors driving energy resistance
- Enhanced language for describing fatigue to providers and support systems
- Greater self-compassion around rest and reduced output
- Increased motivation to reduce or delegate non-essential demands
Related Topics
References
Lui CC, Huang Q, Shaulson ED, Trumpff C, Epel E, Feldman-Barrett L, Belsky DW, Wilson MZ, Cohen AA, Mosharov E, Murugan NJ, Wager TD, Picard M. Mitoception via the metabokine GDF15 and human health. Biopsychosoc Sci Med, 2026.
Liu CC, Trumpff C, Huarng Q, Juster RP, Picard M. Biopsychosocial correlates of resting and stress-reactive salivary GDF15: preliminary findings. Brain Behav Immun, 2025.
Huang Q, Trumpff C, Monzel AS, Rausser S, Devine J, Liu CC, Kelly C, Kurade M, Li S, Engelstad K, Tani K, Lauriola V, Wang T, Wang S, Sloan R, Juster RP, Hirano M, Picard M. The mitochondrial disease biomarker GDF15 is quantifiable in saliva, exhibits dynamic properties and correlates with disease severity. Mol Genet Metab, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions About Why You Feel Tired: The Mitochondrial Science of Fatigue and Burnout Resources
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