How much caffeine do you have in a day?
If you feel that you have energy in the morning, but need 4 or more cups of coffee a day, that is inconsistent with reality.
Excess caffeine intake tells me that you’re struggling with fatigue. First, you will need to address some lifestyle changes. That is, better sleep and dietary habits. Later on, we may need to dig deeper by seeing a Functional Medicine Practitioner or an Integrative Doctor.
Resources
Carbs, Coffee, & Cortisol…
Cortisol is a stress hormone that helps us wake up. Eat some healthy carbs midday and then some more at night to help shut down cortisol production. Don't rely on caffeine to get you going, as then cortisol stays elevated.
'People become immune to coffee boost', experts believe
"Using coffee for a pick-me-up may be pointless if you drink it all the time." Four cups of coffee a day is safe. Pregnant women should have less then 200mg of caffeine per day.
5 Causes of Fatigue Your Doctor May Not be Looking For
"The problem with fatigue is that it’s such a non-specific symptom; it has numerous potential causes, and often requires a lot of investigation to determine the primary driver." This article lists five causes of fatigue that should be ruled out if you’re eating right and getting enough sleep, but still feel tired all the time.
RHR: Chronic Fatigue—Treating the Cause Not the Symptoms
"When you have a nonspecific symptom like fatigue, you have to investigate all seven of the primary mechanisms that lead to disease." ONE: Gut dysfunction. TWO: Nutrient imbalance. THREE: Toxic overload. FOUR: Hormone imbalance. FIVE: Chronic infection. SIX: Immune dysregulation. SEVEN: Genetic polymorphisms.
Adrenal Fatigue or HPA Axis Dysregulation?
"Adrenal fatigue" is a poor term. Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dysregulation (HPA-D) is more specific. The HPA axis is our stress response system. It heavily involves the brain, not just the adrenals. Cortisol levels may be high or low in these "fatigued" people.
CFS - The Central Cause: Mitochondrial Failure
Mitochondria produce energy and if they are damaged, your tissues cannot work well. If the heart fatigues, not enough blood is pumped and it needs to be shunted away from various organ systems.