Why Rest Isn’t Helping: When Your Body Can’t Reset Itself

You’ve canceled plans, gone to bed early, slept late … and you still wake up tired. It’s not laziness or lack of willpower. When your body’s nervous system gets stuck in overdrive after illness or stress, “rest” doesn’t actually register. The body is trying to protect you, not restore you. It helps when you can understand that exhaustion is a signal, not a failure.