Digital Overload, Chronic Fatigue, and Your Nervous System

In today’s hyper-connected world, constant screen time can leave us feeling drained. Many people with chronic fatigue describe being “tired but wired”, a sign that the nervous system is overstimulated. This blog explores how digital overload affects your brain and body, and how unplugging (alongside evidence-based tools like medicinal cannabis) can support recovery.

How Digital Overload Contributes to Fatigue

Modern devices trigger a near-constant stress response. Frequent notifications, blue light exposure, and multitasking can keep your sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) switched on, while limiting your body’s ability to activate the parasympathetic system (rest-and-repair). This imbalance increases cortisol, disrupts sleep, and prevents deep recovery. Over time, the result is mental fog, poor sleep, and ongoing fatigue.

Why Your Nervous System Struggles to Switch Off

Excessive screen time can cause:

• Sympathetic overdrive: We generally do not notice this; however, constant alerts and multitasking overstimulate your system, leading to elevated heart rate, cortisol, and anxiety. This leaves us in a chronic low-grade fight or flight state, which is harmful to our health.
• Suppressed rest mode: When the sympathetic system is in overdrive, the parasympathetic system is underactive, and your body struggles to relax and repair. 
• Disrupted sleep: Blue light suppresses our natural sleep hormone melatonin, leading to difficulty falling asleep, lighter sleep and reduced energy the next day.
• Mental fatigue: Digital multitasking fragments attention and reduces cognitive endurance. This leads to people experiencing symptoms of ADHD and feeling scattered and worn out. 

Even rest doesn’t feel restorative when your body is physiologically on high alert. A simple way to give your eyes and brain a mini-reset during screen time is the 20‑20‑20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This reduces eye strain, gives your nervous system a small break, and helps you feel calmer throughout the day.

Unplugging to Heal: What Helps

Taking time away from screens allows your nervous system to reset. Helpful habits include:

• Nature breaks: A 20-minute tech-free walk in green space can lower cortisol and calm your system. The more breaks, the better.

• Turn notifications off as much as possible and give your brain a break.

• Unplug from work. When you’re off work, don’t be tempted to check in, allow notifications, or respond to emails. Set boundaries and only allow notifications or contact for urgent things.

The Role of Medicinal Cannabis

When used alongside lifestyle changes, regulated medicinal cannabis may help ease symptoms linked to nervous system overload:

• Improved sleep: Some research has explored how certain plant-based compounds may influence sleep onset and quality. If this is something you’re interested in exploring, speak with your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional.
• Reduced anxiety: Ongoing research is investigating how CBD may interact with stress pathways in the body. These effects vary by individual and should be discussed with a qualified prescriber.
• Nervous system regulation: Some studies have explored how certain cannabinoids may influence nervous system markers like heart rate variability. These findings are still emerging and require further clinical research.

At Cannabis Clinic, we prescribe with care, starting low, going slow, and tailoring your treatment plan to your needs. Cannabis is never a one-size-fits-all solution, but for some people, it offers valuable support when recovering from digital fatigue and chronic stress.

Final Thoughts

Chronic fatigue often stems from nervous system imbalance, not just physical exhaustion. By limiting screen time, spending more time in nature, and working with tools like breathwork, sleep hygiene, and, for some people, treatment with prescribed plant-based products when recommended by a doctor, may be part of their recovery journey.

Your nervous system is resilient. With small daily habits, it can return to balance, helping you feel more energised, calm, and present.

References

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3. Tanaka, M., et al., (2015). Frontier studies on fatigue, autonomic nerve dysfunction, and sleep-rhythm disorder. The journal of physiological sciences : JPS, 65(6), 483–498. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12576-015-0399-y
4. Hunter, MCR., et al., (2019). Urban nature experiences reduce stress in the context of daily life based on salivary biomarkers. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00722
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6. Ranum, R. M., et al., (2023). Use of cannabidiol in the management of insomnia: a systematic review. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 8(2), 213-229.