Reviewed by: Pavel Kornilov, MD, psychiatrist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F48.0
- Who leads care
- a psychiatrist, with a psychotherapist when needed
- Format
- video consultation followed by check-in sessions
- Duration
- first session 40–60 minutes; recovery takes weeks to months
- Confidentiality
- consultation without a surname is possible; medical confidentiality applies
- When it’s urgent
- thoughts of death, sudden weakness with chest pain — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- a clear cause of your fatigue and a plan for examination and recovery
What you should know
When you don’t even have the energy to get to a doctor, the online format is especially fitting. The path is simple: you message us on WhatsApp that you are constantly tired and can’t recover, choose a time — for example, a weekend morning — and receive a link. You can join without getting off the couch. There is no need to sit in traffic on Tole Bi Street, look for parking, and wait in a hallway, spending your last reserves of energy before the appointment even begins. For Almaty residents, it is also a way to avoid losing half a day.
During the consultation, the psychiatrist asks when the fatigue began, how it changes over the course of the day, and what preceded it: an illness, overload, a loss, a job change. Sleep, appetite, mood, concentration, and interest in life are discussed. It is important to understand whether this is exhaustion after overload, depression, an anxiety disorder, or a sign of a physical illness. The doctor will tell you which tests and in-person examinations are needed and propose a recovery plan.
Signs of Asthenic Syndrome
- getting tired quickly from everyday tasks that used to be easy
- sleep doesn’t refresh you; in the morning you feel as if you never went to bed
- irritability, a short temper, crying over small things
- trouble concentrating; you forget words, plans, and agreements
- increased sensitivity to noise, bright light, and loud conversations
- headaches, heaviness in the body, a “foggy” head
- not wanting to see people because you have no energy for socializing
If at least two points apply and the state lasts longer than two weeks, it is worth seeing a specialist. Phone consultation is free. If life is at risk, call 112 or 103.
Why Asthenia Develops
Asthenic syndrome is not a diagnosis in itself but the body’s general response to exhaustion. It can be caused by prolonged overload without rest, chronic sleep deprivation, past infections (including viral ones), anemia, thyroid problems, diabetes, heart disease, and other physical conditions. That is why it is important not to dismiss fatigue as “just being tired” but to rule out physical causes.
Asthenia is often driven by depression or an anxiety disorder, especially when fatigue is combined with a loss of interest, low mood, or insomnia. The pace of a big city, with a long commute, overtime, and constant availability on messaging apps, wears down your resources unnoticed. Overuse of caffeine, alcohol, and energy drinks gives a temporary boost but ultimately makes exhaustion worse.
How an Online Consultation for Asthenia Works
Before the session, it helps to write down how you sleep, when you feel most tired, what medications you take, and what tests you have already had. The psychiatrist asks about your well-being, mood, workload, and past illnesses, and may offer questionnaires. They assess whether there are signs of depression or anxiety and explain what to do next. The result is a plan: examinations, a recovery routine, psychotherapy, or treatment.
Lab tests and physical examinations cannot be done online, yet they are often needed to rule out anemia, thyroid disease, and other physical causes. The doctor will tell you whom to see in person and for what. In case of weakness with chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting, as well as thoughts of self-harm, call 103 or 112.
How we help
Finding and addressing the cause
The first step is to understand where the fatigue comes from. The doctor orders or recommends basic lab tests and in-person examinations to rule out physical illnesses. If a cause is found, treating it often restores energy on its own. If the results are normal, the focus shifts to mental and behavioral factors: depression, anxiety, sleep patterns, and workload.
Restoring a healthy routine
Regular sleep, a gradual return to physical activity, breaks during the day, and limiting caffeine and screens in the evening are simple measures with a real effect. The doctor helps you build a realistic plan that takes your schedule into account: office work, commuting, and family. It is important to increase your load gradually so as not to slide into a new round of exhaustion.
Psychotherapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify habits that sustain exhaustion: perfectionism, an inability to say no, working without breaks. The therapist teaches you to pace your energy, notice early signs of fatigue, and recover. Online sessions are convenient because they don’t require extra energy for travel.
Treatment of co-occurring conditions
If asthenia is linked to depression or an anxiety disorder, the psychiatrist offers appropriate treatment, including medications from the relevant classes when indicated and in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Medications are never prescribed blindly “for fatigue”: the cause is identified first. Follow-up sessions help track your progress.
Myths and facts
MythFatigue isn’t a reason to see a doctor
FactPersistent fatigue that doesn’t go away after rest can be a sign of anemia, thyroid disease, depression, and other conditions. An examination helps find the cause in time instead of spending months trying to “push through it.”
MythVitamins and an energy drink are all you need
FactVitamins help only when a deficiency has been confirmed, and energy drinks give a short-term effect while worsening sleep. Without finding the cause, such measures only postpone solving the problem and can make exhaustion worse.
MythAsthenia is just laziness
FactPeople with asthenia often want to be active but physically can’t. It is a real state of exhaustion of the nervous system and the body, not a character trait. It needs attention and treatment, not reproach.
How an online appointment works
- Message or callWrite on WhatsApp or call — our coordinator replies within minutes, day or night. You don't have to give your surname.
- Doctor and timeWe match you with a psychiatrist, addiction specialist or psychotherapist and agree on a time — often the same day.
- Video consultationA secure 50–60 minute video call: the doctor takes a detailed history and uses standardised scales if needed.
- Treatment planYou receive a clear summary, recommendations and a plan: what we do online and what needs an in-person visit or home call.
- Follow-upOnline follow-up sessions, messenger contact with your doctor, and treatment adjustments until you get a stable result.
Prices in Almaty
| Online psychiatrist consultation (50–60 min) | 15 000 ₸ |
| Follow-up online consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| One month of online psychiatric care | 60 000 ₸ |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
Psychiatry Online in Almaty: same-day video appointments and two branches for in-person visits — 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Our mobile team works around the clock: all city districts and nearby settlements. If you live elsewhere in Almaty and Almaty Region, starting online is usually easiest.
Confidential and private
Information about your visit, diagnosis and treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. We never share it with your employer, school or relatives without your consent; the only exceptions are those expressly set out by law. For an online consultation your first name is enough, video runs over a secure channel and nothing is recorded without your consent.
Questions and answers
How is asthenia different from depression?
In asthenia, exhaustion and weakness come first; in depression, it is low mood and a loss of interest and pleasure. But the two often occur together, and one can turn into the other. A detailed conversation with a psychiatrist helps tell them apart.
Which tests should I have done?
The doctor determines the set of tests individually. These often include a complete blood count, thyroid function tests, blood glucose, and other basic tests. The psychiatrist will tell you what to have done and help interpret the results together with your general practitioner.
How long does recovery take?
It depends on the cause and how long the exhaustion has lasted. The first improvements are often noticeable within a few weeks once your routine is in place. Full recovery can take months. The doctor will help you progress gradually without overdoing it.
Can I have a consultation if I live in Konaev?
Yes. Online appointments are available from anywhere — Konaev, Kaskelen, or the Medeu or Auezov districts of Almaty. All you need is an internet connection. You can have tests done at the nearest lab and discuss the results with the doctor by video. This saves your energy.
Do I need medication for asthenia?
Not always. Often, treating the underlying cause and restoring a healthy routine is enough. If depression or an anxiety disorder is found, the doctor may offer medications from the relevant classes in accordance with Kazakhstan law. Self-medicating without identifying the cause is not recommended.
Will my employer find out that I sought help?
No. Contacting Psychiatry Online is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System.” Information is not shared without your consent, except in cases expressly provided for by law. You can seek help anonymously.
Where can I be seen in Almaty?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Both are open 24/7; home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Psychiatry Online medical editorial team based on:
- International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and ICD-11, World Health Organization
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- NICE (UK) and APA (US) guidelines on the treatment of mental disorders
- WHO recommendations on telemedicine and digital health
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy
