Human distress can reach a peak where physical agony and deep emotional turmoil collide, leading to a total collapse of body and mind. Overwhelmed by suffering, fear, and a heavy sense of guilt, a person is stripped of all inner stability and loses their grip on the surrounding world. The core of this collapse begins with a profound, continuous restlessness. The primary approach among commentators is to view this in a mental and emotional light. A person loses all peace of mind, with confused thoughts spinning endlessly due to sorrow, troubles, and regret for past wrongs, entirely unable to find a solution or a moment of rest [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, המאירי, אלשיך]. This circling unrest keeps the mind in a constant state of agitation [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת ציון].
However, this intense inner storm can also be understood as a literal, physical condition. It reflects a restless heart that fails to beat with a steady rhythm [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Taking this physical view even further, it can describe a near-death state. In a final, desperate attempt to survive, the body's life forces abandon the limbs and gather entirely around the heart [מלבי״ם].
As a direct result of this internal turmoil, a person's natural strength completely drains away. Left extremely weak and on the verge of fainting, the individual becomes powerless, almost like a lifeless body [אבן עזרא, אלשיך, מצודת דוד]. This severe physical weakness is rooted in deep, lingering fear, which naturally drains human vitality and physical power [תורה תמימה].
Ultimately, this total collapse reaches the eyes. The dimming of vision is a natural physical reaction that accompanies severe illness, extreme exhaustion, and fainting [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אלשיך]. Beyond the physical symptom, this fading light carries a deeper meaning. It represents a complete disconnection from the physical, external world [מלבי״ם]. It also points to a loss of mental clarity, where the mind is so clouded that a person can no longer bring their thoughts into the light [המאירי].