Do You Suffer From Adrenal Fatigue?
Do you feel stressed and tired all the time? Are you craving sugars and can’t sleep? Are you irritable and anxious? Are you gaining weight around your belly?
All of these symptoms can be related to H-P-A access dysfunction, aka old term adrenal fatigue. We live with constant stress and the stressors come from all over, bombarding us every day. It is well known that stress can have a tremendous impact on our health and wellness. Our adrenal glands produce stress hormones (yes, cortisol is a hormone!) and adrenal fatigue (or “HPA Axis Dysregulation,”) is all over the health news.
Your adrenal glands look like walnuts that live on top of both of your kidneys. These essential glands produce many hormones that perform different functions in your body. One of the critical jobs of adrenal glands is the production of stress hormones.
Unfortunately in our modern society or adrenals are overworked continuously because of the stressors in our life. Stress hormones are designed to protect us form threatening situations like running way form the bear but nit form over some situation in your life like being stressed out from the traffic or not having enough money.
There can be a different kind of stressor in your life that can lead to adrenal fatigue:
– Emotional: Caused by unresolved abuse and trauma, relationship problems, work problems, feeling not good enough, not lovable or continuously pushing yourself to be better or achieve more
– Dietary: Eating food with too much sugar and carbs, downing too much alcohol (because that is the only thing which helps you relax), drinking too much caffeine (because that is the only thing that helps you going), overeating processed food.
– Chemical: Your body is full of toxins, and your liver is overloaded with toxins form prescriptions drugs, xenoestrogens, chemicals, antibiotics, etc.
– Physical: From infections, food sensitivities and allergies or too much exercise.
– Spiritual: You feel like nothing is going to work out, you have no directions in life, depression or lack of purpose
All of those can trigger adrenal fatigue and hormonal imbalances. If you don’t correct that and the stress continues, your adrenals will become worn out. The hormones that keep you alive under threat and give you energy will deplete your health.
Any stressful situations in your life will release cortisol the stress hormones and will be perceived as a threat and the dangerous signal. This process will activate Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal axis known as HPA axis, which is a feedback loop between the brain and others organs. Hypothalamus is the chief commander and sends critical messages to your pituitary gland as well to adrenals glands, and it creates the flight and fight response in preparation for defense.
You will experience a cascade of other symptoms like:
– Adrenals will make sure you have enough glucose for energy to handle emergency
– Your heart rate will speed up for maximum intake of oxygen and nutrients necessary for your brain in preparation of potential fleeing
– Your sensations like hearing and seeing will increase, but your focus will decrease
– Your blood blood-clotting clotting ability will increase in case of injury.
– You, pupils, will dilate and let in more light to sharpen your focus for fighting or fleeing.
– You will perspire intensively to prevent you from overheating
– All other non-essential bodily functions will shut down; tissue repair will shut down, reproductive system will shut down, to keep you alive. Digestion will shut down to make sure you will conserve energy.
This process of stress hormones release in the fight or flight response is your body’s normal reaction to stress. Your body will come back to homeostasis. The problem is that nowadays most of us live in constant stress. Every day and all day. We live in chronic stress.
Our adrenals are always overworked, and they get pooped out and fatigued.
Do I have adrenal fatigue?
When your adrenal glands are overworked and tired of secreting stress hormones day in and out, you can start getting other symptoms.
I have to warn you that adrenal fatigue is not recognized by Western medicine.
If you are experiencing symptoms below you should see your Functional Medicine Doctor or Naturopath Doctor check if you are suffering from adrenal fatigue:
– if you have a hard time to get out of bed
– if you need coffee to get going
– you are so exhausted that you can’t sleep
– lost libido
– mild depression
– anxiety
– feel lightheaded when you standing quickly
– crave salty foods
– have a hard time dealing with daily chores and life
– struggle with memory
– you feel puffy
– you cant feel straight and feel like you have foggy brain
– you feel constantly overwhelmed
– if you experiencing pain in the upper neck for no reason
– exercise doesn’t help you lose weight to the contrary you are gaining weight
– if you gaining weight especially around your abdomen
– you get heart palpitations
– poor memory
– you feel like your immune system is shot – you get sick often, and it takes you a long time to recover
– you feel wired and tired- you feel extremely tired between 7-10pm but get a second wind if you stay up later
– you fell bloated all the time, and your digestion system doesn’t work like it used to
How to test for adrenal fatigue?
You can order through your health practitioner. I’m a big fan of the DUTCH test. It is simple, easy and has more accurate results that blood test, which normally the doctor would order for you. This test will show you the free cortisol which is what your body utilizes.
What if you have these symptoms and what to do about it?
There are plenty of actions you can take to reduce your stress and improve your health and energy levels, like:
Get enough sleep! I can’t stress enough how important sleep is in helping adrenals to recover. Sleep is the key to your recovery. You need to sleep at least 8 to 10 hours. Go to bed early and sleep in!
Exercise smarter but not harder! Go on a walk in nature, take yoga classes or do light weight training.
Support your adrenal function with adrenal diet! Minimize sugar intake, skip your cup of Joe, don’t drink alcohol, eat frequently and regularly, don’t food you are sensitive to, eat healthy breakfast and don’t skip the healthy carbs.
Reduce your stress! Try meditation, do something that brings your joy, listen to the music, get a massage, take a bath, have an orgasm, do breath work, play with your pet, etc.
Make yourself a priority!
Relaxing Chamomile and Lavender Bath Salt Recipe
1 ½ C Epsom salt
10 drops of chamomile oil
10 drops of lavender oil
Add some salt to your tube while your water is running. Mix the essential oils in 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and add it to the water.
Hope in and enjoy!
In Health,
Angie
Enjoy a bunch of great recipes here!
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