Adrenal Fatigue - What the Heck is it?
Have you heard of Adrenal Fatigue?
If you're Stressed, tired, craving sugar, or can’t sleep, you need to read on.
All of these can be related to the constant stress we feel in our lives. We know that stress can have a huge impact on our health and wellness. And, since your adrenal glands produce stress hormones, adrenal fatigue (or “HPA Axis Dysregulation,”) is a popular theme lately.
Your adrenal glands look like walnuts that live on top of both of your kidneys. These important glands produce many hormones, including stress hormones.
But what happens when they become “overworked?”
Adrenaline Junkies
You’ve heard of “adrenaline junkies,” right?
Adrenaline and cortisol are the stress hormones that give you the commonly known adrenaline rush; when you're totally alert and living in the moment. This feeling is known as your body's "fight or flight" response.
Some people (perhaps you?) just love that intense feeling.
The release of hormones in the fight or flight response is your body's normal reaction to stress. Stress can sometimes be positive, like when it helps you swerve and prevent a crash.
After a short time, the flight or flight response dissipates, your body goes back to normal, and all is good.
Constant Stress
But what would happen if you felt constant stress? Like all day, every day? Like “chronic” stress?
It wouldn't feel like an awesome (once-in-a-while) "rush," anymore would it?
And what do you think happens to your poor adrenal glands when they’re constantly working?
They’d get fatigued, right?
Do I have adrenal fatigue?
When your adrenal glands start getting tired of secreting stress hormones day in and out, you can start getting other symptoms.
Symptoms like fatigue, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, weight loss or gain, joint pain, sugar cravings, even frequent infections like colds and the flu are signs that your adrenals are overworked.
Can I get blood work to test for this?
First off, I have to tell you that there aren't medically accepted blood tests for adrenal fatigue. In fact, it's not recognized by most medical professionals until the point when your adrenals are so fatigued they almost stop working. At that point, the official diagnoses of "Adrenal Insufficiency" or "Addison's Disease" may apply.
However, if you do have symptoms, you should see your doctor to rule out other conditions. He or she may even be open to discussing adrenal fatigue, or at the very least, wellness strategies that can help to reduce your stress (and symptoms).
What to do if I have these symptoms?
There are many actions you can take to reduce your stress and improve your health and energy levels.
Ideally, if you think stress is starting to burn you out, stress reduction is key. There are tons of ideas how you can reduce your stress. My favourites are meditation, walking in nature, light exercise, more sleep, or taking a bath.
Of course, I also recommend reducing sugar and processed food intake and eating more fruits and vegetables. Better nutrition can only help your body. So go ahead and do it.
Conclusion
Your adrenal glands produce hormones in response to stress. After long-term daily stress, they may get tired.
Adrenal fatigue is a controversial disease that doesn’t have a true diagnostic test, nor specific telltale symptoms.
The most important thing you can do is to get tested to rule out other potential conditions. You can also try stress reduction techniques like meditation, walks in nature, light exercise, more sleep, or even a lovely bath.
Recipe (Stress-reducing bath salt): Lavender Bath Salts
Per bath
- 2 cups epsom salts
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- As you're running your warm bath water, add ingredients to the tub. Mix until dissolved.
PS - This is something that you can make in advance and store in a glass ar in your bathroom.
Enjoy your stress-reducing bath!
Tip: You can also add a tablespoon of dried lavender flowers.
Need some more help lowering your stress? Sign up for my FREE 10 day Beat the Stress Challenge!
References:
https://www.thepaleomom.com/adrenal-fatigue-pt-1/
https://www.dietvsdisease.org/adrenal-fatigue-real/
I have been battling adrenal fatigue for years, as has my husband. We have both had severely stressful jobs and circumstances, to the point that I can actually pinpoint the day that my “adrenals died.” It’s a horrible feeling.
Thanks for writing this and shedding some light on the subject. I wish we could get more of the medical community to acknowledge it is real!
I’m sorry to hear that you and your husband both have Adrenal Fatigue. It’s a real kicker, isn’t it? You’re right, if the medical community recognized it properly, it would help a lot of people with their health issues, without having to take all the drugs!
Did you write this for me? I feel like you wrote this for me, lol. I feel like if I can just make it through December everything will be fine. I did just purchase an essential oil diffuser, so I’m going to work on using that more often with relaxing oils!
Hi Lauren, haha, I’ve been told that by a few people! Adrenal fatigue is common, and yes, the holidays add even more stress! I’m glad that you’re using essential oils, they really help to relax.
Definitely good to know more about this! I’ll have to try those bath salts.
I’m glad you found it interesting. There are so many people going around in complete fatigue because of stress. Let me know how you like the bath salts!