Adrenal fatigue is a bit of a misunderstood term. Conventional medicine doctors usually overlook it but when properly understood it's clear that this condition deserves credence and impacts many people. Let's begin by exploring exactly what adrenal 'fatigue' is, and what it isn't.
It's not a point where your adrenal glands become tired or fatigued as such, but rather a point at which:
Your body chronically produces high levels of the stress hormone cortisol to get you through periods of stress and/or
Your brain responds to a period of chronic stress by instructing your adrenal glands to stop producing as much cortisol to ultimately force rest upon an individual
When cortisol is continuously high we can feel wired but tired and once production stops we can feel exhausted and burnt out. The body is not designed to survive in a state of overdrive for too long. This is why the final stage of adrenal fatigue slows us right down. In turn, we see impaired thyroid function, sex hormone production and sleep issues - usually issues falling asleep and staying asleep without sleeping aids.
What Happed To Stress Hormones in Adrenal Fatigue?
Stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol help us feel capable to take on the day but when people go through chronic periods of stress, their cortisol can become impaired in various ways. Above we mentioned that it can be chronically high and eventually become deficient. But, for some people:
You may be making the right amount of cortisol at the right time, but it’s not free or available to be utilised.
You may be making enough cortisol but you have an issue with rhythm.
For instance, when your levels should be high (such as in the morning to get you going), they're low. Que the feeling that you can't live without coffee or sugar to start your day. Then, in the evening when cortisol is meant to be lowest to prepare you for sleep, instead it's peaking, leaving you wired but physically exhausted.
What Are The Symptoms of Adrenal 'Fatigue'
Stubborn weight gain around the stomach
Inability to lose weight
Chronic fatigue
Poor sleep onset
Waking in the night (potentially sweating)
Depression or low mood
Irritability
Feeling burnt out
Feeling wired but tired
Difficulty getting out of bed in the morning
Anxiety and decreased tolerance to stress
Sugar or salt cravings
Increased effort to do everyday tasks
Decreased libido
Lightheadedness upon standing
Low body temperature/sensitivity to cold
Susceptibility to infections like colds and flu
Low immunity
Symptoms of adrenal fatigue happen in response to all kinds of stress, not only mental or emotional forms like work pressure, and financial or relationship problems. It could be physical like when someone has chronic inflammation (aches and pains), an injury or poor digestion resulting from poor diet, medication use, infection or food sensitivities.
Our environment also brings stress in the form of xenoestrogens, heavy metals, pollutants, pharmaceuticals, recreational drugs, or excessive smoking and alcohol consumption. But perhaps for you, it's spiritual in nature; stagnant unresolved trauma or the feeling that you’re lacking direction in life and feeling empty.
If you want to move past this stage you need to start by identifying your stressors.
Although adrenal fatigue is most commonly seen amongst individuals who keep very busy – Type A personalities, carers, high-achievers and workaholics - it might also be the mother or grandmother who is always putting everyone and everything else before herself. Unlike our ovaries, the adrenal glands are not designed to eventually give out or stop making hormones so self-care is crucial.
"But what if you don't feel stressed?"
You may be used to dealing with stress and don't mentally or emotionally feel the toll but this doesn't not mean your body is not physiologically dealing with the pressures.
That said, sometimes else may be causing this communication breakdown between your brain (hypothalamus) and your adrenal (stress) glands and causing you the symptoms described above?
It can be any of the following:
HYPOTHYROIDISM. This will slow your adrenal function right down.
TOO MUCH THYROID MEDICATION. This is likened to pushing the gas down on the adrenal glands which actually just shoots up your adrenaline (epinephrine) and wreaks more havoc.
INFLAMMATION. Certain types of inflammation can rob the body of its ability to produce cortisol, which is recognized as the body’s top anti-inflammatory agent. As a result, chronic inflammation can lead to adrenal issues.
CORTICOSTEROID MEDICATIONS. (e.g. inhalers, allergy medications, creams, etc.) The longer they're used, the more suppressive they are to the adrenals. It can take longer than six months to recover.
POOR KIDNEY AND LIVER FUNCTION. The kidneys are responsible for converting our cortisol to cortisone (the inactive form) when needed, and the liver is responsible for reactivation. When we're ill or very stressed out, our body will make more cortisone (inactive form) than cortisol (active form). It's a built-in mechanism that forces us to slow down and rest. Unfortunately, very few of us ever listen to our bodies.
BODY FAT. This is because fat cells create their own inflammatory cytokines AND their own cortisol. This is commonly seen with increased stomach fat.
Cortisol is a catabolic hormone. This means that when it’s chronically released, it breaks down protein for energy. The end result is rapid and ongoing muscle wastage even if you’re including a healthy workout into your daily routine.
When in high circulation, cortisol can widen your waistline because it releases sugars into your bloodstream. When plenty of them are left over, they’re stored as fat. Additionally, cortisol is released during exercise and the higher the intensity or duration of your workout, the larger the cortisol release.
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