Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue or Adrenal Insufficiency
Do you have problems with fatigue or lethargy? Is it hard to get up in the morning because no matter how long you sleep, you just don’t feel rested? Or do you have problems getting to sleep because you catch a” second wind” in the evening and stay up too late trying to get things done, and then can’t fall asleep easily?
Lethargy, fatigue or inability to handle stress might make sense to some who understand that the adrenals are part of our stress handling system. But what about the hidden signs that you might be taxed to the max?
Do you experience any of these Hidden Signs?
- Salt Cravings
- Allergies (Food allergies, Seasonal Allergies, Pet allergies, etc)
- Low Immune
- Increased Recovery Time from illness or injury
- Digestive problems
- Hormonal Problems
- Dizzy or light-headedness when standing quickly
If you see yourself in the images above, you may be suffering from Adrenal Fatigue
The Adrenal Glands.
The Endocrine system
The Adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system which is the interconnected system of hormone secreting organs. Like the pancreas, ovaries or testes, the adrenal glands produce very powerful substances which are released into the body in tiny amounts. These substances create a complex system of signals designed to keep us healthy, fertile and able to meet the stresses of everyday life.
The adrenal glands are two small glands, approximately the size of a walnut, which sit on top of each kidney.
Adrenal Glands
The adrenals are the stress handling glands and produce a number of hormones that help you process stress — physical, mental or emotional. They keep your body in balance and mediate the ‘flight or fight’ response. The adrenals control fluid balance, blood pressure balance, blood sugar balance (especially between meals), inflammatory and anti-inflammatory response and immune system response and strength.
The hormones that the adrenals produce belong to the steroid family and help determine overall strength, energy, vitality and stamina. These hormone help us maintain a sense of well-being and keep up healthy mood and emotion and act as the back up system for our male and female hormones. The adrenals produce precursors to testosterone, estrogen and progesterone along with the anti-aging hormone DHEA.
A cup full of Stress, anyone?
Is it any wonder that people who have stressed their adrenal glands are tired, anxious, overwhelmed and at times unhappy?
Bu, you may ask, how did my adrenals get stressed? I don’t remember a lot of big stressors, just normal life.
Therein lies the problem. Our bodies are designed to handle a big stress and then rest. A big happy stress, like having a baby and then a few weeks of rest. Or a major negative stress, like the death of a loved one, and then back to life as usual. But in our hectic, over scheduled, traffic ridden, can’t-find-a-parking-place-and-I’m-late existence, stress accumulates and then tips you over the edge.
Factors Leading to Adrenal Fatigue
- Lack of Relaxation
- Emotional Stress
- Lack of Sleep
- Processed Non-Nutritious Food
- Oral Contraceptives
- Work Stress
- Marital Strife
- Sedentary Lifestyle
- Smoking
- Antacid Use
- Persistent Pain
- Prescription Drugs
- Skipping Meals
- Caffeine Use
- Negative Thinking
I’m Stressed out just reading this. What do I do about it?
The following is a list of positive things changes you can make. You will not erase a lifetime of bad habits immediately. First you must recognize the patterns that led you down the road to adrenal fatigue.
Change your daily patterns to include the following:
Pace yourself and allow down time to rest
Eat real, whole, fresh foods
Eat every two hours (yes even breakfast, even if is just 2 bites)
Eat a protein and fat with every carbohydrate
Get to bed by 10 – 11pm
Sleep until 7 – 8am when possible
Drink more water and herbal teas
Do things that you enjoy
Mild exercise such as swimming, walking, yoga
Find things that make you laugh, like a little kitten in a big comforter.
Little kitten, Big comforter