Stressed? Tired? Craving sugar & salt? Can’t sleep? Brain fog? Feeling anxious?
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 your kidneys and they are there to make sure you can adapt to stress and maintain optimal energy levels. If you are constantly tired, feeling like you need an IV drip of coffee to keep you going or else you run around all day in a foggy state, then your adrenals might be out of whack.
These important glands produce many hormones, including the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. These are the stress hormones that put your body into the “fight or flight” response.
The fight or flight response is your body's normal reaction to stress…like when it helps you swerve to prevent a crash. The response is activated, you survive and after a short time, the response dissipates and your body goes back to normal...all is good. This is an example of a healthy stress response.
But what would happen if you felt constant stress? Chronic stress...all day, every day and the adrenal glands never get a break?
What do you think happens to your poor adrenal glands when they’re constantly working? It’s possible that they may not be able to keep up with the body’s need for these hormones, they get tired and then the symptoms begin to appear.
Do I have adrenal fatigue?
Symptoms like fatigue, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, anxiety, weight loss or gain, joint pain, sugar & salt cravings, even frequent infections like colds and the flu are signs that your adrenals are overworked.
I will 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 diagnosis of "Adrenal Insufficiency" or "Addison's Disease" may apply.
What to do if I have these symptoms?
First, if you do have symptoms, you should see your doctor to get tested and rule out other potential 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).
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 many ways you can reduce your stress and nourish your adrenal glands.
You can try stress reducing techniques like meditation, walking in nature, light exercise, more sleep, or taking a bath. (See a DIY recipe for lavender bath salt below).
Of course I also recommend reducing sugar and processed food intake and eating more fruits, vegetables and whole food. Better nutrition can only help your body. So go ahead and do it.
In the Nourish & Thrive Formula, we incorporate all of the above strategies and more with the goal of getting these glands working properly, so you can feel like yourself again and get back to doing the things you love and need to do with confidence and energy.
Conclusion
Your adrenal glands produce hormones in response to stress. After long-term daily stress, they may just need a break and to reset.
Note: Adrenal fatigue is a controversial disease that doesn’t have a true diagnostic test, nor specific telltale symptoms.
How to start?
Click HERE to book a FREE call with me to learn more about how the Nourish & Thrive Formula can help you.
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
Enjoy your stress-reducing bath!
Tip: You can add a tablespoon of dried lavender flowers.
References:
https://www.thepaleomom.com/adrenal-fatigue-pt-1/
https://www.dietvsdisease.org/adrenal-fatigue-real/
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