Adrenal Fatigue May be the Source of Your Low Energy
There is a current debate about if adrenal fatigue is even real…but I err on the side of YES IT IS because I have tried & tested the methods to correct said adrenal fatigue. It is considered a myth to mainstream physicians, but we, along with naturopathic doctors, all know the mind/body connection and what happens when the subtle energies are disturbed…it manifests into physical dis-ease!
So lets start with what the heck is adrenal fatigue anyways? Adrenal fatigue is basically when your adrenal glands aren’t functioning as it should due to overwhelming stress (or stress that is is pent up & not able to be discharged from the body). Adrenal fatigue is a collection of symptoms that seem pretty unrelated or not connected to each other such as: fatigue, body aches, nervousness (depression + anxiety), insomnia or disruption in sleep patterns, digestive issues, circulatory issues, and feeling ”grey” despite being seemingly healthy otherwise. People who experience these symptoms may turn to stimulants, such as coffee, to keep them awake and get them through the day.
Stress is a natural part of life, but when our system gets overwhelmed, we might start seeing symptoms of our bodies being unable to maintain homeostasis under constant, unresolved stress.
Ask yourself some questions: Do I still feel sleepy after sleeping for over 7 hours at night? Do I easily/quickly get triggered & therefore stressed about insignificant situations? Am I getting sick more often than usual? IS depression heavier than usual for no apparent reason? Do I not have much energy to do anything even though I had enough sleep the night before? Do I experience random bouts of exhaustion throughout the day?
To help treat adrenal fatigue, there are a few things that you can do that are either free or don’t cost too much. I woudn’t go as far as getting “adrenal fatigue supplements” because we don’t need to add a whole bunch of extra crap in our bodies to heal.
Get regular sleep EVERY DAY. Create a sleep routine for yourself. I know that this may be a challenge for some, but I am telling you, this helps your body regulate on so many levels. Creating a routine helps get you body in a particular habit of waking and sleeping at a certain time. Also, please make sure that you are getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Studies have found that getting proper sleep (7-9 consecutive hours) can reduce stress, improve memory, increase alertness, & many other benefits! Sleep allows your body and mind to heal & rest (duh). Please do not confuse this with oversleeping or lethargy! Balance is absolutely necessary here.
Meditation & breath work. Of course the calming of the mind and breath control will help with adrenal fatigue and stress. Meditation and breath work also have other amazing benefits for mind, body, & spirit!
Yoga. Going into your body and bringing your body into intentional poses can & will counteract stress + adrenal fatigue. Yoga can also help move stagnant energy in the body as well as restore proper blood circulation.
Be mindful of your sugar intake. Excess sugar can alert our adrenal glands to produce & secrete more insulin + cortisol. If we continue eating too much sugar & foods filled with empty calories, in addition to constant stress, over a long period of time, we can bring about adrenal fatigue due to the body producing low levels of cortisol, aldosterone, & even estrogen & testosterone.
Be mindful of what you are eating in general. Do yourself a favor and make sure that you are eating a proper amount of fruits & vegetables. A diet that is high on carbs and low on protein & healthy fats can also make us lethargic as well as not supply us with all of the right nutrients that our bodies need to constantly heal.
Drink lemon water. Lemon wanter can help flush the kidneys and help keep them healthy. Lemon water will also help balance out the body’s pH levels.
Limit over-stimulation. Reduce your screen time & time spent on social media. Enforce a curfew & mind who you follow/what you allow yourself to see on social media. Maybe even take a day or a week without social media or even your phone! Regularly “detox” from your phone or screen.
Cut the coffee. If you HAVE to get your caffeine fix, opt for a more health option than coffee like matcha or other green teas. High levels of caffeine might keep you up for now, but long term use is not the most beneficial to the body, especially someone experiencing adrenal fatigue.
Drink herbal infusions that contain herbs that support, tone, &/or relax the nerves/nervous system. Nervines act on and support the nervous system. There are three different types of nervine herbs- tonics, stimulants, & relaxants. Nervine tonics help to strengthen and restore the nervous system. Nervine stimulants activate/stimulate the nervous system. Nervine relaxants soothe and ease the nervous system. Nervine relaxants are also called sedatives. Nervine relaxants are wonderful to consume before meditation or bed to calm and prepare the body for relaxation.
Nervine Tonics – Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica), St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Nervine Relaxants– Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), Lavender (Lavandula officinale), Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla/recutita), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
Massage + Acupressure. You can rub your lower back (right above your hip bone) to massage the kidneys. You can also perform acupressure on yourself to help stimulate the kidneys. The acupressure point for the kidney on the hand is here.
The pressure point on your feet is directly in the middle of your foot, right underneath the ball of your foot, before you get to the arch.
Essentially, make time to take care of yourself, rest, & relax.
Regardless of what, making these lifestyle changes will boost your overall wellness. See if you can incorporate one or more of these tips to see if it make a difference in you overall state.
What do you think about all of this? Have you experienced adrenal fatigue? Do you think this is a bunch of BS?