Exhausted? Let’s Talk About Adrenal Fatigue
While it’s commonly known as "Adrenal Fatigue", we’re really talking about HPA axis dysfunction, which involves the connection between the hypothalamus and pituitary in the brain and the adrenal glands. The thyroid gland is also very interconnected.
The HPA axis is best known as our body's main stress control centre. When we are under stress physically, mentally, chemically or when we simply perceive something as threatening, it activates our sympathetic nervous system, aka: the fight or flight response. Is this always a bad thing? Not exactly, we just don’t want to stay there.
How Adrenal Stress Causes Fatigue
The Adrenals are two little, but mighty glands located just above the kidneys, that release the main stress hormone, cortisol, as well as the neurotransmitters epinephrine and norepinephrine. Every time we enter fight-or-flight, these hormones kick into gear to give us a boost during stressful times.
Short-term, this is extremely useful during the times we need to think clearer, move quicker and get out of danger. In the long-term though, when this fight-or-flight response is chronically activated, it causes us to eventually start to feel run down in many ways. Our energy begins to dip, our immune system weakens, our hormones suffer and our digestion worsens. We can start developing frequent infections, gut problems, mood issues, brain fog, cravings, poor sleep and more.
Adrenal fatigue or HPA-axis dysfunction happens on a sliding scale though, you don't feel terrible or burn out overnight.
Early-Stage Adrenal Fatigue
Someone in early-stage adrenal fatigue may have trouble winding down at night and get a "second wind" between 11pm and 1am, or wake up around 4am for no reason at all. They might start to develop sugar or salt cravings, need coffee to stay awake at work, have trouble getting out of bed in the morning and focusing during the day or experience a dip in their libido. Anxiety, depression, difficulty handling stress and weight gain (especially around the mid-section) are also very common symptoms. It’s much easier to address these issues when they’re in their earlier stages with the right diet, lifestyle and supplementation.
Late-Stage Adrenal Fatigue
Someone in the later stages of adrenal fatigue will feel totally burned out, like no amount of coffee or sleep will help anymore. They may have chronic infections like constant colds, yeast or skin infections. Weakness, muscle and joint pain, crashing when meals are missed, anxiety, depression, and feeling over emotional (like crying over the simplest things!) are also common symptoms. If this sounds like you, don’t wait to begin addressing these things and work with someone to get to the root cause of your exhaustion.
Root Causes of Adrenal Fatigue:
There are often multiple factors in the development of adrenal fatigue such as:
Poor diet or poor eating habits
Poor sleep
Excessive stress, perceived stress or fear (such as from watching mainstream news!)
Chronic infection
Hidden allergies
Mold exposure
Environmental toxins & low-grade toxic exposure in food (such as glyphosate, a common herbicide)
Emotional or physical trauma such as a loss or car accident
High-stress lifestyle
Excessive exercise
Excessive caffeine intake
Do you think you might be experiencing some degree of adrenal fatigue? Whatever stage you feel you’re in, there is hope to turn things around! I work with clients who are looking to get to the root cause of their fatigue and finally have energy again. Visit my contact page to inquire about working together!
Asher Kleiber
Registered Holistic Nutritionist™
