I have struggled with adrenal fatigue for most of my life, living through cycles of extreme, self-imposed stress that wear out my body and mind. I succumbed to adrenal fatigue again this past summer, one of the reasons I have been quiet on this blog for a few months.
I kind of feel like I’m “coming out” with this post. For my students, clients and frequent readers, you know I have never professed to be doing everything the “right way”. I often share my challenges, my issues, what I am working on openly and honestly. This time is no different.
I believe we can all learn from one another. I know I’m not alone with fatigue and stress.
But this time feels different. I really feel quite done with it. I feel a major foundational shift afoot, a desire to change my usual ways to show up in the world in a calmer way so I don’t need to do this again.
I thought I would share my process with you, my shift of moving from a generally stressed and freaked out way of being, to one of an even more vibrant mind and body. I am all about specific, tangible steps and I want to share them with you!
The adrenals are tiny glands found on your kidneys and are in charge of releasing stress hormones.
When we keep ourselves under a constant level of stress (ahem…modern life), the adrenals get worn out.
While adrenal fatigue isn’t recognized by western medicine (my doctor literally rolled his eyes when I mentioned it…he isn’t my doctor anymore!), I have a hard time believing constant stress wouldn’t have an adverse effect on our bodies. It just makes sense.
Some symptoms you may experience are:
- Feeling tired in the morning so it is a struggle waking up — even after 10 hours of sleep!
- Feeling tired in the middle of the afternoon. I call it the crash. Sometimes it will be so bad, I feel like the flu is coming on.
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. I often wake at 4am and don’t fall back to sleep until 6am.
- Anxiety or feeling on edge. I find I am easily startled in the house by my family, too.
- Weight gain. I gained 20 pounds in a very short period of time that I have struggled to lose — even though I know how to lose weight and I am doing all the right things!
- Depression