Is Adrenal Fatigue Real? How to recognize and treat your exhaustion

 Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome is at the center of medical debate. The central question surrounding it being “Is Adrenal Fatigue real”? It certainly feels real to anyone experiencing it, but if your Allopathic practitioner isn’t convinced, then how can you begin to reverse it? 

As a Naturopathic Doctor, looking past your exhaustion and deeper into the root causes, here’s my take on whether Adrenal Fatigue is real and what you can do about it without blindly spending thousands of dollars on potentially unhelpful practices. 

What is adrenal fatigue syndrome?

The condition’s idea is that constant stress puts an undue burden on the adrenal glands to produce hormones — primarily cortisol — and the glands burn out. 

The lack of adrenal hormones leads to a host of symptoms. 

Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome

No two people are the same. Adrenal fatigue can present differently in everyone. Some of the symptoms may include:

• Extreme fatigue
• Aches & pains
• Insomnia or repeatedly waking through the night
• Weight gain
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Chronic inflammation
• Blood pressure problems
• Immune problems
• Poor thyroid function
• Hormonal imbalance
• Poor memory
• Digestive problems

So, is Adrenal Fatigue real?

Our adrenals have a definite biological purpose. They respond to stress and allow us to survive when faced with imminent danger. In today’s world, cortisol is high because the stress on the body never ends. 

Although it’s unlikely that you ever need to run from a bear, biologically, your cells are functioning as if you have never stopped running. This stress comes from our non-stop life, our addiction to electronics, the chemical assault in our home and body care products, the water and air, and mainly from the modified packaged foods we consume daily.  

Consequently, everyone tests as adrenal fatigue.  EVERYONE. 

Is adrenal fatigue real? Most definitely.  

But is it the root cause of your symptoms? Probably not. 

Should I take Adrenal supplements? 

Given how unique you, your body, and your symptoms are, it’s no surprise that your treatment plan should also be individual to you. Taking adrenal remedies without addressing the root cause will return poor results, extended treatment times, and worsening the problem.

The medical community emphasizes the need to regulate cortisol to restore balance. Maybe ten years ago, this was good medicine, addressing the key cause of so many people’s symptoms. Subsequently, a vast range of supplements are available to achieve this, some even I used to use. These are no longer a viable treatment for Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome due to toxicity, chronic viruses and other infections, parasites, and GMO foods, superseding the simplicity of the relationship between cause and treatment in medicine.   

Your Doctor may have offered to run an adrenal health panel to find out just how damaged your adrenals are. They may have suggested adrenal support therapy, glandular extracts, L theanine, Rhodeolia, and Ginseng extracts, and lots and lots of B vitamins. 

There is a long list of options. However, spending $250.00 to $500.00 to be tested for adrenal issues or buying supplements is a waste of money and will not lead to unique or essential information.  

Adrenal Fatigue treatments you can do at home

Thankfully, there are DIY health improvements you can start with now that will help alleviate some of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue. 

Get plenty of rest and sleep.

Create a routine at bedtime and make sure you have plenty of rest time during the day. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night and try to wake at the same time each day. 

Improve your diet

Reduce or eliminate foods that you are sensitive to or which cause inflammation. Reduce sugar and nourish your microbiome by eating various colors, vegetables, protein, healthy fats, and probiotics.  

Exercise

Introduce some gentle exercise to your daily routine. Exercise is a great way to reduce cortisol levels and increase endorphins – our feel-good hormones-to counteract stress. You can build this up as your body becomes accustomed to the new routine.

Meditate

Just a few minutes a day of meditation can make a noticeable difference in your mood, energy, and response to stress levels. Some options include deep breathing, yoga practice, or guided meditation. 

Consider changes in your circumstances

Is all the stress worth it? Are you striving for success at the expense of your health? Can you change your pace? Are you able to say no? Do you need a career change or lifestyle overhaul?

How can I help?

It is imperative to understand what factors have created this uninterrupted chaos in your body and then fix those specific factors.

This occurs with dynamic testing and treatment focused on food sensitivities, inflammation control, organ detoxification, elimination of toxins, lifestyle modification, physiological regulation, and balance of essential cellular and extracellular matrix function. 

No one product will do all of this, and there is no protocol for everyone. As with all good medicine, individualized and personalized treatment is crucial and necessary for lasting results.

If you want to learn how to heal your body naturally, watch my free webinar on five simple steps to end fatigue and feel re-energized. 

I’ve helped dozens of women like you conquer adrenal fatigue, and I’d love to help you too.