A Mindful Approach . . . Learn to Live in a Body & Life you Love
Adrenal Burnout or Fatigue – What Is It? Why Me?
Are You “Burned Out”?
We’ve probably all heard that phrase, or felt like it at times in our lives.
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The biggest complaint new clients come to me with is low energy. They say “Why am I so tired all the time?”
This could be a sign of Adrenal Fatigue.
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What is Adrenal Fatigue?
It’s when your adrenal glands are so stressed and overused, they fatigue. As a result, your energy levels drop and you feel depleted.
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Adrenal Fatigue is a condition where your body and adrenal glands can’t keep up with the tremendous amount of daily stress many people experience.
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How Come My Doctor Hasn’t Said Anything?
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You may be wondering, what is an adrenal gland and why has my doctor never told me about it?
Although it is estimated that Adrenal Fatigue affects about 80 percent of the world’s population, most doctors are not trained to look for adrenal fatigue so the adrenals go untreated, and you walk through life with what I call “FLC Syndrome” — Feeling Like Crap!
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Your adrenals are about the size of a grape or a walnut and they are located just above your kidneys. In Chinese medicine, your kidneys are made to absorb stress and process your liquids. When the kidney’s can not longer handle the physical, mental and emotional stress that your body is taking in, the adrenals act as shock absorbers and take on the additional stress. The adrenals produce cortisol (your main stress hormone).
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The adrenals produce excess cortisol when they are under extreme stress. Because we are usually “on” 24/7, the adrenals are producing cortisol on a consistent basis. Excessive amounts of cortisol are produced to soothe your system. Your body cannot handle large amounts of cortisol on a regular basis, so the cortisol wonders through your blood stream and creates disease. Eventually the cortisol needs to find a home so it gets cozy in your belly. Ever wonder why when you are extra stressed your belly bloats when the rest of your body stays in proportion? This is usually because of excessive cortisol.
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Do you have Adrenal Fatigue?
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Here are the main symptoms. If you have more than 3 of these symptoms, you most likely have some degree of adrenal fatigue:
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body aches
trouble concentrating – poor focus
racing thoughts
moodiness and irritability
always tired – difficulty sleeping
feeling overwhelmed
hormonal
cravings for salty and sweet foods
weight loss resistance
morning fatigue – trouble waking up
decreased libido
depression
muscle weakness
bone loss
inflammation
increased allergies
irritability
hair loss
weight gain
muscle tension
inability to tolerate high-carb/potassium foods unless paired with fat and protein
Adrenal Fatigue Is Caused By Life’s Stress Producers:
Stressful experiences like death of loved one, divorce, or separation
Major surgery or physical trauma
Being the victim of a crime or living in dangerous situations
Prolonged stress due to financial hardship, bad relationships or work environments, and other conditions that produce feelings of helplessness
Being a caretaker or parent
Negative thinking and emotional trauma
Exposure to environmental toxins and pollution
Chronic lack of sleep
Poor diet and lack of exercise
Chronic Stress Burns Out The Adrenals
Every bodily function is affected when the adrenal glands stop producing hormones efficiently. As adrenal hormone levels shrink the normal “get-up-and-go” you get from them disappears.
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How Do You Heal Adrenal Fatigue?
The best treatment for adrenal fatigue involves reducing stress on your body and your mind, eliminating toxins, avoiding negative thinking, and replenishing your body with healthy food and positive thoughts.
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You can also add many temporary healing supplements. Adrenal Fatigue did not happen all of the sudden. You have probably had symptoms for years and were ignoring them. Know that patience is one of the best things to heal adrenal fatigue. It can take 6 months to a year or longer to heal adrenal fatigue.
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If you are experienced any of these adrenal fatigue symptoms, take heart, there are now many natural ways to treat and support your adrenal system and I can help.
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Contact me for an initial assessment and consultation and let’s bring you and your adrenals back to Joyful Living!
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