Adrenal Fatigue

The human body has an incredible stress response that protects against short bursts of life-threatening danger. When you are under stress, the adrenal glands produce cortisol and adrenaline to help you find the energy and clarity to fight or flee the problem. Initially, this can feel like being very alert, having lots of physical energy and a racing heart, as the blood is diverted away from the centre of the body towards the skeletal muscles, brain and heart. Digestion, immunity and reproduction is reduced in this state as it is not a priority in the face of an imminent threat. We were never meant to sustain prolonged, relentless stress.

When intense stress continues over months or years, this can take a dramatic toll on your adrenal glands, with flow on effects to hormonal health, immunity, skin health and digestion.

When stress continues over a prolonged period, the adrenals become depleted and are no longer able to make enough adrenaline and cortisol to mount a sufficient response to stress. When this happens, you may feel exhausted and unable to cope. Cortisol also regulates the body clock, so adrenal fatigue can mess up your wakeful and sleepy times.

Stress depletes essential nutrients like magnesium and vitamin C which are both required for adrenal health. Magnesium is also essential for energy production, mood regulation and hormone and neurotransmitter production, so chronic stress and magnesium depletion lead to a wide range of health problems.

A large amount of reproductive hormones are produced by the adrenal glands, sharing the same biochemical pathways as stress hormones, so stress can imbalance the reproductive hormones by diverting resources towards making more cortisol.

Adrenal depletion can also dysregulate blood glucose levels. Blood glucose imbalances can cause many symptoms including fatigue, sugar or carbohydrate cravings, urinary frequency and dizziness.

Low Cortisol

Cortisol is an active stress hormone that regulates the body clock and is also released to help cope with stress. Cortisone is the inactive form. When you have higher cortisone compared to cortisol, you will tend to feel fatigued.

Signs and Symptoms of Low Cortisol Can Include:

• Persistent, unexplained fatigue (especially morning fatigue that doesn’t improve with any amount of rest)

• Afternoon energy crash 

• Trouble recovering after illness, exercise, or stress

• Feeling wired but tired in the evening

• Low mood or mild depression

• Poor stress tolerance, feeling overwhelmed easily

• Brain fog, poor concentration, and memory problems

• Anxiety (sometimes paradoxically worse despite low stress hormone output)

• Cravings for salt, sugar, or caffeine

• Dizziness or shakiness between meals

• Irritability or feeling faint if you go too long without eating

• Loss of appetite or nausea 

• Low blood pressure, especially upon standing, feeling light headed

• Cold hands and feet due to reduced circulation

• Weight loss or gain due to compensatory hormone changes

• Recurrent or prolonged infections

• Slow wound healing

• Reduced exercise tolerance, feeling worse after exercise

• Hyperpigmentation of skin or gums 

• Low body temperature or intolerance to cold

• Muscle weakness or soreness without clear cause

• Decreased libido

• Irregular or absent menstrual cycles

Repairing the adrenal glands to restore energy and balance to your body requires nourishment with magnesium supplementation and wholefood vitamin C foods. Regulating your light and darkness exposure to reset your body clock is also a powerful healing method, along with reducing caffeine and other stimulants, managing stressors and taking specific adrenal and adaptogenic herbs for your case, like licorice, withania, Siberian ginseng and rehmannia.