Stress is not all in the mind 
and is not as simple as we might think. When we experience a stressful situation the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is engaged, the sympathetic branch of this system kicks in and we go into a fight, flight or freeze response. The ANS is responsible for things like breathing and digestion which we do unconsciously. The ANS has two branches; the sympathetic branch which governs the “fight or flight” response for survival and the parasympathetic branch which is responsible for the “rest and digest” function in the body.
When faced with a stressful situation, even if it is not a matter of life and death, the sympathetic nervous system triggers the release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands. The effect of adrenaline (norepinephrine) is that it directs blood flow away from non-essential functions like digestion, to the limbs preparing the body for flight. When you are faced with a life threatening situation your body is in high alert, digestion all but stops and blood flow is directed toward the limbs. Your heart rate increases, pain threshold is heightened, pupils widen, reflexes sharpen and you are prepared for battle or escape.
Cortisol and Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are also important substances produced by the adrenal glands which help the body recover from stress. The effect of cortisol is to increase appetite and energy levels while toning down the immune system’s inflammatory and allergic responses. It also helps maintain stable emotions. DHEA on the other hand helps regulate the immune suppressant effect of cortisol, improving resistance to disease. Among other functions it also helps maintain normal sleep patterns
Living on the edge constantly, with stress such as tight work deadlines, financial worries and traffic jams, takes its toll on our wellbeing. Adrenal fatigue becomes a problem as we constantly draw on the adrenal glands.
Some of the typical signs of adrenal exhaustion are:
- You awaken feeling groggy and have difficulty dragging yourself out of bed.
- You can’t get going without that first cup or two of caffeinated coffee or tea.
- You not only rely on sugary snacks and caffeine to get through the day but find you actually crave sweets, particularly in the late morning or afternoon. (Perhaps you’ve even been diagnosed with hypoglycemia.)
- Your thinking is foggy and you have memory problems.
- You suffer from recurrent infections, headaches and depression.
- At night, though exhausted, you have trouble falling asleep as the worries of the day replay in your head and you suffer from insomnia.
- Ordinary stresses have an impact that is out of proportion to their importance.
- You wonder what happened to your interest in sex. If this description fits you, your adrenals may be running on empty, even if all your conventional medical tests are normal.
- Adrenal fatigue is characterized by Cortisol levels that are too high at night and not high enough in the morning.
The best option for healing adrenal fatigue in the long run is to make changes to the lifestyle that caused it. Below are some suggestions
- Follow a healthy, whole foods diet with minimal sugar and adequate protein. (Every meal or snack should contain some protein.) Avoid caffeine because it whips your adrenals into a frenzy. Also avoid fasting or cleansing regimens because they can weaken you further
- Body Stress Release helps release tension and restores the self-healing ability of the body. It can help relieve insomnia, headaches and improve overall well-being.
- Acupuncture and /or TCM: there are many excellent traditional Chinese herbal medicines on the market.
- Take a comprehensive multivitamin/mineral supplement.
- Get plenty of sleep: Sleep is the most effective approach to high adrenaline levels. Try to go to bed by 22h00. Getting to sleep on the earlier side of midnight is much more restorative to your adrenals than sleep that begins later in the night, even if you wake up late.
- Exercise regularly. Regular light-to-moderate exercise is helpful. Pushing yourself beyond your limits weakens your adrenals even further, so start slowly
- Get more exposure to natural sunlight. This will not only benefit your adrenal glands, but it boosts vitamin D, as well. Sunbathe only in the early morning or later afternoon and never get enough exposure to burn or even redden your skin. Work up to ten to fifteen minutes of exposure three to four times per week.
Ultimately, prevention is better than cure, so if you’re constantly stressed, always on the run, pause and think of the long-term consequences. Nobody is going to give you any reward for running yourself into the ground. Be kind to yourself – now. Take some time out. Body Stress Release really helps release stress overload and helps you cope when you cannot reduce your stress load in the short term.
Sources:
Mondeor Centre for Integrative Medicine. Newsletter on Adrenal Fatigue August 2017
Sympathetic Nervous System: Crash Course A&P #14. YouTube Published April 13, 2015