Chronic stress is very common in western society. The most common causes of stress are work pressure, death of a loved one, moving house, changing jobs, illness and marital disruptions.
Adrenal fatigue occurs when the amount of stress overextends the capacity of the body to compensate and recover from stress.
Stressors that can lead to adrenal fatigue include:
- Anger
- Chronic fatigue
- Chronic illness
- Chronic infection
- Chronic pain
- Depression
- Excessive exercise
- Fear and guilt
- Gluten intolerance
- Low blood sugar
- Mal-absorption
- Mal-digestion
- Toxic exposure
- Severe or chronic stress
- Surgery
- Late hours
- Sleep deprivation
- Excessive exercise
- Excessive sugar in diet
- Excessive caffeine intake from coffee and tea
Signs and Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue
- Tendency to gain weight and unable to lose it, especially around the waist.
- Getting the flu and other respiratory diseases often.
- Trembling when under pressure.
- Lowered libido (sex drive).
- Feeling “lightheaded” when rising from a laying down position.
- Unable to remember things.
- Lack of energy in the mornings and also in the afternoon between 3 to 5pm.
- Feel better suddenly for a brief period after a meal.
- Often feel tired between 9 – 10 pm, but resist going to bed.
- Need coffee or stimulants to get going in the morning.
- Crave for salty, fatty, and high protein food such as meat and cheese.
- Increase symptoms of PMS for women; period are heavy and then stop, or almost stopped on the 4th day, only to start flow again on the 5th or 6th day.
- Pain in the upper back or neck with no apparent reasons.
- Feel better when on a vacation.
- Difficulties in getting up in the morning
- Lightheaded
- Mild depression
- Food and or inhalant allergies
- Lethargy and lack of energy
- Increased effort to perform daily tasks
- Decreased ability to handle stress
- Dry and thin skin
- Hypoglycemia
- Low Body Temperature
- Nervousness
- Palpitation
- Unexplained hair loss
- Alternating constipation and diarrhea
- Dyspepsia (digestion problems)
If you have many of these signs and symptoms, it is time you consider adrenal fatigue as a possible cause.