Adrenal Fatigue: Common Symptoms and How to Naturally Combat It

Wondering if you have adrenal fatigue? Are you stressed out? You’re definitely not alone.

Cortisol, the hormone that regulates your stress levels, is produced by your adrenal glands (which sit right above your kidneys). Alternative health practitioners suggest that if you’re stressed out for long periods of time, it could overwork your adrenal glands and lead to adrenal fatigue.

But what exactly is adrenal fatigue?

In short, this term encompasses a range of nonspecific symptoms like fatigue, body aches, trouble sleeping or disrupted sleep patterns, and digestive issues, that can be attributed to chronic stress and an overworked adrenal gland.

This means that prolonged stress can lead to an imbalance in hormone production (particularly the stress horomon cortisol), by the adrenal glands.

Ok, so what are the adrenal glands?

In this article we’ll take a brief look at your adrenal glands and what they do for your body and your stress levels. From there we’ll dive right into adrenal fatigue, its symptoms, and some ways to naturally combat it. Let’s get started!

These 5 Adaptogenic Herbs Help Manage Stress and Support Your Overall Wellbeing
 

Your Adrenal Glands and What They Do For You

You have two adrenal glands that sit directly over your kidneys. They are defined as “endocrine glands,” and they produce a variety of hormones that help regulate various key functions in the body.

The adrenal cortex produces many hormones, including cortisol (which helps regulate metabolism and immune response), aldosterone (which helps control blood pressure and electrolyte balance), and a small amount of sex hormones (such as androgens and estrogens).

The adrenal medulla produces adrenaline (or epinephrine) and norepinephrine. These hormones are involved in the body’s “fight or flight” response to stress, increasing heart rate, boosting energy levels, and redirecting blood flow to essential organs.

As far as balancing your body out, your adrenal glands regulate your blood pressure and salt/water balance, and they stabilize your electrolytes. So, basically, these little guys do a lot! When they’re overworked, i.e. if you have a stressful job or if life has you stretched thin at the moment, you could develop adrenal fatigue (according to alternative health practitioners).
 

Everything You Need to Know About Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal fatigue comes into play when life has you on a jam-packed schedule and you’re constantly on the go. It will leave you worn out, burnt out, and damn tired. After sustained periods of your adrenal glands producing hormones to combat stress, the can simply become depleted, and not function like they’re supposed to.

Only thing is, you won’t get diagnosed with adrenal fatigue by your doctor. While widely accepted in alternative health circles since it was defined in 1998 by James Wilson, doctors and scientists have not accepted adrenal fatigue as a diagnosable adrenal gland disorder.

So, how do you know if you have adrenal fatigue? Let’s look at some symptoms.
 

Common Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue

These are the most widely agreed-upon symptoms of adrenal fatigue, although others exist.

• You’re chronically tired
• You have weird cravings (specifically for salt or sugar)
• You’re losing hair
• You’ve lost weight suddenly
• Your body chronically aches
• You have a diminished libido
• You often feel lightheaded or dizzy

How to Naturally Combat Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue

If you are experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, stress, and sleep disturbances, you may benefit from adopting lifestyle habits that support overall well-being.

The best way to naturally overcome adrenal fatigue is to remember what caused it . . . stress. Do your best to avoid stressful situations, or adopt new methods of coping with stress.

Some great ways to reduce stress include Yin Yoga, meditation, or simply getting outdoors once in a while.

Mindfulness Meditation for Beginners: How to Get Started (From a Meditation Coach)

Other ways to naturally overcome adrenal fatigue are to make sure you’re going to sleep at a reasonable time – preferably before 10 p.m. Try to do less, and say no to things that don’t serve you. Avoid toxic chemicals that could disrupt your hormones to the best of your ability.

Finally, remember to begin your healing from the inside out: avoid junk and processed food, and learn to eat intuitively to what your body needs.

Here’s a quick reference list of ways to support your adrenals:

• Consistent stress management (through the practices listed above)
• Stay hydrated! Drink water all day, every day
• Get adequate sleep and establish a consistent sleep routine
• Limit stimulants like caffeine
• Consider supplements like adaptogenic herbs
• Maintain a healthy, balanced diet
• Set realistic expectations and goals, especially around work and rest

Our Online Yoga, Meditation, and Wellness Classes Can Help!

Practice on-demand yoga, meditation and wellness classes right here on YA Classes by YouAligned. We offer hundreds of classes for all levels. Support your energy levels and overall wellness and press play on one of these 5-star classes.

Adrenal Fatigue: The Takeaway

Adrenal fatigue is said to impact millions of people all around the world. So if this article describes you, remember you’re not alone. Just like your mind and soul, your adrenal glands need some TLC to function at their best.

It is important to note that “adrenal fatigue” is not a recognized medical diagnosis in conventional medicine, and is still being debated within the medical community.

What is agreed upon is the thought that the adrenal glands can get fatigued or depleted after prolonged periods of intense stress, which can then lead to disruptions in hormone production, along with the various symptoms listed in this article.

The issue and debate arises from the symptoms associated with adrenal fatigue (like fatigue and sleep issues) are common and can be attributed to various other health conditions.

The symptoms or signs of adrenal fatigue can seem a bit elusive since they can also be attributed to many other issues. It’s important to research this information for yourself, observe your specific symptoms, and then discuss all of it with your healthcare provider.

Remember to slow down, take a deep breath, and take care of yourself.

All included information is not intended to treat or diagnose. The views expressed are those of the author and should be attributed solely to the author. For medical questions, please consult your healthcare provider.