Addressing Adrenal Fatigue: Where to Start
Adrenal fatigue is a term that refers to a group of symptoms that occur when someone is under long-term, physical, mental, or emotional stress. These symptoms can include tiredness, sleep-related problems, and even body aches.
Learning more about adrenal fatigue is beneficial if you suffer from chronic stress and related symptoms. Learning how to manage stress is important, especially if you’re trying to study for a degree with a heavy course load, like online BSW programs.
While adrenal fatigue is just a general term and not currently an official medical diagnosis, it’s a real concern, especially for those living with it. Many doctors believe adrenal fatigue is linked to the endocrine system—in the adrenal glands.
What is adrenal fatigue?
Adrenal fatigue is currently not an official medical condition, and the proposed treatment is also not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the government agency that oversees most food and medical products).
This is because adrenal fatigue is a group of symptoms that can be caused by different medical conditions, like Addison’s Disease or recovery from surgery. Many people think that adrenal fatigue could be a mild form of the official medical condition, “adrenal insufficiency.”
Connection to the endocrine system
Adrenal fatigue is connected to the endocrine system—the adrenal glands in particular. The adrenal glands sit on top of each kidney, and their role is to produce hormones, including cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, and aldosterone.
When the adrenal glands are put under too much pressure due to a medical condition or mental health-related problems, like chronic stress or anxiety, it can impact the production of these hormones.
In turn, these hormones can have a direct impact on mental health, the physical body, and overall well-being. For instance, cortisol is known as the “stress” hormone. If the body produces too little, it can result in adrenal fatigue, making you tired and impacting your sleep schedule.
Adrenal fatigue and hormones
When someone is under long-term physical, mental, or emotional stress, it can have a long-lasting effect on their hormone production. A high level of stress activates the body’s stress response, which is the adrenal gland releasing stress-related hormones.
For example, if someone is walking past a big dog that starts barking, they would feel fear and stress – and as a result, the adrenal glands release cortisol to slow down functions that would be nonessential in a harmful, fight-or-flight situation.
This is a good thing, but for an individual living in a constant state of high stress, the adrenal glands are sent into overdrive. This can result in too much (or too little) hormones being produced, which puts the individual at a higher risk for a plethora of medical conditions and symptoms. These include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Digestive problems
- Headaches
- Muscle tension and pain
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Cognitive problems (memory and focus)
In the list above, there are a few symptoms that fall under adrenal fatigue’s umbrella. The long-lasting impacts of long-term stress are also why it’s important to learn how to manage chronic stress, especially if it’s resulting in adrenal fatigue and impacting the endocrine system.
Diagnosing endocrine-related issues
While adrenal fatigue isn’t an official, diagnosable medical condition, it is possible to diagnose and test for issues in the endocrine system. So, if you suspect there might be an issue with your adrenal glands, speak to your doctor about your concerns and get a test done.
Problems with the body’s adrenal glands can be tested through a variety of means. These include blood tests to check hormone levels, saliva tests, and/or urine. It’s also possible for tumors to impact the adrenal glands, which may require scans.
How to manage stress
Stressful events are facts of life. So, while it’s impossible to completely avoid them, it is possible to manage the impact the events and stress have on your life.
The first step to learning how to manage stress is to identify what causes your stress. This will help you identify situations that will be potential stressors so you can prepare yourself emotionally and physically.
Research has shown that eating a healthy diet and regular exercise are also important for overall well-being and managing stress. Physical activity also helps increase the body’s production of endorphins, which can reduce the negative impact of stress.
Seeking professional help can also assist with finding positive ways to cope with stress. Professionals like psychologists and counselors can help you identify root causes for stress, and suggest healthy coping methods.
Most importantly, when it comes to managing stress and avoiding adrenal fatigue, it’s critical to stay away from unhealthy coping methods. This includes alcohol, tobacco, excess food, and substance abuse. While they may provide temporary relief, they can exacerbate stress-related symptoms, making them harder to manage.
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