The other day when I arrived home from the office, my two-year-old, Reed, ran up to me grinning, and and called ”Mommy!” as he lept into my arms. I gave him a big hug and felt the emotions begin to well.

I collapsed on the the couch and examined the living room’s disarray. The thought of making dinner was overwhelming. Reed toddled over to me and was about to jump on my lap when he saw the tears on my cheeks.

“Mommy?” he said sheepishly. That’s when I realized that something had to change. It was one thing to have a hectic life and feel a little burnt out from time to time, but this was bordering on depression.

After some research (uh, OK … Google) I come across the term adrenal fatigue. (This brief survey for example, helped me determine my adrenal health by answering questions my sleep habits, food cravings, moods, mental clarity and energy level.) However, while not recognized by the medical profession as a diagnosis, adrenal fatigue is recognized and treated by alternative health-care professionals.

“What we’re seeing is an epidemic of women with subclinical adrenal hypo- or hyperfunction — that is, adrenal glands are putting out stress hormones at levels that are inappropriate, too low or too high, in relation to what’s needed,” says says Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP and founder of Women to Women Clinic in Yarmouth, Maine.

“This may sound mild enough, but the effects can be profound: fatigue and weakness, suppression of the immune system, muscle and bone loss, moodiness or depression, hormonal imbalance, skin problems, hair loss, autoimmune disorders, insulin resistance, and dozens of other symptoms and health concerns — some very serious.” 

In fact, two thirds of all primary-care physican visits are for stress-related issues. “Elevated stress can suppress the immune system, increase appetite, impact sex drive, affect fertility, and on and on,” said Shawn M. Talbott, Ph.D., a biochemical nutritionist in Salt Lake City and author of The Cortisol Connection: Why Stress Makes You Fat and Ruins Your Health—and What You Can Do About It, in this Women’s Health article. “It can also lead to behavioral changes such as excessive drinking, smoking, and bingeing on ‘comfort’ food, as well as lack of motivation.”

Overcoming Adrenal Fatigue

The thing about adrenal fatigue is that even after you remove the external stressors, the symptoms may endure if left untreated or if you fall too soon back into the stress cycle.
 
Treatment options include naturopathy, Chinese medicine, acupuncture and herbal therapy and others. I started taking an herbal supplement with Eleuthero and Rhiodola, Tumeric that is specially formulated to support the adrenals and counteract the effects of stress.

However, it will take more that popping a couple of capsules at lunch to fully overcome adrenal fatigue. I suspect that I’m addicted to the cortisol “high” and high level of productivity that comes with always being so busy. But I’ve reached the point in my life where the price for such productivity is too high. Craming more into each day isn’t bringing me more happiness, furthering my career or making me a better person.

It’s time to choose quality over quantity in all aspects of life. In addition to making healthier food choices (without sacrificing occasional treats), proritizing self care and sufficient sleep, I must live in line the with my values.

I may not be able to do everything I want to, but the things I will make time will be those that matter most.

For more great advice on how to de-stress and overcome adrenal fatigue, I offer this advice from www.adrenalfatigue.org:

Define who and what are important in your life and Decide to live accordingly.

Energize yourself with foods that nourish, and Exercise to increase circulation, optimize function and eliminate toxins.

Support your body with dietary Supplements designed specifically to help compensate for the effects of stress on your body and supply nutrients used up during stress.

Take Time to breathe deeply and fully, to find a moment of calm, and to enjoy something each day.

Reframe events that stress you in order to Release yourself from paralysis so you can discover what you can do, and how you can benefit from these events or turn them to your advantage.Eliminate energy robbers and health drains, and Establish clear boundaries.

Sleep to give your body a chance to recharge and heal, and your mind a few moments of Silent Solace each day so you are refreshed and ready to take effective action.

Smile and See the Soul-fullness in your life.  The physical action changes how you feel inside, which changes how you behave and how your body reacts.