How to deal with adrenal fatigue

Lately, the word “stress” has been getting a lot of attention, as society started to experience a gradual increase across the board. Certainly, over the past 2 years, with the many changes we all have undergone, we have discovered just how stressed we are. To be in a constant state of high stress is truly harmful to us. There are many detrimental long-term effects that we should all seek to avoid.

Stress causes adrenal fatigue. Our adrenal glands sit on top of our kidneys and act as the body’s prime responder to stress by releasing the hormones epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol into our blood so that we can ‘prime for battle’ or also known as the fight or flight response. This action increases blood pressure, heart rate, and gets us ready for any challenges we must face. Stress has many side effects, especially if our stress response is always heightened. We can suffer from headaches or ulcers, gain weight, have heart and digestive problems, and experience more allergies and asthma. Stress is a necessary response to danger. However, chronic stress is a condition we need to tackle.

One of the main effects of chronic stress is lack of sleep. This creates a cyclical situation that only exacerbates the problem – lack of sleep drives us to more caffeine, alcohol to help us relax, and refined sugars in comfort food provide a temporary feeling of wellbeing. All of these contribute to keeping our adrenal glands in a constant and heightened state, which, in time, will cause adrenal fatigue.

There is good news, however. We can prevent adrenal fatigue by getting our stress under control. This is done by making a few changes to our lifestyle, which will pay dividends in many areas of our lives, as well as combating this pervasive state of stress we live in.

Sleep. It’s a fact – you need it. Ideally, adults need 7.5 hours per night for full restoration. Turn off the screens, make yourself a cup of tea, and go to bed early. Try some ambient music playing softly in the background. In just a few days, you will feel a difference.

Cut back on some of the refined sugars that only exacerbate the stress response. This also includes alcohol, which we are learning is much more harmful than previously thought. Alcohol disrupts sleep, as does caffeine, especially if consumed after 2 pm.

Become a list-maker. Keeping notes about things you need to do, even in your phone or on a small blackboard, really helps to combat the feeling that you are always behind on your tasks or forgetting something. While you are writing your list, straighten your surroundings a little. A cluttered space makes us feel out of control, whereas a tidy one helps us feel empowered and more in control of our environment. Feeling more in control leads to an improved outlook.

We can’t always improve our mood, but trying to maintain a positive attitude has a beneficial effect. Laughter is truly medicine. Treat yourself to a sitcom or cute kitten videos online or play a game with loved ones. Board games have experienced a resurgence in popularity for a good reason: we can sit face to face, talk, laugh, and escape together for a while.

Think about the things in your life that make you feel gratitude. Go outside for exercise. Get some fresh air and sunshine. Exercise has been proven to improve mood and help combat stress.

Trying some – or all – of the above would be a good start to finding ways to begin controlling your feelings of chronic stress and combating or preventing adrenal fatigue. Taking WomenSense^® AdrenaSense^® will also help.

AdrenaSense is an adrenal support formula with adaptogens such as Rhodiola, Suma, Siberian Ginseng, Schisandra, and Ashwagandha to help reduce stress, improve energy, and promote restful sleep. These adaptogens are highly valued for a wide variety of actions. They are known to help fight fatigue, reduce levels of stress hormones circulating in the body, improve mental and physical performance, and increase the body’s ability to cope with stress.

In the meantime, want to find out how stressed you currently are? Try taking this stress test and see where you rate.