Lesson #: Love Is The Greatest Healer Of All
Through this experience, I realized that I experienced adrenal fatigue because I was empty of love. I allowed fear, worry and stress to take a center role in my life.
And all these negative emotions robbed me of my precious life energy my vitality, my joy and inspirations.
So to heal myself I needed to bring love back into my life.
- Instead of focusing on what I didnt have, I focused on how grateful I am for what I do have.
- Instead of focusing on the things that I didnt like, I focused on the things that I love.
- Instead of acting from a place of insecurity and fear, I focused on acting from a place of enjoyment and love.
And this shift of perception has made a tremendous difference for me. Not only have energy and inspirations returned, but theyve also come with a greater potency, and a sense of ease and serenity.
The Myth Of Adrenal Fatigue
When patients present claiming that stress has worn out their adrenal glands, it can be easy to discount their belief in adrenal fatigue but they often have real symptoms that require treatment.
If more proof is needed that the Internet provides a wealth of information and misinformation, endocrinologists need to look no further than the increasing number of patients who claim a diagnosis of adrenal fatigue.
Although current medical science recognizes no such condition, physicians need to take the complaints and symptoms of these patients seriously, according to Endocrine Society President Lynnette Nieman, MD, who is a senior investigator at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Our role is to be good active listeners to determine if there is a true medical disorder lurking among the complaints. It is very important to take the person seriously, not to brush them off and say there is no adrenal fatigue. These people are suffering from something, so we need to take the suffering seriously.
The patient may have already been to see a naturopath who promotes the condition, so may be taking supplements of unknown formulations to treat it.
How Do Menopause And Perimenopause Affect Adrenal Fatigue
During mid-life, womens hormones begin to change. This time of life is called perimenopause. During perimenopause, estrogen levels may be higher than usual. This can cause adrenal fatigue. When women stop producing ova , estrogen decreases, and menstrual periods stop. This is called menopause. The symptoms of menopause are hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, and feeling tired. These symptoms are stressful and can further strain your adrenal glands.
Loss of estrogen during menopause makes it harder to handle stress. Estrogen replacement therapy with bioidentical hormones help women handle stress.
Moreover, some of these symptoms are the same symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue. Scientific studies have been done on estrogen and stress. Studies show that the loss of estrogen during menopause makes it harder for you to handle stress. They also show that estrogen replacement therapy with bioidentical hormones help women handle stress better.
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Distinction From Addisons Disease
Adrenal fatigue is closely related to, but not to be confused with, Addisons Disease, a disorder characterized by insufficient cortisol production due either to a pathology directly affecting the adrenals or a disruption of signaling between the brain and the adrenals. While symptoms of Addisons Disease are similar to adrenal fatigue, the primary difference is that adrenal fatigue is considered a possible result of the overuse of otherwise healthy adrenal glands due to stress.
The adrenals are necessary to have gluconeogenesis to take place in the liver, as well as the glycogen storage where it stimulates the production of blood glucose, says Dr. Wilson. So, most of the major symptoms of either adrenal fatigue or Addisons Disease are a result of either a lack of cortisol or a lack of blood glucose and the many effects that it has systematically throughout the body.
He theorizes, Unlike Addisons, adrenal fatigue doesnt have a pathological origin, with the exception of the overuse of antibiotics which may partially shut down the use of the adrenal glands. So, you do get different symptoms with versus adrenal fatigue, because youre talking about the difference between a body that cant secrete cortisol versus a body that isnt secreting sufficient cortisol.
Ask Your Doctor About Diagnostic Labs
Because adrenal fatigue symptoms are so non-specific and could be indicative of other diseases such as depression, sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, and certain autoimmune diseases, it can be hard to make a medical diagnosis. Seeing a medical professional or endocrinologist to establish a baseline of whats going on in the body is the first step to overcoming adrenal fatigue. In addition to conventional blood labs, I recommend:
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Magnesium Both The Adrenal Spark Plug And Calming Agent
Magnesium has a calming effect on the nervous system and is also required for energy production. In the first phase, when there is adrenal overproduction, when you are tired and wired, a magnesium chelate would be a good form to use. Glycine is a calming amino acid and is the best choice for a chelate because it is the smallest amino acid giving it the greatest absorption potential.
This form of magnesium allows for larger amounts of magnesium to be absorbed more quickly and be better retained by the body, as compared to other forms.
Glycine magnesium delivers 8.9 mg of magnesium per 100 mg of the product that is chelated with 55 mg glycine.
Try: Wellena Magnesium Replenish, a highly absorbable form of magnesium chelated to two molecules of the amino acid glycine.
This very stable form of magnesium should not cause gastrointestinal symptoms and is less likely to be stimulating, like the malate form for some.
Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzyme reactions in the body and is found to be increasingly deficient in our diets. Start with 100 mg and try to work up to 100 mg three times per day. Sometimes this form of magnesium will also loosen bowels so stop at that dose when it happens.
To read more about how to boost magnesium for hormone-balancing here is one of my most popular articles.
To learn more about how to balance your hormones with supplements , you can download our FREE Supplement Guide here.
You Might Have Adrenal Fatigue Heres How To Treat It Naturally
- Your adrenal glands are two nickel-sized glands, just above your kidneys. Adrenals produce and control cortisol, the stress hormone.
- Adrenal fatigue comes from chronic stress. When you push your body and mind too hard, your adrenals stop producing cortisol the way they should.
- Signs of adrenal fatigue are low energy, trouble sleeping, weight gain, mood swings, depression, anxiety, brain fog, and autoimmune issues. Get an adrenal fatigue test to know for sure.
- The best adrenal fatigue treatment is stress management. Some of your best biohacking tools are the Bulletproof Diet, sleep hacking, anti-stress supplements, meditation, and possibly changing your caffeine intake.
Balanced adrenal glands are a key part of being Bulletproof. Your adrenals create and regulate cortisol, which makes them essential for hacking stress. When your adrenals work the way they should, you become more resilient, and you have a much easier time taking on lifes challenges.
But if youre overwhelmed by chronic stress, your adrenals can get burnt out from constantly producing cortisol. The result is adrenal fatigue. Your natural cortisol rhythm becomes irregular sometimes you produce too much cortisol, sometimes not enough and you can struggle to make other hormones, like androstenedione .
Adrenal fatigue is real, and its something you can treat.
Lets talk about the signs of adrenal fatigue, what causes it, how to stop it from happening, and how to treat it.
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S To Healing Adrenal Fatigue Naturally
It takes time to wear out your adrenal glands, and because of this, it also takes time to heal them. It can take six to nine months to heal from minor adrenal fatigue, and up to 24 months for more severe adrenal fatigue. Recovering from adrenal fatigue includes taking stock of your physical and mental well-being and making significant lifestyle changes that reduce stimulus from stressful situations.
Here are seven natural ways to begin your journey recovering from adrenal fatigue:
How The Stages Of Adrenal Fatigue Affect Crashes
As you know by now, the intensity and length of an adrenal fatigue crash depends on your current state of health. If youre in the earlier stages of AFS, a crash might be so mild that you dont even notice it. But if youre in the more advanced stages, you can go into a major crash from a minor trigger.
This is why its important to really take the time to analyze and understand your condition from the stage of adrenal fatigue youre in, to the types of triggers that set off your crashes.
In stage one of adrenal fatigue, called the Alarm Reaction, you probably wont notice a lot of symptoms, if at all. You might have a minor crash and not even know it. Fatigue can keep you from reaching peak performance, but otherwise, you function normally.
Stage two, called the Resistance Response, is more symptomatic. Crashes become more noticeable and more common. You get more frequent fatigue, and you might have a harder time functioning normally.
Stage three, called Adrenal Exhaustion, is where you really start to see the symptoms of AFS clearly. Youll experience minor crashes every few weeks, and major crashes every six months to a year. During these crashes, the AFS symptoms you have worsen, and they dont disappear after the Recovery Phase.
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> > > Best Hair Loss Solution Available
Another way to treat hair loss is to undergo a surgical procedure. This is a surgery that uses a small piece of scalp, which contains hair follicles. The procedure is expensive and is not covered by insurance. If the balding area is large, it may not be possible to find sufficient hair for transplant. This method requires two surgeries, so the cost can vary from person to person. The surgery can be covered by your insurance provider, but it is not cheap.
Surgical procedures to correct the underlying problem are available as well. In some cases, doctors may use birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, or antiandrogen medications to correct the hormonal imbalances. If the cause of your hair loss is a psychiatric disorder, you will need to consult with a doctor to determine the best treatment options for you. Sometimes, you may need to undergo more than one surgery, so it is best to seek help from a dermatologist.
The first step in treating hair loss is to see a doctor. Your physician will run a blood test to determine the cause of your hair loss. This will help you choose the most effective treatment. Your doctor may prescribe a medication to stop your hair growth. Patients with psychiatric problems may also require special consultations and treatments. A therapist will be able to help you deal with your underlying psychiatric condition.
Supplements To Improve Fatigue
Trusted SourcePubMedGo to source, 42 Trusted SourcePubMedGo to source] have been shown to benefit fatigue. Supplementing daily for a short while may improve your fatigue.
Low blood levels of vitamin D have been proposed as a contributor to fatigue in a number of autoimmune health conditions, including lupus . However, there are few studies that confirm the relationship. So, though there are numerous reasons to take vitamin D, fatigue isnt one of them.
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Get Vitamin D Levels Into A Healthy Range
Spending more time outside in the sun also helps boost levels of vitamin D, because your body manufactures this important vitamin/hormone when it senses the sun on your skin. Vitamin D is responsible for regulating over 200 genetic pathways, so make sure your levels are high enough. I recommend an optimal range of around 60 to 80 ng/ml. Ask your doctor about a simple blood test to help you keep track.
Can Poorly Controlled Blood Sugar Cause Adrenal Fatigue
Yes, one common cause of adrenal fatigue is out of control blood sugar. Low blood sugar makes the adrenal glands work hard to make cortisol which raises blood sugar levels. During severe adrenal fatigue, the adrenal glands cannot produce enough cortisol. The symptoms of low blood sugar are dizziness, shakiness, and irritability. These are also symptoms of adrenal fatigue.
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S To Restore Adrenal Health Naturally
Ive helped thousands of patients restore adrenal health naturally. There are 4 easy steps to start with things you can do every day addressing the root causes of your adrenal imbalance.
Before begin, it is important to rule out the possibility of any serious underlying medical condition. Make sure you have a full medical exam to rule out this concern.
1. Eat Regularly and Choose Your Foods Wisely
Make every bite count. Choose nutrient rich foods, ones which havent been processed and do not contain sugar. Blood sugar spikes and drops create stress for your body. I encourage my patients to eliminate gluten from their diets as well. Eat five to six times a day and include protein, a complex carb and high quality fat every time you eat. A healing body needs good nourishment!
2. Schedule Time to Get More Rest
Now is a good time to commit to getting seven to nine hours sleep every night. Practice good sleep hygiene create an environment that welcomes a good nights sleep. Turn off all electronics an hour before bed allow your mind to slowly unwind and your body will follow!
3. Put Stress Reduction Measures in Place
4. Get Nutritional Support for Your Body
Final Thoughts on Restoring Adrenal Health Naturally
Our bodies have an amazing ability to heal when given the right support! Regaining your energy, your clarity and your vitality is a must!
Diffuse Essential Oils In Your Space
Theres nothing like enjoying the scent of diffused lavender or sage oil in your space. Diffusing essential oils has become a self-care ritual, commonly known as aromatherapy. When you inhale these pleasant plant-based scents, the hypothalamus and pituitary glands are stimulated, helping the body release feel-good hormones. A study found that essential oils also proved helpful in decreasing cortisol levels, relieving stress from your adrenals.
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How Is Adrenal Fatigue Treated
Your alternative health practitioner may treat adrenal fatigue by recommending that you quit alcohol, drugs, caffeine, and cigarettes, eat certain foods, exercise more and get more sleep. All of this advice should make you feel better.
Some practitioners may recommend you take supplements and vitamins for adrenal fatigue. Always check with your doctor before you take supplements in case they are harmful for you or might react with your other medicines.
If you have unexplained fatigue or exhaustion that doesnt go away, see your doctor. Your doctor will probably ask you about your symptoms and run some tests to rule out other health problems. Treating an underlying issue, such as iron deficiency or a low thyroid level, can help reverse fatigue.
First Change Your Lifestyle
The two most important steps to take are: 1) Change your hectic lifestyle and 2) learn stress reduction techniques.
The idea here is to lower the demands on your adrenal glands. If you continue an exhausting and demanding way of living, your adrenal glands will be constantly struggling to catch up. Full recovery will be difficult if you dont deal with stress.
For stress reduction, yoga, tai chi, meditation, prayer and deep breathing are proven to be effective.
For stress reduction, yoga, tai chi, meditation, prayer and deep breathing are proven to be effective. They are simple, and available. Other ways of lowering stress are being out in nature or doing gentle exercises such as walking. There are also many phone apps for guided imagery and meditation. All these things get you out of the high alert mindset.
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How Is Adrenal Fatigue Diagnosed
There is no test which can tell whether or not you have adrenal fatigue. A 24-hour salivary adrenal test has been used to check the function of the adrenal glands. However, many doctors, including adrenal gland specialists, do not consider that this test is appropriate to measure the function of the adrenal glands.
A 24-hour salivary adrenal test involves taking saliva samples four times during 24 hours. The samples are usually taken at 8 am, 12 noon, 4 pm and midnight. The early-morning steroid level should be the highest level of the day but may be reduced if the adrenal gland is not working properly.
You may need blood tests to make sure there are no other reasons why you feel very tired, such as anaemia or an underactive thyroid gland. Further tests will also be needed if there is any concern that your adrenal glands are not working properly.
A Better Response To How To Heal Adrenal Fatigue
There are many other, very common reasons for fatigue that have nothing to do with your adrenal glands and adrenal fatigue.
Fatigue symptoms are most often caused by:
- Gut dysfunction
- Inflammation from food sensitivities or autoimmune conditions
- Sleep problems like sleep apnea
- Other physiological effects of stress
To effectively heal your fatigue symptoms, make sure you are focusing on the right causes.
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The Adrenal Fatigue Crash And Recovery Cycle
The adrenal fatigue crash and recovery cycle is made up of two phases: a crash and then recovery. The Crash Phase is marked by a sharp decrease in energy, with the main symptom being fatigue. The Recovery Phase is marked by a gradual return of bodily functions and energy. This long process may be helped along by means of proper nutrition and other solutions, as we describe in the Dr. Lam Coaching program.
Each of the two phases has its own set of signs and/or symptoms that can differ from person to person. But the general trend will look like the below illustration.
