Believe it or not, an increased awareness of unpleasant odors is one of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue. I found out about that little tidbit recently when I found out I suffered from Adrenal Exhaustion…along with about 80% of the American population. Now, you might think it’s strange that a cowgirl like me could notice more foul odors, being surrounded as I am by horse poop, dirt, billy goats, and cows, but I did. So it all made sense when my doctor told me that I had fatigued my adrenal glands.
What is Adrenal Fatigue or Burnout?
So what is adrenal exhaustion? It’s exactly what it sounds like: it’s what happens when your adrenal glands are overloaded and undernourished, causing them to become fatigued. Why are the adrenal glands important? Well, these little pea-sized glands on top of the kidneys secrete hormones that allow us to deal with immediate and long-term stress. The adrenal glands secrete more than 50 different hormones, including adrenaline, estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and DHEA. You’ve probably heard of most of these hormones. These hormones are what give us the ability to “get up and go,” providing the energy we need to deal with our hectic and overstimulated lives.
Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms
Unfortunately, these glands, when overstressed, eventually stop working and we then end up with adrenal exhaustion or fatigue symptoms, including:
– chronic fatigue and tiredness
– depression
– inability to think clearly
– chronic anxiety
– low blood sugar
– decreased metabolism
– changes in skin color
– craving for sweet or salty foods
– bread stamp
– decreased immune function
– low body temperature
– allergies and food sensitivities
– dark circles under the eyes
There are other symptoms of adrenal overwork that could be added to the list, but you get the general idea. Our adrenal glands do a lot for our bodies, and when we overuse them, they burn out.
Causes of adrenal fatigue
In general, our modern lifestyle is a recipe for adrenal burnout and exhaustion. Our adrenal glands suffer when we push them too hard. Our minds are active and bursting with ideas, but our bodies can’t keep up. Specifically, lifestyle habits that overload the adrenal glands include:
– very little sleep
– poor diet
– use of caffeine or other stimulants
– use of medicines to fall asleep at night
– use of medicines to treat anxiety or depression
– perfectionism
– constant physical, mental or emotional stress
– about stimulation of cell phones, music, traffic, pagers and email
You get the idea… it’s nothing out of the ordinary in our modern lives. For most people, it’s just a snapshot of everyday life. But it’s hell for the adrenal glands. In fact, modern life has such a strong negative effect on the adrenal glands that some women who suffer from adrenal fatigue show signs of menopause starting in their 30s. Oh! You read that right: adrenal exhaustion can cause premature aging.
Adrenal Fatigue Treatment
Fortunately, treatment is possible for this condition. Treatments fall into three basic categories:
1) Herbal and nutritional support (I like XanGo’s X51/Eleviv, other people like pure herbs)
2) Changes in lifestyle
3) Revitalizing Practices
This article is the first in a series on getting healthy after adrenal fatigue, and future articles will cover specific strategies for doing so. The prognosis for coming out of adrenal fatigue is generally quite positive and many doctors offer the following time frame for recovery:
– 6 to 9 months for minor fatigue
– 12 to 18 months for moderate fatigue
– Up to 24 months for severe fatigue
As you can see, the road back to energetic and vital health is not a short one…but then again, most people don’t achieve adrenal fatigue overnight either! Stay tuned for more articles on treating adrenal fatigue, or explore Zen Cowgirl’s blog to read more.
