Now that you understand the concept of Adrenal Fatigue and the frustrating nature of it’s symptoms, you may be wondering how you got to this point.
To begin with, when we are under stress of any kind, the adrenal glands produce vital hormones that allow the body to tap into reserve energy. This helps maintain balance through struggle. I like to think of the reserve energy as a bucket. When we are stressed the adrenal glands produce cortisol, which allows the body to dip into the reserve bucket and continue functioning. As the stress ends, the bucket is re-filled through rest, good food, exercise, etc.
The problem comes when the stress doesn’t end. The adrenal glands work overtime and the bucket empties. When there is nothing left in the reserve tank, the adrenal glands produce adrenaline (the fight or flight hormone) which allows the body to power through. As they work harder and harder, it becomes a struggle for the adrenal glands to produce the hormones that give us reserve energy. We are left exhausted, overwhelmed, stressed, and unable to focus. The body struggles to self regulate. Good rest and quality foods no longer restore it.
Adrenal Fatigue is a stress condition.
In my class on July 21st, I will go into a deeper explanation of stress types and how each one affects us. Doesn’t it seem like everyone is under stress these days? The stressors tax our system in the form of fast paced lives, poor diets, lack of sleep, exposure to environmental toxins, long lasting illnesses and trauma. Prolonged stressors (or a combination of them) degrade the bucket and it cannot be refilled with our usual self care techniques.
If Adrenal Fatigue is a stress condition that depletes our reserve energies, then it seems logical that reducing stress and rebuilding reserve energy is the answer. This is what most programs designed to treat Adrenal Fatigue do (reduce stress and refill the bucket). However, most programs miss the mark by not looking at the root cause (or what I like to think of as the holes in the bucket). The programs are mildly successful in temporarily boosting energy and improving sleep, but the energy is never restored long term because the holes (root causes) are still there.
Here is where the Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective comes into play: Using the Five Elements system allows me to analyze the root cause of your adrenal fatigue (and patch up the holes in your bucket). When we repair the holes, reduce your stress AND fill the bucket, your energy, focus, stamina and well-being return long term.
Next Up: Expect more about the Five Elements and how each element contributes to creating this vicious cycle.
Bonus: Find out which element you identify with most!