Adrenal Fatigue: Real Answers for a Real Problem

I have been writing about adrenal fatigue and its considerable devastating affects on health for some years now, but I continue to research the topic and am continually amazed at the findings I discover concerning this illness. It is indeed a complex issue that few medical doctors address, yet I also have discovered that many holistic doctors do not fully understand this health imbalance, therefore rendering them incapable of truly helping the suffering individual. Perhaps you’ve been to different doctors and health professionals as many have done, but are no better now than you were when you first sought their help. That is why I wrote my latest eBook - Adrenal Fatigue: Real Answers for a Real Problem, revising & expanding the previous one as many new facts needed to be included. My goal is always to help the individuals who are seeking to regain their health with accurate information which can help them know what to do and where to go for real help for this real problem.

First, understand this is a multi-faceted problem that will require you to address various aspects of your health for complete healing to occur. It will not simply be taking a few supplements and resting for a total recovery, but will require looking into your emotions, your beliefs, your spiritual connection, as well as your diet, sleep patterns, lifestyle, relationships and what you believe about yourself. Sound overwhelming? It would be if you had to deal with everything at once, but total healing is always a journey that requires taking one step at a time. Compare it to peeling an onion – one layer at a time until you get to the core. That’s what will be required for your journey – working on one layer at a time. So yes, this will take time, but believe me, it will be worth it!

The symptoms that alert you of possible adrenal exhaustion are indeed vast, but some of the most common are: fatigue, insomnia or sleeping a lot without feeling rested, weight gain mostly around your belly, anxiety, feeling stressed, depressed, nervous, lack of concentration, feeling scattered and unproductive, low libido, constipation or diarrhea, loss of interest in much of life to name a few. Although these symptoms can be attributed to other disorders, if you have several of these then you would be wise to address the possibility of adrenal exhaustion. Donna Gates, along with many other health professionals, who is the author of The Body Ecology Diet, states that “Adrenal exhaustion is an underlying factor in all illnesses!”

Knowing that adrenal fatigue is credited with being a contributing factor in all diseases, it warrants your concern and the desire to know more. It is estimated that over 80% of our society is affected with adrenal burnout, so it has reached epidemic proportions without a doubt. And with the present chaos in our country and world, it is no wonder that so many people are suffering.

So your next thought is probably this, “Can it be fixed?” The answer is “Absolutely!” I traveled this journey of adrenal exhaustion and also experienced a couple adrenal crashes after my initial one more than 20 years ago, but I searched for answers and finally found them, which helped my body to heal. However, what I learned on my journey is that just addressing the physical realm will never cure it; it is a healing journey that encompasses the mental, emotional and spiritual realms as well. This means changing your entire lifestyle and the way you think, feel and behave if you want to heal completely. So you see it is not a quick fix scenario, but rather peeling away the layers that haven’t worked for you, letting go of those old ways and incorporating new ideas so you can again be whole.

I learned on my journey some astonishing facts that opened the doors of understanding way beyond my initial thinking. I learned that hormones rule the body, so it’s a given the adrenal hormones of DHEA and cortisol play a significant role in your health. But in this equation of hormone balance you must include the thyroid hormone, the sex hormones of estrogen, progesterone & testosterone, melatonin the sleep hormone, and Hgh in the pituitary. In addition, I finally understood this important fact – that the brain and the gut (often referred to as our second brain) are in control of all functions of the body, from peacefulness, calmness, clear thinking, energy, motivation, drive, libido, digestion & assimilation of foods and elimination of waste, so they must be balanced and working efficiently in order for you to experience great health. Once I learned these facts, the adrenal fatigue solution did an about face, and the new information provided much more extensive treatment protocols that worked more effectively!

What causes adrenal burnout? Stress does! Now everyone experiences stress all the time – it is impossible not to experience stress in your everyday life. But the difference is in how you respond to that stressor. If you begin worrying or are angry, you set the stage for a cycle of chronic stress. But if you simply acknowledge you have received a challenge but are greater than that challenge, you can then step into a positive flow of energy that allows you to resolve the situation more easily without the tension and worry that accompanies a challenge. Worry and anger are negative and are always based in fear energy, and whatever energy you send out comes back to you the same – that is a scientific fact! So obviously, staying in a positive energy flow is much more desirable for your health.

Even the medical profession acknowledges that stress is a killer, and it has been documented multiple times that stress contributes to all major diseases as in heart disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and even obesity. Granted, there are other factors that contribute immensely to diseases - sugar and fructose, processed foods, lack of sleep, alcohol, drugs (street and prescription), relationship issues, worry, grief, guilt, anger, anxiety, insulin resistance and/or metabolic syndrome – all of which are stressors for your body, so stress and the adrenals are always part of the disease equation.

There are many ways to learn how to respond differently to stress and how to calm yourself. Deep belly breathing is most effective and meditation is life’s most powerful tool. When you sit quietly and breathe deeply, your body and mind connect to your heart, your love center. Love is your essence and what brings positive outcomes in your life, but most people live their lives through fear, and that creates the stress. So taking time to calm yourself and reconnect mind & body, then adding regular exercise (which is considered by many the wonder drug) along with a healthy diet, you have the capability of healing completely. And of course there are many healing modalities that can help you too like massage, Reiki, reflexology, acupuncture, or energy healing. Taking a few pills or adding a few vegetables to your diet is not going to cure your adrenal disorder, instead, it will require you to completely change the way you presently live. After all, hasn’t it been said that doing the same thing over and over yet expecting a different outcome is insanity? You got it - you must make significant changes in every aspect of your life to heal. But don’t let this fact overwhelm you – you can do it if you truly want to!

There are many great supplements that can help heal the adrenals and are most assuredly necessary for adrenal restoration, but knowing which ones can be an issue. This is where guidance from someone who understands this health challenge is vital because self-navigating can bring treacherous results.

When I began my journey of healing, there was little information available and no medical or holistic doctor ever found the answer, even though I visited many of them and spent a great deal of money in the process. I felt lost and unsure of what to do or what to take to heal, and very scared. However, with perseverance, I did find answers so I could heal, and amazingly, new findings appear regularly to assist in this healing process. It really is difficult to handle this journey by yourself – that’s one of the reasons I coach people and have now added Adrenal Fatigue Health & Restoration Coach to my credentials. If you seek answers and wish to be healthy again, I invite you to visit www.wheremiracleshappen.com for information. I can promise you that this journey of healing is worth all the effort it takes when it brings you into a place of experiencing vibrant health!