Why Adrenal Fatigue Makes You A Hypochondriac

View fullsize

 A hypochondriac by definition is someone who is abnormally anxious about their health. If you’ve been suffering from adrenal fatigue chances are you’ve felt this way at some point. Or, maybe your friends and family members have suggested you’re a hypochondriac. You’re not crazy! Here's why adrenal fatigue makes you a hypochondriac:

4 Ways Adrenal Fatigue Makes You a Hypochondriac

1. Mystery Symptoms

Because adrenal fatigue is often overlooked or misunderstood by mainstream medicine often people experience many symptoms, have chronic pain or irritability, and are constantly exhausted without an explanation. The “unknown” can make anyone abnormally anxious as the future seems uncertain and somewhat scary.

That was me before I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue. My symptoms all across the board, something was physically wrong with me, and I knew that, but doctors couldn’t find anything. I was beginning to feel as though they thought I was making it all up, but I knew my symptoms were NOT in my head.  I felt frustrated and hopeless.

2. Basic Needs Aren’t Being Met

It’s hard to think of anything else when your basic needs aren’t being met. Remember Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, based on the idea that people are motivated to achieve certain needs. When one need is fulfilled a person seeks to fulfill the next one, and so on. The most basic needs being food, water, shelter, sleep, etc. Next in order is protection, security. After that are the “higher” needs like love, friendship, intimacy, personal growth and so on.

When you have chronic health issues often times you’re basic needs like getting enough sleep and having good health aren’t being met making it hard to focus on other “higher” needs. This means you’re missing out on so much. Your life is consumed with your illness and your ability to be happy and focus on “higher” needs is seriously compromised.

Maybe your friends notice that you are preoccupied or anxious about lots of things and that is why they're calling you a hypochondriac.

3. Have to Watch What You Eat

Every time after I ate, I felt horrible. I would feel itchy and tingly. At first, I thought I was just allergic to everything: gluten, dairy, sugar…

Little did I know, I had low blood sugar. Adrenal fatigue often contributes to blood sugar imbalance because the hormones produced by the adrenal glands play an important role in the way we metabolize and regulate blood sugar.

When you have low blood sugar it can cause many symptoms like blurry vision, rapid heartbeat, sudden nervousness, unexplained fatigue, shaking, skin tingles and trouble concentrating.

It’s easy to think these symptoms are a reaction to what you just ate, that you must be allergic to it. This might not be “it” at all. The symptoms you are experiencing could be a result of a blood sugar imbalance.

Again, how could you ignore symptoms like this, especially when they are happening every day?  Anxiety seems like a normal response to a prolonged struggle with the basic practice of eating!

4. Seems Like Your Sensitive to Everything

At the height of my untreated adrenal fatigue, my allergies became so severe that I couldn’t breathe through my nose or taste, or smell for months at a time. I became hyper aware of the environment around me because I was afraid of what I would react to; trees, plants, pets, dust, chemicals, intense smells…I was never sure what would set off a mild or a severe reaction.

I had to avoid people’s houses with pets. During allergy season, I would choose to miss out on outdoor activities rather than deal with the aftermath. I had to avoid certain beauty products and clothing that caused allergic reactions.  People noticed, and I’m sure their feelings were hurt when I stopped coming over or participating in events, but I had to take care of myself.

Nevertheless, I am sure that without a full appreciation of the ongoing discomfort and pain I was experiencing every day, it was easier for them to think my behavior was “excessive” or “crazy”.

In fact, it was simply a matter of doing what I needed to do to keep myself safe and functional.

These four examples are all excellent reasons why you might feel anxious about your health even if you are not usually an anxious person.  Any anxiety you feel given these challenges is completely justified and it’s important to remember that.

But how can you cope with the daily anxiety or the pressure that comes from judgment, even if it is rooted in loving concern?

I am about to give you 5 Simple ways to deal with this.

5 Things to Do About It

1. Stop Caring What Others Think

If your family and friends don’t understand what you’re going through, it is natural for them to feel confused, which can often resolve itself in judgmental behaviors. Try to explain what you're experiencing in an effort to help everyone. You will get more support from people who don’t think you’re crazy, exaggerating or just like to complain.

If they don’t get it, don’t waste your precious time and energy worrying about them. Save that energy for your healing. If you believe in yourself they will come around.

2. Get Support

If you find yourself without enough (or any) supportive friends, find some.  It may help everyone if you explained to them the basic challenges you’re facing in your life: perhaps they will be willing and able to help provide for some of those more basic unmet needs, freeing you up to enjoy those “higher levels” again!

Make an effort to reach out to a friend or family member you think will listen while you talk about what you’re going through from your own perspective. You can also work with health coach like me or another health professional who recognizes adrenal fatigue and is dedicated to your healing journey. There are also support groups on Facebook such as Holistic Healing from Adrenal Fatigue.

3. Give Yourself Some Credit

I applaud you for seeing the warning signs and listening to your body. Symptoms are your body’s way of telling you something isn’t right. Ignoring them is only going to make it worse.

But, don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting you focus all your energy on what is wrong. That’s only going to make matters worse. Instead…

4. Start Asking Questions

Get ready because I am going to be real HONEST with you. You might not like it, but it’s necessary. At this stage, complaining won’t help. Each time you notice you’re feeling sick or sorry for yourself, don’t beat yourself up—break that habit! Instead, document your symptoms and ask yourself a few constructive questions in order to shift your focus from your pain to your healing:

• What could this symptom be telling me?

• What can I be grateful for in this moment?

• What is the next best step for me?

5. Stay committed To Your Healing and Trust

Whether you’re suffering from adrenal fatigue or another illness that results in chronic fatigue, don’t give up hope. You’re not alone and you’re not crazy.

You deserve great health, we all do. Stay committed by envisioning great health and trust you will find the answers in the right time

Now I would love to hear from you. Do you feel like a hypochondriac? Or have others suggested you are? How do you deal with it? Please share in the comments below.

Lots of Love,
Angela

Image Copyright: <a href='https://www.123rf.com/profile_nastia'>nastia / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Adrenal Fatigue Test - Simple At Home DIY Test

Wondering if the low energy and chronic fatigue you are experiencing could be adrenal fatigue? Today, I will be sharing a simple at home adrenal fatigue test. However, please keep in mind that the best diagnosis is one that looks at the whole picture. For example, a range of tests and an assessment of symptoms and physiological signs such as iris contraction, blood pressure, and cortisol levels. 

This requires some patience on your part and a practitioner that has experience and thorough knowledge of the various systems of the body. 

 The Iris Contraction Adrenal Fatigue Test

This test measures your body’s stamina to respond to light.

What You Need:

o      A weak flashlight or penlight (make sure it’s not too bright)

o      Time device with seconds

o      A mirror

o      A dark room or closet

o      A chair

Step by Step Instructions:

1. Go into a dark room or closet and stay there a few minutes to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark. Your pupils (the dark circle in the center of your eye) will dilate (open) fully

2. Shine the flashlight to the side of the eye (avoid shining it directly)

3. Keep the light shining for about 30 seconds (use the other eye to look in the mirror). The pupil should contract in response to the light.

4. Normally the pupil would remain contracted in the light, but if you suffer from adrenal fatigue the pupil will not be able to stay contracted and will dilate (open back up). Or it will waver between contracted and relaxed or contract at first, but then dilate (open) after 10-30 seconds.

5. This dilation should take place within 2 minutes and will last for about 30-45 seconds before it recovers and contracts again.

6. Use your time device and see how long the dilation lasts.

7. Take notes for your records and test every few weeks of your healing journey. As you recover, the iris will hold its contraction and the pupil will remain small for longer.

If you have trouble doing this adrenal fatigue test alone, as a friend or your partner for help.

Now what?

If the iris contraction adrenal fatigue test suggests the likelihood of adrenal fatigue, we recommend taking the saliva test as soon as possible.

This test is done in the convenience of your own home using a simple test kit. It involves you spitting into a tube several times a day and then sending them off to a lab for analysis. The test analyzes your cortisol levels throughout the course of a 24-hour cycle.

Now we’d love to hear from you in the comments below. What are your burning questions? What do you need support with? You’re not alone, so reach out and your comments or questions could help someone else on their healing journey. So take a moment now to drop us a line below.

WHAT IS ADRENAL FATIGUE?

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgivAb6THX0

Has your ability to handle stress or pressure decreased? Does it seem as though you don’t think as clearly as you used to? Are you chronically fatigued; a tiredness that is not relieved by sleep? If you answered “yes” to these statements, you could be suffering from adrenal fatigue. In this blog you will learn: what is adrenal fatigue, what causes it, the top warning signs and why you shouldn't ignore it. 

Adrenal Fatigue

It describes a condition in which your adrenal glands are functioning below the necessary level.

Why is this a big deal?  The adrenal glands have a big job.

The adrenals are endocrine glands that produce and release over 50 vital hormones into your body like testosterone, estrogen, and cortisol, to name a few. Each of these hormones is important for the regulation of all our body processes. This not only includes our physical body but our psychological and even emotional parts of ourselves.

Adrenal fatigue causes chronic fatigue along with many other chronic health conditions.

Have you been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? Learn more about the connection HERE!

How Do The Adrenals Get Fatigued?

The adrenals become fatigued when one is experiencing intense or ongoing emotional, mental or physical stress. For example, a death of a family member or perhaps, a difficult divorce, a serious accident or a major surgical procedure.

The adrenals are there to help you respond to these different stress. Therefore, once your adrenals are fatigued they could be ineffective at producing the necessary hormones to fight an infection or to build endurance or raise your heart rate, or give you more energy to run from a tiger or deal with your stressful work deadline or whatever else is needed. So essentially the adrenals keep you alive.

The more stress you have in your life, the more your adrenals get exhausted. This makes it so you are less able to tolerate future stress, a vicious cycle.

This is why it is important to identify this condition and address it immediately.

In his book, Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome, Dr. Wilson shares that 80% of people experience this condition and the physical symptoms of stress at some point in their lives, yet it is often overlooked and misunderstood by the medical community.

So, let's now talk about the possible causes in more detail.

What Causes Adrenal Fatigue?

You can also expect to feel adrenal fatigue if you have or have had:

• Problems in the workplace like a demanding boss, long work hours, or even uncooperative colleagues

• Financial difficulties

• Exposure to pollution

• Problematic family situations

• Inadequate sleep

• Overeating

• Substance abuse

• Infections

• Long illnesses

• Major surgery

But, how will you know if what you're experiencing is actually the adrenal fatigue syndrome and not something else?

Warning Signs of Adrenal Fatigue?

• You're tired even without having indulged in vigorous activities

• You sleep 7-8 hours a night, but you wake up exhausted

• You feel exhausted and weighed down by your responsibilities

• Recovery from an illness or a stressful situation takes longer than it should

• You're snacking on something sweet or salty without being really hungry

• You seem to "wake up" after 6:00 pm and feel like the day has just begun

• You can’t seem to digest certain foods although you have never had food allergies before.

Why Should You Care?

Even though adrenal glands are small, they have a big job of helping your body maintain its normal functions. The adrenals are in charge of releasing over 50 hormones that run your body and help you respond to stress. Unfortunately when these glands aren’t working properly, they have the potential to wreak havoc on your body! That’s why it’s so important that this condition is identified and treated. 

What Happens If This Condition Goes Unnoticed?

When your body’s ability to respond properly to stress is compromised, it can impact your digestion, immunity, reproduction and so much more.

For example, one of the most important hormones the adrenals produce is cortisol. When you’re suffering from adrenal fatigue your cortisol levels are either too high or too low, depending on which stage of adrenal fatigue you are in. When your cortisol levels are out of whack you are more susceptible to severe, chronic allergies, infections, inflammation and autoimmune diseases.

If you suspect that you have adrenal fatigue, start by taking  The Adrenal Fatigue Test.

I just summarized what is adrenal fatigue, the causes, warning signs and why you shouldn't ignore it.

Now we'd love to hear from you in the comments below. What is your biggest struggle right now? This is a healing community and your comment could support someone else on their healing journey. Take a moment to drop us a line below.

Is it Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Adrenal Fatigue?

In today’s fast-paced world, it is not uncommon for people to feel chronic fatigue and just chalk it up to simply working too much and sleeping too little. This truth is, after years of this lifestyle there could be long-term health consequences. It could be a result of a fairly uncommon, until recently, condition called adrenal fatigue. Adrenal Fatigue is overlooked by most mainstream doctors, but many people are unknowingly battling this condition all the time. It is estimated that 80% of people experience adrenal fatigue and the physical symptoms of stress at some point in their lives.

In this blog, I am going to tell you what adrenal fatigue is and how you can distinguish it from the typical symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

No!! They are not the same thing and if you ignore it, you could be headed down a long road of chronic conditions with long-term effects on your health.

So Let's Talk About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

You might have been experiencing chronic fatigue for some time now and you are looking for help or maybe you have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. If so, you might be experiencing these symptoms:

• Weakened immune system, which means you get sick all the time.

• Poor memory and mental concentration, do you keep forgetting stuff?

• Muscle pain or pain in the joints, headaches, the works?

Are you thinking, "That's me!"

CFS can be a devastating and complex disorder often disabling a person. This overwhelming fatigue that is not improved with sleep is most often accompanied by a handful of other symptoms and can result in reduced participation in daily activities. Researchers have not yet identified what causes CFS, and there are no tests to diagnose it. However, many doctors diagnose CFS if your fatigue lasts for at least six months and your fatigue is not alleviated with bed rest.

However, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can easily be mistaken for Adrenal Fatigue.

What is Adrenal Fatigue Anyways?

Let me start off by telling you about your adrenals glands. Your adrenals are glands that sit on top of our kidneys and although they are no bigger than the size of a walnut they have a very important job in the body, managing our stress. With the world we live in today, this job has never been more important.

The adrenal glands are also responsible for secreting over 50 hormones essential for life. To name a few: epinephrine (adrenaline), cortisol, progesterone and testosterone. These hormones are responsible for vital processes like energy production, fluid and electrolyte balance and fat storage.

For example, cortisol controls the strength of the immune system: too much cortisol weakens the immune system, increasing our susceptibility to infections and cancer, while too little leads to an overactive immune system and autoimmune disease. Cortisol also normalizes our blood sugar and regulates our blood pressure. This is serious business, right?

What Causes Adrenal Fatigue?

Adrenal Fatigue can be caused by intense or prolonged stress or can be a result of an acute or chronic infection or a stressful or traumatic event in one’s life.

Adrenal Fatigue used to be rare and now is all too common because of our 24/7 lifestyle we lead. Lack of relaxation accompanied by sleep deprivation, poor eating habits and excessive caffeine intake all contribute to this condition.

It will interest you to know that Adrenal Fatigue or Dysfunction has been coined as the 21st Century Stress Syndrome, by Dr. Wilson, who has three doctorates and two master's degrees, all in different health-related disciplines.

Could what you are experiencing be adrenal fatigue after all?

Can you answer “YES” to more than half of these statements?

• I have allergies to several things in the environment and my allergies are getting worse.

• I experience blurred vision.

• I am frequently constipated.

• I have low tolerance to cold weather.

• My hands and legs get restless.

• My ability to handle stress and pressure has decreased.

• I am less productive at work.

• I seem to have decreased cognitive ability. I don’t think as clearly as I used to.

If so, you could be suffering from adrenal fatigue.

Why You Don’t Want to Ignore Your Exhausted Adrenals?

As we lead these busy lives and we encounter external stressors without learning to slow down and relax, our adrenal get overworked and essentially can no longer handle the stress being put on them leading to adrenal fatigue or adrenal dysfunction.

Once your adrenals are too exhausted to perform their vital functions and left undetected it will lead to a cascade of disease processes into motion. This was me just a few years ago. My inability to cope with stress, addiction to incessant doing and burning the candle at both ends without slowing down resulted in a major health crisis. I was suffering from hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, vision problems, psoriasis, eczema, severe allergies, poor digestion, many food sensitivities and the list goes on.

Like many people I know who suffer from adrenal fatigue, but don’t know it, it can take several years; many doctor visits and thousands of dollars to finally figure it out. Once I learned about Adrenal Fatigue, it was the real turning point for me.

This diagnosis gave me a renewed sense of hope I needed and is what finally allowed me to heal my body from not only extreme fatigue, but from a handful of other chronic conditions.

How to Deal with CFS and Adrenal Fatigue?

The medical answer for CFS and adrenal fatigue or dysfunction is usually drugs. However, if you are in fact suffering from adrenal fatigue, drugs would not be the best option, quite the opposite actually. Rather elimination is the key. That is, you need to remove toxins from your body and allowing it to nourish and heal itself. As a result, the adrenal glands will begin to function normally and your energy will return.

I am not one to love the idea of slapping a label, disease or diagnosis on a person because it often makes us feel that we need some doctor to come along and fix us or help us get medication that will solve our problem. But in this case learning and being diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigued saved my life. Now I want to give you the tools to make simple, yet powerful shifts in your daily routine so you can tap into what YOUR body really needs to heal, all without using medication!

Let Us Help You

If someone had told me early on what I am sharing with you now, it would have saved me several years of pain, irritation, exhaustion, relationships, time and energy. I don’t want you to end up where I was just a few years ago.

I want to encourage you to learn more about Adrenal Fatigue, because if you suffer from it, the information here could drastically change your life.

Now we’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Have you been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome or adrenal fatigue syndrome? What are your biggest symptoms? We are a healing community and your comment could support others on their healing journey. So take a moment to drop us a line below.

Adrenal Glands - All You Need to Know

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OKx0ncgI_0

What if I told you that a small gland in your body, no bigger than the size of a walnut could be the source of not only your chronic fatigue, but could be linked to other chronic health issues you may be experiencing? Yes, I'm talking about your adrenal glands. In this blog, I am going to explain what the adrenal glands are, what they do and why they are so important to maintaining optimal health.

 What are the Adrenal Glands?

Adrenal glands get their name from the words, "ad" that means over and "renal" that means related to the kidneys. Thus, adrenal glands are located just above the top of each of your kidneys.

What do Adrenal Glands Do?

Adrenal glands are endocrine glands that produce and release many vital hormones into your body like testosterone, estrogen, and cortisol, to name a few. Each of these hormones is important for the regulation of all your body processes. They may be physical, psychological or even emotional.

Why Adrenal Health Is Important For Overall Health?

It is up to the adrenal glands to help you deal with the different stresses you encounter in your day-to-day living. Whether it’s a bacteria from the physical environment, injury or stress as an emotional response as a result of a situation in your life.

By regulating your responses to these different stresses, the adrenal glands essentially keep you alive. In case of diseases or injuries, they release the appropriate chemicals that will fight off infection and build endurance; and if you are under emotional stress, they might raise your heart rate, produce added energy or affect your muscle tone so you can deal with it.

In this way, the adrenal glands control the performance of every organ, tissue and gland in your body and maintain their balance to keep you healthy, physically and psychologically. Think of them as the engine in the car of your body that keeps it functioning, as it should.

What Happens When Your Adrenals Get Fatigued

When your adrenals become fatigued they don’t perform the stress-fighting functions, as they should. This means they don't produce the adequate amount of hormones your body needs to maintain its balance. As a result, you begin to experience adrenal fatigue.

Adrenal fatigue has a myriad of symptoms from debilitating exhaustion, weight issues, to severe food cravings, food sensitivities, brain fog and so much more.

Learn about the full range of adrenal fatigue symptoms here.

Now we’d love to hear from you in the comments below. What are your biggest symptoms? What are you burning questions? We are a healing community and your comment or question could support others on their healing journey. So take a moment to drop us a line below.

Love, Angela

Image Copyright: <a href='https://www.123rf.com/profile_guniita'>guniita / 123RF Stock Photo</a>