30 Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue
Oct 17th, 2007 by Kalidasa
Edit: There are now over 50 symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue that you can have for free. There is also a free report for what you can do to help heal the issue. All you need to do is supply your name and email address, and the information will be delivered to your inbox right away. No spam, I promise. Have your free copy of 50 symptoms of adrenal fatigue emailed to you by filling in the information below.
Do you feel tired all the time? Maybe you get plenty of sleep and just don’t feel rested. Or maybe you have trouble sleeping. Low energy? Difficulty thinking or focusing? These are all symptoms of adrenal fatigue. This article explores the adrenals and the causes of adrenal fatigue. Included is a simplified explanation of how diet affects the adrenals and some suggestions for what you can do to restore them, and you to health.
The 30 symptoms include, but are not limited to:
1. Excessive fatigue and exhaustion, chronic fatigue
2. Non-refreshing sleep
3. Sleep disturbance, insomnia
4. Feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope
5. Craving salty and/or sweet foods
6. Sensitivity to light
7. Low stamina and slow to recover from exercise
8. Slow to recover from injury or illness
9. Difficulty concentrating, brain fog
10. Poor digestion
11. Irritable bowel syndrome, IBS
12. Low immune function
13. Premenstrual syndrome
14. Menopause symptoms
15. Low blood pressure
16. Sensitivity to cold
17. Fearfulness
18. Allergies,
19. Frequent influenza
20. Arthritis
21. Anxiety
22. Irritability
23. Depression
24. Reduced memory
25. Low libido, sexual drive or interest
26. Lack of lust for life and/or food
27. Excess hunger
28. Low appetite
29. Panic/anxiety attacks
30. Irritability, impatience, quick to anger.
If quick to anger, the person will often tend to back down quickly if confronted.
Many of these symptoms have other causes, so just because you have one or more symptom doesn’t necessarily mean that you have adrenal fatigue. On the other hand, adrenal fatigue is so prevalent that if you have even one of these symptoms, it is likely that your are at least a bit run down.
Almost every client I have ever seen has come to me because of one or more of these symptoms. Stress is a major contributor to adrenal fatigue. We live in a busy world that offers little relief from stresses of life. Toxicity contributes to adrenal fatigue as well. But by far, adrenal fatigue is caused by a diet high in sugar and processed foods. And, the same dietary factors that contribute to adrenal fatigue are at the root of most of our major health issues today. Most major diseases start with the same factors as adrenal fatigue, and adrenal fatigue can lead to many serious conditions.
What are the adrenals?
The adrenals are two walnut sized glands that sit on top of the kidneys. They produce three different classes of hormones at the rate of about a quart (liter) a day. One class is stress hormones like adrenalin and cortisol also called hydrocortisone. Another class of adrenal hormones affect mineral metabolism especially the sodium/potassium balance. And, they produce sex hormones and their precursors. These hormones are some of the ones that make us feel good. They give us energy and a lust for life — and sex.
A simple test for adrenal fatigue
There are many tests for adrenal fatigue. Lab tests are expensive and take time for the results. However, there is a simple self-test that can be done with a flashlight and a mirror. Start in a darkened room so that your pupils dilate but have it light enough so that you can see your eyes in a mirror. Allow enough time in the dim room so that the pupils dilate fully, about ten minutes. Next, shine the flashlight into one of your eyes from the side so that the light causes the pupil to shrink down to a pin point. Do this in such a way that you can still watch the pupil as it reduces in size. If your adrenals are strong, the pupil will most likely shrink down immediately. If there is any hesitation before they react, then your adrenals are probably fatigued. I use the qualifier probably here because there are other reasons eyes may not react like this though they are not common.
Dietary causes of adrenal fatigue
As mentioned earlier, sugar and refined carbohydrates are the main cause of adrenal fatigue. Sugar includes honey, maple syrup, fructose, dried fruit, fruit juice and just about anything that is sweet. Refined carbohydrates are grains that have been ground up or have had the bran removed. This include products like bread even whole wheat bread, noodles, corn chips, white rice and pretty much anything that comes in a package. Refined foods are broken down by grinding and concentration. Refined grains have more surface area exposed to digestion, so they digest more quickly. They release their sugars quickly into the blood stream causing blood sugar to go up too high too fast.
The body responds to high blood sugar by releasing insulin. Insulin is a hormone that causes sugar to move into the liver, muscles and fat tissues. The problem is that the body evolutionarily isn’t designed to deal with the large amounts of sugar in the blood that are caused by sugar and refined foods. Evolution has designed us to eat animal protein, whole grains (not chopped up), vegetables and fruits. So, the body tends to overreact to this fast sugar by releasing too much insulin. This article is about the adrenals, but high blood sugar, high levels of insulin and constant exposure to stress hormones cause their own problems that will be covered in the future.
The release of too much insulin causes the blood sugar to go down too far. Most everyone has experienced getting sleepy after a large meal of pasta, rice or some other carbohydrate. Or, the drop in energy that follows a candy high. That’s what happens after the large release of insulin. The blood sugar goes down too far. The brain eats mostly sugar, so it gets sleepy from lack.
Now we get into the adrenal involvement. One of the stress hormones they release is cortisol. In ancient times stress meant that we had to fight or run away, the fight/flight response. The muscles that move quickly use sugar, and cortisol causes blood sugar to increase. There is also a cortisol release anytime there is low blood sugar. You know how you can be really hungry, then after awhile you aren’t so hungry anymore? That’s cortisol doing it’s job. The same thing happens when low blood sugar happens because of an over-release of insulin.
The adrenals are constantly being assailed by the above reactions. Processed foods and snacks are available all the time, and they are hard to resist. Our ancestors survived because they had a sweet tooth. They craved the sweet fruits that were available at the end of winter. Insulin caused that extra sugar to be stored as fat for the lean times of winter. The ones that didn’t desire sweet fruits didn’t survive, so we inherited that craving for sweets and other foods that turn into sugar. The problem is that we eat as though it is the end of summer all the time!
The adrenals are constantly being called on to produce more and more cortisol in response to the stress caused by sugar and processed food. Eventually they become exhausted. And, so does the indulger.
What you can do
The obvious thing to do is to stop eating sugar and refined foods. A lot of people will do great just by modifying their diet alone. There are lots of products on the market for treating the adrenals, but which ones really work? This is very individual, but I will give you some suggestions in part two.
Be well, and remember: the body wants to heal, all it needs is the opportunity.
Hi kalidasa,
it is a major problem in our society today, that we eat to much sugar and processed food. I think you can give important advice how to get “healthy” again.
What a great article! I am looking forward to read more about that topic.
Greetz
Thanks Dominic, I am looking forward to writing more on the problems of sugar and processed foods, and what we can do about it. My list is long on this one.
Diabetics has become so common on our society that its accepted as a way of life! Looking forward to your articles…
Yes, and diabetes is expected to increase by double over the next 25 years. Obesity is the main factor.
I do eat a very healthy diet and I have done this test and I believe I have adrnal fatigue.I have hypothyroid and a few other autoimmune disease so it does not alway end up being your diet and that cannot always fix it.
You are right Ampickert, it isn’t always diet. There are many factors that can affect the adrenals like stress, infection, toxicity and more. I will be writing about adrenals again sometime. There are many supplements and herbs that can help the adrenals too. Feel free to email me directly through comments if you would like to discuss this with me directly. By the way, the thyroid automatically goes down when the adrenals are low.
[...] Kalidasa placed an interesting blog post on 30 Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue.Here’s a brief overview:8. Slow to recover from injury or illness 9. Difficulty concentrating, brain fog 10. Poor digestion 11. Irritable bowel syndrome, IBS 12. Low immune function 13. Premenstrual syndrome 14. Menopause symptoms 15. Low blood pressure … [...]
[...] Kalidasa wrote a fantastic post today on 30 <b>Symptoms</b> of Adrenal FatigueHere’s a quick extractThe 30 symptoms include, but are not limited to: 1. Excessive fatigue and exhaustion, chronic fatigue 2. Non-refreshing sleep 3. Sleep disturbance, insomnia 4. Feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope 5. Craving salty and/or sweet foods … [...]
I was looking for part 2 on Adrenal Fatigue. At bottom of other info on Adrenal Fatigue it said there’d be a part 2. Thank You!
Not to be making excuses, but you wouldn’t believe how busy I have been. But, your request doesn’t go unheard! I will get on it soon. And, thanks for the push!
I thought your blog very helpful. I have adrenal fatigue, but really wondered if my stress (which is quite minimal to most people) was the problem. I also keep my sugar and fruits low. It was the GROUND WHEAT in my bread — and eating too much bread — that’s the root of my problem. About 4 p.m. a lot of afternoons I would be absolutely starved and knew dinner would be late because my husband has so many evening activities and doesn’t want to eat until he gets home after the activity. I would generally eat 3 pieces of bread — plus two for lunch and perhaps some oatmeal for breakfast. I think I overdid it. A Natural Healing Doctor told me I needed to eat every 2-3 hours with a protein (nuts/meat/chicken/fish) and veggie or salad and herb tea — keeping bread and fruit extremely low and eliminate sugar. Lots of exercise outside in fresh air and sunshine. I feel so much better. It will probably not only give my adrenals a rest — but perhaps heal them over a period of time I hope.
Yes Sandra, bread is one of the main culprits in poor health these days. I am glad you were able to find out the problem and how to take care of yourself, congratulations.
Hi, I believe I haveAdrenal Fatigue, I have been gaining about four pounds every two weeks. Iam getting worried, I dont want to be over weight, I weigh one hundred and fourty-eight pounds and I am five foot two. I lost my husband of twenty-three years in 1996. and I am suffering from stress and depression, always tierd, and never feel rested. cant consontrate, feel like im in a trance all the time. slow to answer questions, people think there’s something wrong with me. so do I. Thank you for listerning to me. God Bless
Wanda Sullman
P.S. is there some kind of herbal cure?
Hi Wanda,
Adrenal fatigue can contribute to weight loss, however the stress is probably a bigger contributer. Estrogens are responsible for fat deposition, and the liver clears excess estrogens as well as stress hormones. A lot of different symptoms can happen if the liver is overwhelmed and under nourished. Read this article http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/detoxification/how-the-liver-handles-toxins-and-what-you-can-do-to-help-it/ for more information about how this happens. Also, I’m sending you an email if you would like to consult more with me about this.
Thanks for the pupil tip. Since I have almost all of these symptoms I am pretty sure I have AF, but I plan to do this ASAP, I’ve been reading this article about eating adrenal health and putting it into practice a bit. It seems to help: Eating for your adrenal health
This article is a great article. I have read about 12 different articles on Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome and this article puts all the important info together in one plain and simple article. It gets right to the facts and symptoms. The very info you need to read when questioning wheather or not you may have this symdrome. It was very informative and I enjoyed it so much. Thanks
HI. HOW CAN A PERSON STOP EATING SWEETS WHEN THE CRAVINGS ARE OVERWHELMING? I AM 30, I HAVE 2 YOUNG CHILDREN, I HAVE OPENED 2 RESTAURANTS IN THE LAST 4 YEARS, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE MOVED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS DUE TO OUR BUSINESS VENTURES AND HAVE HAD A LOT OF FAMILY ISSUES WITH OUR PARENTS. I WORK OUT VIGOROUSLY 5-6 DAYS A WEEK FOR 45-60 MINS YET I AM GAINING 1-2 POUNDS A WEEK . I CANNOT SEEM TO GET MY CRAVINGS UNDER CONTROL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE. I’M 5 FT 2 AND NOW 157 POUNDS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN ATLEAST 145 LBS WITH A REALLY SOLID BODY FROM WORKING OUT. I FEEL I’M OUT OF CONTROL.
One of the hardest things to do is to stop eating sugar. It takes a lot of will power. However, there are a couple of things that you can do that will help. One is to eat more protein. That means animal protein like chicken, fish and eggs. Protein powers can help too as long as it’s whey or egg white protein. Inostol helps some people too. They are sweet, and they help with the cravings, so suck on the tablet. If the one you get isn’t sweet tasting try the ones from Standard Process. B vitamins in general tend to help
Gymnea is an herb that can help, it also helps regulate sugar metabolism. MediHerb is the best brand for this, Kroeger too.
Sugar substitutes that aren’t bad for you like xylitol and stevia and agavi nectar can help by substitution. These have a down side though, they don’t help cut your calorie intake, see http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/sugar/artificial-sweeteners-dont-reduce-calories/
The first five days or so are the worst, but after a month to six weeks all the cravings tend to disappear.
Good luck! Let me know how it goes.
Kalidasa
KALIDASA,
THANKS. I WILL GIVE IT A TRY AND LET YOU KNOW.
JEN
HI KALIDASE. NEARLY EVERYTHING YOU MENTION ON THIS SUBJECT APPLIES TO ME’ READ IT ON MARCH 22 2008. NEVER KNEW HOW BAD I WAS UNTILL IVE READ THIS, WATCHING MY SUGAR INTAKE NOW’ BUT WHAT ABOUT CULGOUSE. THANKS KEV. THE UK.
glucose [ sorry]
Hi Kevin,
Glucose is sugar too. The latest article here has information you might like. http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/adrenals/who-else-wants-help-for-adrenal-exhaustion-adrenal-support-for-adrenal-stress/
Kalidasa
Hi there,
I am in training for a triathlon, and am training about 10 hours a week, which will increase in the next phase of training. I am constantly fatigued, even though my coach has scaled back on my training. I also work full time. I experience many of the above symptoms, including low blood sugar issues, lack of focus, lack of sex drive, and feeling tired after a full night’s sleep.
My diet is so-so: I am a vegetarian and struggle to get enough protein. I often eat refined sweet snacks in the morning, and sometimes in the late afternoon. I have intense cravings for them. But I do try to stick to whole grains at home, though it’s often difficult!
I guess I am wondering, how do you distinguish between adrenal fatigue and simply a reaction to so much stress? Or are they one and the same?
Thanks!
Hi TriGirl,
Sounds like it’s adrenal to me. Adrenal fatigue is a very common reaction to too much stress. Sugar puts major stress on the adrenals too. Try to stop eating sugar and processed foods, and get some adrenal support. There some suggestions in this article. http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/adrenals/who-else-wants-help-for-adrenal-exhaustion-adrenal-support-for-adrenal-stress/
Kalidasa
I heard that licorice extract is good for adrenal fatigue is that true?
I don’t sleep much, gain 30 lbs and have had a lot of stress for the past 2 years. I drind a lot of coffee with splenda. I also crave salty and sweet foods. I know I don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. I also take a product called Zrii. I don’t know if you have ever heard of it. Can you help please?
Thanks
Hi Kathy,
Yes, licorice root is good help for the adrenals. You need to get a good source though. Here is an article on how to help the adrenals with that has information on how to help the adrenals.
http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/adrenals/who-else-wants-help-for-adrenal-exhaustion-adrenal-support-for-adrenal-stress/
Hi….I have had many symptoms of adrenal exhaustion or fatigue. I’ve been taking steps to recover through a better diet, etc. I’m seeing some improvements in my symptoms. A) I heard it could take months to fully recover. Is this true?, and B) I was hyperthyroid 15 years ago then given radioactive iodine to resolve, so now I’ve been treated for hypothyroidism with synthroid. Could my condition – even though being treated for – contribute to adrenal exhaustion? Many Thanks!
Hi Marsha,
Yes, it can take a lot of time for the adrenals to heal completely. But, they can be functional in a few weeks with the right diet and supplements. As long as there isn’t some other stress causing problems, which is one reason they can take a long time. I suppose that for some people it could take years to get their mental/emotional body to heal, not to mention other stress factors that might be involved.
In most cases, the thyroid can be healed too. But, it may not be the thyroid. When the adrenals go down, the thyroid also goes down automatically. Always a qualifier, there could be something to keep them from going down, but the physiology texts say thyroid output goes down when the adrenals are stressed. So, I recommend getting the adrenals into shape before doing too much about the thyroid. Finally, to answer your question, yes it is possible for low thyroid output to affect the adrenals, but that wouldn’t be my first thought.
I read your article and thought I have alot of those symptoms. I am vegetarian (sometimes I eat cheese but rarely eat eggs, meat, or diary) because of IBS. Which really is annoying. Anyway 1/3 of my diet used to be potato chips and candies. I craved them all the time. I gained alot of weight over the last 2 years and decided that it was time to lose it. I was too heavy and didn’t like the way I felt so I went on this crash diet during the winter for 3 1/2 months. I cut back from eating 3 or more meals a day to 1 to 2 meals a day. I stayed up all night playing video games and would sleep most of the day. I rarely got out of the house and my nutrition was poor. I cut back on the chips and candy.
Come April I decided it was time to start exercising and completely alter my diet. (I was 30 pounds lighter now). I switched to a vegan diet eating whole vegetables, grains, lots of gardenburgers with some nuts. I started using hemp oil and virgin olive oil. I cooked my food in water and not in oil anymore. I added very little salt.
I started having mild pains in my chest muscles and taking too long to cool off when I went for a walk. A few weeks later I started having hot flashes at random. I thought why am I having that symptom. As the month wore on I had periods of strong temple pains in my head lasting for hours.. but that disappeared after 2 weeks. I had a hot flash when I sat in the movie theatre at the start of the movie. (Heartbeat going faster, feeling anxious, feeling very warm, and having tingling feeling in my chest.) I
A couple weeks ago I mowed the lawn for an hour and half and got a bit hot. So I decided to quit for the day and relax. I felt fine for the rest of the day. During the night I was woken up by a hot flash and that got me worried, I tried to relax and go back to sleep….then I had another one and that one got my mind racing and triggered anxiety. I had 3 more hot flashes over the next 2 days couldn’t sleep for until I was exhausted. Yet when I finally did get a good nights sleep the hot flashes stopped. I didn’t exercise since then until I saw my doctor. I felt more or less fine except a bit tired. After that I saw my doctor. He ran blood tests and a physical examination and found I was normal. My thyroid and blood count was normal. He prescribed antidrepressant drugs for my anxiety and told me to take some calcuim, Vit D and a multivitamin and sent me home.
I’ve been relunctant to take the antipressant drugs. This last week I decided to work outside for only 1 hour at a time and not 3 hrs. So I worked outside one day and felt alright the rest of the day. I worked outside for 1 hour the second day and my symptoms came back triggering my anxiety again. My heart pounded for almost 24 hrs my nerves were on edge and I slept for only 2 hrs from exhaustion.. I had 4 days after that of getting half a nights sleep..then a full nights sleep from exhaustion. I stopped exercising at that point completely. I expanded the suplements I’m eating to include Vitamin A, B-12, doubled the Vitamin D, added a spectroprobitic to my diet, eating protein with each meal and added eating egg whites to my daily diet, eating 6 or 7 meals a day consisting of alot of oatmeal ((oatmeal seems to calm my heartrate for some odd reason) . I have resisted using the antidepressants so far.
That brings me to today. I feel sensitive to sound, tired, nerves feel on edge, and lost desire to play internet games I am so fond of.
I have never gotten an explanation for why exercise is triggering my hot flashes or why the medical tests that have been done have shown everything is normal with me.
I saw a second doctor for a second opinion and he took an EKG of my heart and found it was normal. He thought my doctor was on the right track with his diagnosis.. that stress hormones were fueling my anxiety making it worse….but had no explanation as to why I was having hot flashes or why exercise made them worse. The second doctor suggested I go see a psychiatrist and talk to him about my symptoms.
I read your article and decided to adopt a few of your suggestions into my diet to see if it would make a difference in how I feel. Its been a week since I have been on vitamins, minerals, and extra protein and stopped exercising. Cross your fingers this will work to help me feel better soon.
i stay fatigued all day every day i dont have a spleen to help my body regenerate itself please help me i have low blood sugar and most of the symptoms that i have read about today please give me some more information, also have low thyroid problems too. thank you
This is an excellent website. I will refer it to my Clients. I am a psychologist and this problem is increasing in the population
I am a 25 year old male. I work out everyday and I definately eat healthier than most people I know. But I suffer from severe panic attacks and agoraphobia. as a result I am depressed. I can barely function. I sleep ALL day until about 3 PM, I wake up, eat a meal and go work out, lucky for me the gym is literally across the street. I weight train and do cardio. I then go home and layin bed and watch a movie and fall asleep and wake up to do it all over again. I USED to be THE most energetic healthy outgoing person you’d ever meet in your life. I had a great job lots of money lots of friends. now, 2 years later I had to move back in with my parents and thank GOD I am lucky e nough that they can support me while I go through this. I am totally open to some advice here. I just feel like this has to be what is wrong with me… I always am tired and depressed, no sleep is enough, I can barely make it through my workouts. I always feel like im “dreaming” and I have heard that is a symptom of this as well. It is called “derealization” So PLEASEEEE I would love someone to write me back CasinoEntCEO@yahoo.com and tell me what it is I can do to get better. I have NO money, NO health insurance and my life is in shambles…. I have a son and I want nothing more than to be able to provide for him and financially be as good of a father as I am emotionally. I hope to hear from someone… thank you
Hello,
I am 34, I have been dealing with adrenal fatigue for about 13 years, I believe, and no one has ever clued into it! Do doctors not like to diagnose this to patients? Do they think its better to just deal with the symptoms? I have been diagnosed with depression. . . anxiety/panic disorder. . . have had my gal bladder removed. . . been severally obese since the birth of my second child 11 years ago, 250 lbs on a 5 foot 5 frame. . . had 3 staff infections, one that nearly killed me in 2005, the last being 1 year ago and it turned out to be MRSA . . . they told me I have a fatty liver a precurser to liver disease . . . constantly battling cronic sinus infections to the point of being sick for 6 months strait in severe pain. . . and it goes on and on. The worst part about everything is that I go to the doctors with what I feel is a legitamate complain or concern and they make me feel like I’m crazy. The thing that drove me to consider Adrenal Fatigue is when I went to the doc with menstral cycles that were not coming, severe acne and my hair was falling out in clumps. . . they told me I was to young to be premenepausal and they put me on the pill and said it was stess. okay I am constantly stressed and feel that my body is deffinately telling me something but this is all short term solutions why won’t the doctor look at all of these symtoms and say hey this could be _____X_____ Hum. Help! Where do I go from here? I am going to try your dark mirror flash light trick and see what happens tonight. I have a feeling I may have finally found my answer. Now the diet!!!!!!!! At least it is a start! Thanks for listening.
Jan
Hi Jan,
With the symptoms you describe it does sound like you are experiencing adrenal fatigue. There seems to be other issues as well. Chronic sinus infections that don’t clear up with natural methods or even with drugs is usually due to heavy metal toxicity in the area. The metals hide bacteria and other pathogens from the immune system. Also, fat tissue holds toxins which makes it really hard to lose weight — the body knows that if it releases the stored fat that the toxins will be set lose in the body to cause other problems, so it holds on the the fat.
consequently, losing weight becomes more about detoxification. There are things that can be done for your liver though, eating lots of beets and beet greens is one, though you will probably need more than that. Silymarin or Milk Thistle is a great herb you can try.
Doctors don’t really know about adrenal fatigue. They know when it is so bad that the adrenals are practically shut down, but anything less than that isn’t taught in med school. Unfortunate.
You can use the above ‘contact’ tab to email me if you’d like to have me work with you some. Or, call with the button at the bottom of the page. I don’t charge for a short conversation, I know how tight things are for people these days.
Kalidasa
Hi
I believe I have adreanl fatige. I have many of the symptoms. Is there a program that I can get on to help to heal my adrenal glands, as well as balance my hormones I am sure I have estrogen dominance.
Aenid
I have all the symptoms and have really been suffering the most in the last 2 months. I have had Fibromyalgia for about 10 years. The Drs. can’t seem to find anything. I have excessive sweating too. And I was never a sweater. Can this be a symptom?
Hi Kalidasa,
I think I’ve been suffering with Adrenal Fatigue for several months now. 2 months ago I had bloodwork done and my doctor said I’m producing practically zero hormones. She put me on a HRT at that time. My best friend runs a health food store and has been telling me for months that I had adrenal fatigue. She now has me on Ashwaganda, Astragalus, Adrenal repair capsules, Black Cohosh, DHEA, B Complex, Kava, LTheanine, a woman’s multi. I also may have Fibromyalgia since my doctor has me on Lyrica for several months now and I thought I was feeling much better.
Since no one has confirmed either Fibro or AF, I’m curious about a couple of other symptoms. I can be in a business meeting with several people and about mid-way through the meeting, I could fall asleep at any moment. I’ve been sitting in a chair at work and literally my arm will fall and wake me up. This symptom is getting worse all the time. There are days where I get home around 5:00pm and I’m asleep as soon as possible. I will then sleep all the way through the night till 5:00 am. Could these be symptoms of AF and is there anything else I should be taking to try to recover? Thanks for you time. This is a great blog and very needed.
Linda
I had breast cancer 5 years ago, it returned and was found on the left adrenal gland. That was removed and now chemo was tried but i had a very bad reaction, so had to strop. Will have a pet-scab to check for cancer in Aug. I am getting some energy back. I am 50 pounds over weigth now, I know I have adrenal fatigue. Now i only have one, can that be over worked and break down and fail? Any suggestions.
clara
Hi, I am 48 years old, post menapause, taking synthroid 100mcg. I also have had lower back pain for about 2 years. A chiroprator/acupuncture doc wanted me to cleanse my liver and gall bladder with herbs to cure my lower back pain. After 3 months it didn’t work. I am 5’3″, weigh 144lb, and always crave sweets and salt. I have several symptoms on the list. 2 years ago I lost 17lbs by eating very little bread/sugar/fruit/and anything white. I slowly put back on the 17 lbs and am terrified of gaining even more weight. I know its possible to lose weight just by my diet, but there are days I eat well but then eat sweets and popcorn at night. I excercise about 2x per week. I am getting depressed from not having any energy and my extra weight gain make feel horrible. I lack the will power to put down the sugar. Should I try gymnema sylvestre?
Wow this artical has gave me a huge insite on my confusion. I wasnt so sure on looking at any websites that explane medical things, but when i read the symptoms i was shocked! 23 out of the 30 symptoms are what i deal with every singel day. Ive felt like this is just cuz im weird or something, but this makes so much sence to me now.. Some one saw a “blog” about how i was feeling, and they told me to look up this and im so happy i did. Ive felt this was for about 4 years nows, and no one really has looked into it, the docs just tell me to take medican for the sleep issues, and try to not eat what i crave so bad, i even had a doc take me off salt because of the amount i was eating, but then put me back on when my blood pressure went down, and the pupiles thing was funny cuz i just had a doc mention that mine react real slow to light, but he just payed no mind and says its cuz i stay up all night and day… I wonder if i should go to my primary with this and see what he says. Im just so shocked on how everything mentioned in this artical fits everything ive been complaning about for years, and instead of looking at every symptom seperatly and everyone getting so confused at why i have so many issues, i can put them all togeather and maby find a soulution. Im so very very happy i came across this, thank you so much for writing this. You have no idea how much youve helped me mentally.. My docs have basically told me, sorry but i dont know why you feel this way it could be this or that or even that, but theres not much you can do, but try to ignor it. But do u know how hard it is to ignore all these issues at 20 years old? Anyway, this isnt a personal chat room, so i just want to say thank you so much for this help.
Im suffering form the same symptoms, however, the biggest problem I have is in my stomach, I suffer a lot after eating. Could this be caused by adrenals fatigue as well?
Hello,
I feel that I have AF as well, my chiropractor gave me Bovine adrenals and I feel so much better. After years of chronic sinus infections, panic attacks, insomnia, dizziness all the time, obesity, racing heart after eating and high stress, I think I may be on the mend. I have been to the ER multiple times with no answer for what is wrong with me, they told me I needed to see a shrink! More Dr’s should test for this, I thought I was going crazy!! With the bovine adrenals I have had NO dizziness, I fall asleep very quickly, and no panic attacks! I feel human again FINALLY! How long can I take these pills, does anyone know?
Thank you!
Steve,
I wrote this article to address your issues: http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/adrenals/how-stress-and-liver-issues-cause-hot-flashes/
Hi Sherry,
When the spleen is removed a large part of the immune system is lost. You can help compensate by taking Whole Desiccated Spleen, Standard Process has a good one that is dehydrated without heat so the bio-effectiveness is maintained.
When the adrenals are down the thyroid goes down too. This is known biochemistry. Get your adrenals up and retest the thyroid. If issues persist add 400 mcg of selenium a day (most people are deficient in selenium, so you might want to take it anyway) and retest in a month or so. If that didn’t fix the issue, then Standard Process has the best supplement in the world for the thyroid called Thytrophin PMG.
Dr. Morris,
Thank you. It is amazing how many psychological issues are caused by a modern diet ant toxins that our modern society creates. Fortunately, most of this is correctable with detoxification and supplementation.
I have a good friend who is a psychiritrist. She insists that her clients try natural techniques before going on antidepressants. Most of them never need the drugs.
Raymond,
Yes, it sounds like adrenal fatigue. It could be complicated by other factors, most cases of adrenal fatigue are. This article should help you out: http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/adrenals/how-stress-and-liver-issues-cause-hot-flashes/
There are plenty of articles on this blog to help you through adrenal fatigue. And, you can give me a call if you like. You can do this with the link at the bottom of any page in this website.
Aenid,
There is a list of supplements and herbs you can take for adrenal fatigue in this article: http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/adrenal-glands/how-to-really-get-the-adrenal-glands-to-heal/
And this article for dealing with estrogen dominance: http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/detoxification/how-the-liver-handles-toxins-and-what-you-can-do-to-help-it/
Hope it helps. Let me know.
Tink,
I’m not sure about the sweating, though it could be caused by a disfunction of the kidneys — the toxins are carried out through the skin secondarily.
This article will give you information about fibromyalgia: http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/conditions/how-glutathione-cures-fibromyalgia-and-how-to-supplement-for-it/
Let me know how it works for you.
Linda,
You can find more about the fibromyalgia in this article: http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/conditions/how-glutathione-cures-fibromyalgia-and-how-to-supplement-for-it/
Ashwaganda is a phase II adrenal herb, you’re probably experiencing phase III. Stronger herbs are needed, I recommend Siberian Ginseng (Eluthero) 8 ml. and Licorice root 4 ml. to my clients. I use MediHerb liquid herbs though the tablets are fine. Kroeger brand has excellent quality too.
Astragalus can help, but is more of a phase II herb. Astragalus is great for when you are sick — most adrenal herbs feed the pathogen while astragulus doesn’t.
Even better for you though is to take whole adrenal cortex. Standard Process has Whole Desiccated Adrenal. Take one an hour until five hours or so before bed. Most people need this dosage for five days, you may want to go a little longer, maybe a week to ten days. You’re not like to fall asleep at meetings with this one.
There is more in this article: http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/adrenal-glands/how-to-really-get-the-adrenal-glands-to-heal/
Clara,
With a missing adrenal gland you might consider taking Drenamine from Standard Process at 4 tablets three times a day for 12 weeks then going to 4 twice a day long term. The product contains some adrenal gland, and that will help to compensate. It also contains nutrients to help the function and health of the remaining gland.
Also, it is imperative that cancer survivors go on a long term detoxification program. This can take years — the cancer came from somewhere, and that took a long time to build up. Detoxification will allow you to lose weight too.
Bamado,
Gymnema will help with the sugar cravings. Another thing it does is turn off your ability to taste sweet. It’s really weird to eat something sweet after taking it. However, you may have other issues to consider.
Brain chemistry imbalances is one of the big factors in not being able to stop eating sugar. Adrenal fatigue is certainly present too, that often leads to brain chemistry imbalance. I haven’t written on brain chemistry yet, and I really should. But, basically you need amino acids, usually tryptophan for women and tyrosine for men. Both usually need B6 — the one that is enzyme activated called P5P for pyrodoxyl 5 phosphate. Other possible deficiencies are B3, magnesium, iron, folic acid, vitamin C, B1, copper, phosphorus and choline.
Lower back pain is almost always from adrenal fatigue, though there are many other possibilities.
Giving up sugar is one of the hardest things for people to do. Here is an article about one surprise reason why: http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/sugar/why-cant-i-quit-eating-sugar-the-surprise-reason/
Good luck with getting yourself into shape. Let me know how it goes.
Tecia,
I’m sorry to hear that you are having such sever symptoms at such a young age. The good news though is that it is really easy to correct when you’re that young. There are articles on this site that give some good recommendations for what to do. Diet is the most important, supplements and herbs speed the process up considerably.
It really is unfortunate that doctors don’t understand this issue. You can take this info to your doctor, but the chances are that they will just write it off as non-scientiffic. And, there’s a lot of science behind it! It’s taken me years to get a very few MDs to thinking about adrenal fatigue as the issue that it really is in society today.
Good luck to you, let me know how it goes. And, feel free to consult with me if you’d like some more info about your particular case.
Rami,
Your stomach issues could be caused by adrenal fatigue. I’ve seen many cases of irritable bowel syndrome clear up with a little support for the adrenals. I hope you can change your diet and take a few supplements and get back to normal soon. There are other issues that you could be dealing with. Send more information if you’d like me to see if there is anything else you might do to get back to full health.
Stacy,
Adrenal cortex should only be taken short term. It is great for getting past the crisis point, but the adrenals need other nutrition to be fully functional and to heal. A month at a fairly low dose is about the maximum time you’d want to take adrenal cortex. I usually recomend it at high doses for only a few days. Here is an article with more information about this. http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/adrenal-glands/how-to-really-get-the-adrenal-glands-to-heal/
Hello, Ivan here, you may know me as galaxyangel5 in youtube.
You may remember I said I have lower back pain yes?
But I did the “Adrenal Fatigue Test” with the flashlight thing.
The results were immediate shrinkage of the pupils (hell they quickly react to the slightest amount of flashlight… light. Hehe bad pun.) but I’m not that convinced yet though…
Will still try to do psoas release test.
Do you have any information about adrenal fatigue affecting the ligaments? I have ligament laxity and it causes my bones to shift out of alignment weekly. This is problematic as you might imagine, causing my cervical spine and ribs to go “out” in the same places over and over. It’s painful and discouraging. This has been happening over a year now. I did put a Morena IUD in Sept 08. The GYN did research that the particular hormone in the Morena do not cause ligament laxity but other female hormones do so I’m still suspicious. It makes sense to me that natural hormones allow the hips to spread and bones to move in preparation for childbirth. I also seem to have an ongoing systemic yeast issue although I haven’t been tested recently. I’ve done a couple rounds of Nystatin in the past. Any feedback you may have on the relationships I’ve mentioned would be helpful.
Hello,
I have severe AF but am on the mend. My issue right now is that I still cannot sleep and it disrupts my life severely. Is there anything you can recommend? I am taking two different sleep aids ( given to me by my naturopathic doctor) but they only helps some of the time.
Also, I was prescribed bovine supplements for months! Probably was taking them for at least 6-7 months prescribed by my doctor. Could have these caused permanent damage? Is that why I cannot sleep even though my energy is super high these days?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Ivan,
There is another test you can do if you have or know someone who has blood pressure equipment. I describe it in this post: http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/adrenals/how-do-you-really-know-if-you-are-healthy-a-simple-test/
The definitive test is a saliva test that you send in. Be sure to get a company that wants at least four samples from different times of the day.
Portland Girl,
Yes, there is a relationship between ligaments and adrenal fatigue. The adrenals scoop up all the nutrients it needs which deprives the ligaments of what they need. The lower back usually shows up first, but doesn’t have to. And, your logic is correct, the hormones can cause that issue too.
You can try taking B6 in its activated form (P5P), B12, niacinamide, pantothenic acid and whole food sourced vitamin C. Those are the main ones the ligaments need. Be sure to get niacin in the amide form so you don’t get the uncomfortable flush straight niacin causes.
Also, you might try Ligaplex 2 from Standard Process.
Olga,
Whole adrenal cortex should only be taken for a month at most. I sometimes recomend it, but at a high dose for a few days only. What it does is whip the adrenals to get them going. But, once they are going, you don’t need to whip them anymore, but rather nourish them and let them rest — that’s what some herbs do.
If you are still haveing sleep issues, then you probably still have adrenal issues. You might want to try the protocol that is layed out in this article: http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/adrenal-glands/how-to-really-get-the-adrenal-glands-to-heal/
You can contact me though the link above if you want to consult more directly. Or, try calling with the link at the bottom of the page here, I answer when available. And, I won’t charge for a short phone conversation.
My husband has polymyalgia rheumatica. He has been on Prednisone for almost two years, although the dosage is periodically reduced as his body will tolerate. I recently researched the effects of Prednisone and found that the Prednisone is now doing the work for his adrenal glands, (if I understood that correctly).
So many of the symptoms of adrenal fatigue seem to fit what he is experiencing (at least 20 of the 30 listed), so I’m wondering if he shouldn’t ask his Rheumatologist to do the saliva test.
We’ve talked about trying to eliminate sugar from our diet as I have many of the 30 symptoms also as well as arthritis in some areas. We’re both so abnormally tired and we know this is just not normal.
Here are my questions:
With support and restoration of the adrenal glands, might my husband be able to get off of Prednisone?
If so, how much should he be doing on his own to restore his adrenals?
If the Prednisone is doing the work the adrenals would normally do, is it doing it well enough or could he have af because Prednisone doesn’t do it well enough?
Thank you for the information supplied on your blog. It has been extremely informative and easy to comprehend.
Hi Cat,
I answered your question with an article: http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/reader-dealing-with-adrenal-fatigue-arthritis-and-prednisone/
Hi: I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue last spring (though I crashed in October 2008). I had trouble getting my GP to acknowledge it – she said I needed anti depressants! I finally found a naturopath to help me. It is such a slow recovery – I am wondering is there going to be a recovery? I have suffered from chronic pain for 12 years and I know this led to my current state along with a bad bout of stress last fall. I am starting to feel desperate… unable to bounce back from small illnesses – had the H1N1 shot three weeks ago and was so sick from it. Seems my immune system is shot too. Help.
Hi Kalidasa
I have read this article with interest, but more so the comments. You seem very knowledgable in this area. I believe I have been suffering from AF for a few years now. I had a H.I.G.H. stress job where I was in charge of several $2M+ projects practically alone, had my first child, divorced my husband, moved twice and went through a bitter and expensive custody battle all within the same year…all while raising a newborn alone (and all during the economic crash at that!). I eventually hit a wall. I was severely fatigued (almost paralyzed at times), mind fog, poor memory, bad mood swings, weight gain though I was barely eating (mainly middle & hips), hair loss in clumps, sinus infections, candida overgrowth, dizziness, weird headaches, loss of balance, heart palpatations. You name it, I had it. It was so bad, I thought I was terminal with something. My doctor did nothing, just said I had such a “constellation of symptoms” that she didn’t know where to begin as all b/w came back normal except exposure at some point to mono… so she said that’s what it must have been, though I was doubtful.
Things have settled down for me quite a bit. I have since remarried, am a stay-at-home mom with low stress and a good diet. We are trying to have a child and have been infertile for a year. I have done a 10-day detox fast (which helped so much… this is actually what got me out of being half bed-ridden), I now take Prenatal vitamin with folic, Super B complex & fish oil. I exercise with strength training every other day & eat lots of fresh food with little bread or dairy & lots of cultured foods daily.
Although I am somewhat recovered, I would like to get back to the healthy, athletic life I had before my crash. I would like to know more about toxicity & sinus/gum infections (I have a mouthful of silver fillings from childhood) and cleansing and strengthening my adrenals to balance out my hormones. I am in my late thirties, so would like to learn more about this to apply in the future as I approach menopause. I would give anything to get rid of this 20lbs that somehow found its way to my belly & hips only. It looks so odd… I’m slender everywhere else
I’m ready to get started!
why tryptophan for females and tyrisine for males?
I am on tyrosine from my naturopath, but am female.
Anne
Betty,
Yes, it is possible to recover. Herbs usually help quickly, while supplements affect healing over a longer period of time.
The chronic pain can be from many different causes. I would need to know more to offer suggestions.
Biff,
Be careful with fasting, it can cause adrenal fatigue too! There are many different detoxification methods other than straight fasting (I realize you may not have been fasting, just a warning). Standard Process has a system that works pretty good, sweating in a dry sauna or hot baths and exercising are good ones.
The weight gain you describe is typical for thyroid body types and is usually due to estrogens not being cleared by the liver. http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/detoxification/how-the-liver-handles-toxins-and-what-you-can-do-to-help-it/
Weight loss is more about detoxification than anything else as the fat cells store toxins. The body is unwilling to lose weight because that would release the toxins to cause damage.
Anne,
In general, men are deficient in dopamine while women are deficient in serotonin. Dopamine is made from tyrosine and serotonin is made from tryptophane (5htp is another form). This isn’t always the case though.
Reading your article has just not only opened my eyes, but given me hope that maybe the cause of nearly all my problems are adrenal related. I have struggled with anxiety and depression for nearly 20 years. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2003. Long story short, I am a young mother with 3 young children, and am getting worse every day. i have been one every medication one can think of, and still remain on many, for sleep, for wakefulness, for depression and anxiety, for pain…..you name it. Nothing is really helping, in fact I continue to feel like I’m getting worse. It is difficult for me to leave the house most of the time. I do not take any multiviatmins and admit that I have a poor diet, as i do not like to cook, and when I am, it is cooking for picky young children. Can you tell me where you recommend i begin, in terms of trying supplements, changing diet…anything. Thank you….your article has provided much hope for me!
I read what Biff wrote, and that sounds a lot like me in terms of the weight around the middle and hips, (have always carried it there, and it does look odd). Also struggled with infertility in trying to have our 3rd, and like Betty feel as though my immune system is shot….I catch everything! Just thought I would add. Is there any websites/blogs with support groups for those with adrenal fatuigue?
Michelle,
There is a lot going on with you and it will take some time to respond fully. I will write an article for you within the next three or four days, sooner if I can. Sorry, I’m just really busy right now.
For now, work on changing your diet. Eat plenty of animal protein like chicken, fish and eggs. Avoid sugar and processed foods like the plague they are. I’d just throw them all out and forget about them. Withdraw can be hard, but it gets easier after 5 days, in a month you won’t miss them at all. Processed includes all breads including whole grain, ground up is processed. Also, fruit juice and dried fruit are just like sugar.
Sometimes we just have to be firm with our children, including the inner child that we all are to some degree. Don’t worry, they’ll eat when they are hungry enough, and you will be doing them the biggest service a parent can. My kids didn’t eat sugar until my wife and I split up when my son was 4, now he’s obese because his mother had no discipline. Chances are I’ll outlive him by many years because of it.
I’m sure there are support group forums. That’s a good idea too, I’ll think about starting one here as I get a lot of traffic for adrenal fatigue.
I’ve been to the doctor for fatigue symptoms that have lasted for quite a long time now – and after several blood tests that haven’t told us anything, I believe I have AF, especially after reading your article. I haven’t done the pupil test YET, but do you know if tingling around the eyes can be a symptom also? I always just assumed it was from my eyes being tired from fatigue. Another HUGE issue for me is the stamina that I continue to be losing. I used to walk 3 miles 3 times per week and do light weight lifting in between walking days. I then had to cut it down to 2 miles every other day, and haven’t been lifting but even then I couldn’t seem to recover. A couple of months ago I started jogging just one mile per day w/ no lifting but it seems like I’m more tired than ever – exercise just doesn’t make me feel better anymore and it’s so depressing to me! I’m going to try a new routine of jogging 1 mile every other day w/ yoga in between days. It’s so disheartening because I could always count on exercise for energy – now I exercise less, and feel anxious and tired all the time. I’m so confused!
I don’t believe that you won’t let people print out a list of symptoms to take to their doctor???? For what reason???
Jennifer,
You may have more going on than adrenal fatigue. Toxicity comes to mind, and there are at least eight different systems that have to do with energy.
The anxiety is likely from brain chemistry, specifically serotonin deficiency. There are many cofactors involved, but the most common ones are: enzyme activated B6 (P5P), tryptophan as well as other B vitamins — a multiple wouldn’t hurt.
Diane,
I’m not sure how you got that idea. For one thing, I couldn’t control what someone printed out.
My observation of doctors is that traditionally trained US medical doctors do not recognize adrenal fatigue or its symptoms. If they learn anything about holistic healing, then they will readily acknowledge it as do my doctor friends.
I have heard from a number of people who told their doctors of their adrenal symptoms, sometimes 20 or more of the ones listed in this article — and, I’ve found more since writing this, and the doctors are stumped as to what to do at all. One comment was, “I just don’t know where to start.”
So, feel free to report any and all your symptoms to your doctor, but don’t be surprised if they don’t acknowledge adrenal fatigue.
I have really bad insomnia (started as waking at 3 now I dont fall asleep). My cortisol levels are low all day and at the highest end of range at night. Of course, now I have hypothyroid – I tried to SP products a few months ago and felt great quickly but still didnt sleep. I am on iron,dessicated thyroid, progesterone and many supplements including DHEA. My dr says I can treat through diet by keeping my adrenaline levels low but I have been doing that for 3 months to no avail. I am worse now than ever before. I recently saw a naturopath and her suggestion is to start seriphos at night. Any suggestions?
I had a quick question.
Can Adrenal Fatigue cause a tight feeling in the head most of the time, and worse after the above mentioned foods? My glucose level after a 15 hour fast was at 79 i think. I may have messed up my adreanals when I did some oral chelation with EDTA a few months back and noticed a few days after I noticed a pain in my right side, more right back area, (I had chelated for about 3 weeks by this point) that I now had a weird tight feeling in my head most of the time now. I thought it was kidney stones, had CT’s and MRI’s done, nut showed nothing. I also thought that I may have sent mercury from a few fillings I had, into my head, but doesn’t seem to be the case. This feeling also gets worse when the weather changes , like rain , but seems better on clear days. So far Docs didn’t see Kidney stones, clogged liver, or gallblader. An ultra sound did show some fatty areas in or on the liver and a polyp in the Gallbladder. Did some cleanses, feel better, but the pain in the side is still there, as well as a general feeling of fatigue and lastly my brain fog, head tightness is still there. I had none of these symptoms before I did the chelation, but after I did it, my lifes not been the same since.
Any ideas.
:O\
Charles
I am not sure about the tightness in your head, I’d need to know a lot more to figure that one out, a phone consultation would probably be best. The fatigue and foggy feeling is likely adrenal, but like most things of this nature, it could be something else. Milk Thistle is good for a fatty liver, but I only recommend MediHerb or Kroeger brands. If a cleanse made you feel better then there is probably some toxicity that needs to be addressed.
Babs
Almost every sleep issue is due to adrenal fatigue. And, the thyroid automatically goes down when the adrenals are low, though there are many reasons why there may not be enough thyroid hormone.
My new book on adrenal fatigue is now available and has the best methods I have used to successfully treat adrenal fatigue in hundreds of clients. Very low cost for a limited time.