Know the Basics of Treating Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome
Adrenal fatigue syndrome has been around for years but it was not until 1998 that a Dr. James L. Wilson coined the term for all of us to use. It encompasses a variety of symptoms that are associated with being under long periods of stress. So what is adrenal fatigue and what are the basics to treating it?
The adrenal glands sit on the kidneys and they are the anti stress glands of the body. We could not live without our adrenal glands. They produce such hormones as cortisol, estrogen, adrenaline, and testosterone. They are needed to regulate the body’s response to stress. For example, if we are under a stressful situation work or personal situation, then the adrenal glands respond by releasing the needed hormones to deal with the stress, the problem comes with time. When they release and release and soon have nothing more to release.
Over time we eat wrong, we sleep wrong, we drink wrong, and we push our bodies to handle every kind of stress possible and our adrenals keeps pushing out the energy, pushing out the hormones that are needed to deal with the stress and the crises. In time though our adrenal glands tire and slow and then eventually are simply exhausted.
Adrenal fatigue has now claimed our lives!
One of the first symptoms you will feel will be fatigue, overwhelming, gut wrenching how am I going to get up and do the things I need to do fatigue. You may crave fatty food, or sugar. You may want to drink tons of coffee just to get your energy level up. You will feel stressed all day long and probably anxious. Eventually you will just not be able to handle functioning in your daily lives; you may even retreat to your bed.
Having adrenal fatigue affects your whole life. It will prevent you from carrying out the simple routine tasks that you always have and more than that it will be frustrating, make you anxious and lead to depression. If you do not treat it, it can lead to more serious problems with obesity, diabetes and allergies.
So let us get to the basics of treating adrenal fatigue!
There are many things you can do to help you through this most stressful time in your life. It would be silly to suddenly make huge changes in your life. It would be like someone dieting to take off ten pounds, they pretty much do not eat till the weight is off or they are starving and then they start eating again and nothing changes. So change things slow and easy, a little bit each day.
Here are some things to do and not do
Eat breakfast about the same time every day
Do not skip any meal
Sleep at the same time every night and try for 9-10 hours of good sleep
Do not stay in bed all day. It will wear you out and make things work
Do not over exert yourself
Do not put yourself into situations that will require stress
Take rest periods but not extended ones. Set the alarm if you have to
Eat a healthy diet, with fruits, vegetables, whole grain
Add vitamins and minerals
Take fish oil
Do not eat processed or junk food
Avoid energy drinks, drinks with caffeine and coffee
Get some good exercise without overdoing. Do not play competitively as that is stressful. Exercise will produce endorphins that will make you feel good.
Get help from friends and families and do not think you have to do everything yourself
There are just a few of the things you should remember when you are dealing with adrenal fatigue. If you follow these you should start to feel better. Also it is important to see your doctor for he can examine you and make sure nothing more serious is going on and then you can both work together to come up with a program that will help you.
