Looking after your Adrenal Health – Avoiding Adrenal Fatigue

In this modern world of the rat race, the rush, the eternal hustle and the eyebrow raise at even the mention of rest – I’d argue that all of us to some degree have adrenal health issues and adrenal dysfunction – and a very large proportion of us have or will suffer from Adrenal Fatigue or Burnout.

What are the Adrenal Glands?

The adrenal glands are endocrine glands that are located on top of the kidneys. These vital glands produce many important hormones.

Adrenal Glands regulate the following

The adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate several bodily functions like your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions.

• Blood pressure and blood volume regulation and electrolyte balance

• Sex hormones that impact menstruation, libido, motivation, muscle mass and more
• Control energy levels and sleep regulation
• Stress hormones such as Cortisol, Adrenaline, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine are secreted by the adrenal glands

This means that adrenal gland issues can cause low level chronic stress, and chronic stress then also negatively impact your adrenal glands. As you can see it becomes a vicious circle.

Adrenals don’t just suddenly start misbehaving                 

Our bodies are always doing their best to take care of us, as ultimately they want to live as long as possible (that is how nature works).
So when we are having adrenal issues (and any health issue really), we need to look to the root cause of how we are living our lives. What is causing the body to be reacting in this way?

We need to take a hard look at our eating habits and movement routines, as well as what behavioural and emotional patterns we need to ease out of, and replace with healthier, more supportive ones?

A Spiritual Viewpoint (Chinese Medicine)

In Chinese Medicine, your adrenals are related to motivation and purpose. Seeking a spiritual understanding of who you are, what your purpose is, why you are here – this is key when embarking on the road towards adrenal healing.
Making time for joy, fun and creativity in your life are crucial for any health journey – and adrenal healing is no exception.

Ways to support your body and mind to avoid Adrenal Fatigue

Regulate your sleep

Staying up late is not helpful for adrenal health. Binge watching series, scrolling on our phones – these are all bad habits we have picked up in modern times that disrupt our sleep patterns and have us staying up late.

Set the mood – light a non-toxic candle in your room, dim the lights, puff up your ultra comfie pillow…make it an enticing, relaxing place that you want to be. Finish off with your tv/phone/laptop by 9pm – then give yourself 15-30 minutes to read an actual book, meditate, journal etc – before you sleep.

Ideally all tech outside of your bedroom for an optimum night’s sleep (EMFs disrupt sleep amongst many other harmful things)

My tip for the binge watching: Every series episode seems to end on a cliff-hanger. A trick I use is to then watch 5 mins into the next episode (see what happened to that story arc) – then switch off the tv and get to bed.

Keep tabs on what stressors you are allowing in

Learning to switch off from work is SO important. Don’t check the emails, phone messages after hours. If you absolutely have to – then make a ‘To Do Later’ list, so you can jot the task down and then get it off your mind (and know you will remember to jump onto it tomorrow).

Stop watching the news.

Process that stress

We need to be doing this regularly. Speak to a friend or therapist, and learn how to process your stress, and release trapped emotions from your body. Titration is key here.

Avoid caffeine, drugs, alcohol

Caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, vaping, cigarettes etc are all harmful to your adrenals.
Cutting down on these is essential.

Gym Bunny or Couch Potato

Over training and under training are both harmful for your adrenal health and hormones as well as mitochondria, heart health and more. Many of us are not working out hard enough, or are overdoing it. When starting out a new exercise routine it is normal to be tired and quite sore – but after a week or so of this, you shouldn’t be feeling unreasonably tired or uncomfortable post-exercise.

Take on Healthy Habits

Things like journalling, mindfulness practices, meditation, breathwork, group sharing and support circles are all wonderful ways to move stress out of the body and calm your nervous system.

Life is Meant to be Fun!

Making time for joy, fun and creativity and enjoying life are important elements for healing your adrenal glands. Little children do this so effortlessly, but as we grow older, this seems to slip further out of our grasp.

When doing Energy Healings, so many of my clients receive the message to have fun or be creative without a purpose. Rat Rat race living has taken over even this part of life … in that everything now needs to have a purpose, an outcome, be beautiful or useful. What if we can just be childlike again – be silly for no reason, do cartwheels in the park, paint with our fingers – not to make a perfect picture, but to feel the gooey texture and to make a little mess, and to smile at that.

Can you keep it your in mind to strive to be kind to everyone you meet, and see if you can be the one person that made their day a little brighter?

Energy Healing

As well as current stressors, your body is also holding onto past traumas – which we all have (these can be big or small things). These create patterns within us that are running on a loop – continuing to sabotage us.

An Energy Healing session can help to clear these layers (one by one) out of the energy field and body.

Supplements

Remember supplements mean nothing if you are not addressing the root cause.
They can act as a band aid, but the wound is still there.

If you are embarking on all the other points mentioned above, then supplements can certainly assist you on this journey.

Supplements that support adrenal health

• Ashwagandha
• Rhodiola
• Liquorice Root Extract
• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Vitamin B Complex
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids
• Holy Basil

As you can see this is not a quick fix, but it is a worthwhile one.
Not only your adrenal health, but your overall health and well-being will benefit from these tools.