Adrenal fatigue is one of those illnesses most people haven’t heard about. It is usually caused by stress; if you overload your body with too much physical, emotional, and/or psychological stress, your adrenals have to deal with it. Even infections, injuries, and environmental stress take a toll on the adrenals. If the glands aren’t in an environment to recover and replenish, adrenal fatigue often occurs.
When you hear someone say that they’re burnt out, it’s probably adrenal fatigue on some level. In the medical world the only adrenal disorder most doctors will diagnose is Addison’s disease. Unless you have the severe symptoms of Addison’s disease, doctors are unlikely to address the adrenal issue, leaving you to walk out feeling helpless.
The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys near the spine. The right gland has a pyramid-like shape and the left gland has a half moon shape. They’re about one inch high and two inches wide and weigh only a few grams, yet they have so much impact on our physical, emotional, and psychological health.
The following signs and symptoms could be an indication of adrenal fatigue:
· Trouble sleeping at night but wanting to sleep during the day
· Craving excess salt and sugar
· Lack of sex drive and general lack of love for life
· Feeling overwhelmed and confused
· Depression and anxiety
· Irritability
· Blood sugar irregularity
· Lack of concentration
· Respiratory issues
· Low blood pressure
· Aches in sinuses, lower back, and temples
· Recurrent cold or flu
· Unexplained change in body shape
Many people suffer adrenal fatigue for years and see multiple physicians, only to be told they just have low blood sugar, fibromyalgia, or chronic fatigue syndrome, or that they should see a psychiatrist, or that they’re completely healthy! This is the problem! A medical doctor probably won’t diagnose adrenal fatigue because there is no drug prescription to treat it; yet some people will only trust their doctor to diagnose anything.
The most ironic part is that medical doctors are common sufferers of adrenal fatigue due to the high stress level of their job. Most people simply push through the symptoms with caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and other drugs. This worsens the condition and can lead to other serious illnesses. The adrenal glands are furthered drained, making you feel dependent on these external “pick me ups” just to get through each day.
A joyful and productive life is what we’re all after, isn’t it? One problem with adrenal fatigue is that if these glands are drained, the feeling of joy seems unattainable. The adrenals help our body cope with stress, but if they’re not working properly, life can seem quite overwhelming. Your vitality, wellbeing, resiliency, and lust for life depend on the health of your adrenals. And it’s not just people with high-stress careers that suffer from adrenal fatigue; it can affect anyone. Often, a person’s cortisol levels have shot through the roof before they even realize that they’re stressed!
In modern society it has become fairly normal to feel stressed and run down. There are endless quick-fix options to get us through each day, but most simply put our bodies through more turmoil.
If you feel like you could be suffering from adrenal fatigue, I recommend finding a naturopathic doctor whom you trust and discussing your signs and symptoms. What stops most people from fully recovering is the time needed to heal. There isn’t a quick fix or a drug. It takes a shift in awareness and a change in lifestyle, but this change will bring on a new level of living. You will feel fresh and energetic without the use of stimulants, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, or sugar.
Here are some tips to help keep your adrenals healthy:
· Nourish your mind, body, and soul every day with quality organic foods, thoughts, and breathing.
· Stop reaching for coffee and/or alcohol. They will put more pressure on your adrenals and drain your body of its natural healing energies. If you’re serious about healing your adrenal glands you should cut out caffeine and alcohol completely until you are healed.
· Ditch the “no pain, no gain” approach to exercise. Do activities that will free up blockages rather than add stress to the body like yoga, surfing, swimming, and walking barefoot on sand and grass. Make exercise nourishing for the body, mind, and spirit.
· Limit or cut out refined sugar. If you need to sweeten food, try agave nectar, raw local honey, and stevia.
· Be mindful of what you eat. Chew slowly and visualize being healed by nature.
· Get protein in each meal from foods like broccoli, spirulina, sprouts, nuts, seeds, hemp protein, and yellow pea protein.
· Take a high quality vitamin C, B complex, vitamin E, and magnesium spread throughout the day.
· Drink Siberian ginseng tea in the morning and passionflower tea before bed. Meditate while drinking and feel the adrenal glands getting soothed.
· Prioritize getting at least eight hours of sleep a night.
· Put ayurvedic rock or sea salt on each of your meals.
· Don’t drink water with your meals, but lots in between meals. Have pure or filtered water with a little bit of rock or sea salt and lime or lemon.
· Create a harmonious living environment. Unhappy relationships, poor diet, stressful work, and overexertion are some of the main causes of adrenal fatigue.
Live with a balance between strength and surrender. Whenever you feel drained and tempted to reach for those “pick me ups,” close your eyes, take deep breaths, and say a little mantra. Something that resonates with me is a verse from the Tao Te Ching:
“I allow my life to unfold naturally. There’s a time for being ahead, there’s a time for being behind. There’s a time for being in motion, there’s a time for being at rest. There’s a time for being vigorous, there’s a time for being exhausted.”
Stuart Watkins is a holistic fitness and lifestyle coach based out of Australia. Stuart’s love for travel and new knowledge has taken him all around the world, while achieving certifications as a Holistic Fitness Practitioner, Holistic Life Coach, Yoga Teacher, Personal Trainer, Massage Therapist and Stress Management Specialist. He draws on his knowledge in these areas to ensure each of his clients journey to true health and happiness is in good hands.
If my inner kiddo met your inner kiddo on the playground, I bet we’d be friends. We’d be super nice to each other, share organic graham crackers and cozy up on a carpet square during story time. Life would be a lot less stressful. Watch today’s vlog for a simple but powerful exercise that will help you tap into your inner kiddo.
My mother, who has what some people refer to as an “alpha” personality (others might say “benevolently dictatorial”), was chatting with an acquaintance whom she’d met while volunteering. Mom runs the Commission on Disabilities in our county, and for the last year or so we’ve had the pleasure of referring to her as “the Commish.” Since she’s the boss (and a nice person), she’d invited her fellow commission members over for a social lunch. As they were talking, her friend interrupted her, saying that she was totally surprised and impressed that Mom is the same person at home that she is in meetings or at official commission functions. “Who did you expect?” she responded.
Being the same person no matter what the circumstances might seem like a given, but think of all the interactions during which you fulfill a role. Do you speak to your boss the same way you speak to your neighbor? Do you chat with friends the same way you talk with clients or your mother? While there are obvious reasons not to be exactly the same (you know, clients really don’t need to hear the nitty gritty of last night’s date), there’s a strength of character in being yourself, no matter who’s listening.
Think about these three situations and how you typically act in each:
Work. No matter what your job title, you have a role at work. Do you find yourself telling your boss that you love her pantsuit, even though the very word “pantsuit” makes you gag a little? Do you agree with creative decisions that you’d have set on fire if there’d been an incinerator handy, just to save yourself from having to come up with a new idea? It’s probably not a good idea to go blabbing about your weekend exploits, but neither is it a good policy to be someone other than yourself at work. Voicing your opinions, ideas, and personality honestly and politely will clear your work life of stress.
Home. It’s easier to be yourself in your own space, of course. But! Perhaps you should not be so much “yourself” at home. Taking a cue from your work life might just help things run smoother around the house. For example, you’d never snap at a coworker when you’re in a bad mood; that’s called a professional courtesy. Thinking of your personal relationships in the same way that you think of business relationships can be immensely beneficial. You keep your cool under pressure at work, and the people who share your personal life deserve the same consideration. By expressing yourself the same way at work and at home, you’ll be more authentic in your interactions in both places.
Everything else. Well, there’s a handy little umbrella term if there ever was one. But really, in whatever else you do, be you! Sharing yourself and your passions with the world in a real, honest way—whether you’re waiting for your favorite treadmill at the gym or chatting in line at the supermarket—makes each day more rewarding. Sometimes this can be a tricky arena for those of us who advocate for animals. There’s a fine line between sharing your vegan passion and berating the gal next to you on the bus about her ham sandwich. When your love of a cruelty-free lifestyle is a natural part of your personality, everyone you meet will have had a positive experience with a vegan (yep, that’s you!). Even though speaking up for animals can seem scary or rude, but it won’t come off that way unless you are a scary, rude person at heart.
Being true to yourself, your passions, and your values is just about the most liberating thing you can do for yourself, and you can do it anywhere, any time! Heck, you might even make your mom proud.
The Holiday Season is upon us again. Spending time with family on special occasions can bring such joy and happiness but for many it can create overwhelming stress. Since you are the architect of all of your life experiences, decide how you want to feel this holiday season. Then go about systematically making decisions that are in line with that result. There are big and small changes you can make this year to relieve stress and have happy holidays!
Below is a list of actions for de-stressing the Holiday Mess:
1. Prep Before:
Create a gift list and budget and stick to it. Decide beforehand what gatherings you will attend and what you will bring. Choose easy uncomplicated dishes that store well. Whatever you complete prior to holiday week will reduce your stress and leave you available to have a good time. No Christmas Eve shopping EVER!
2. Adjust Your Attitude:
Go into the season with the mindset of gratitude. Decide that no one has the power to take away your joy and mean it. Try to meditate ten minutes a day, master on the spot breathing techniques and carry a small bottle of Lavender essential oil for instant de-stressing.
3. Keep Your Side Of The Street Clean:
You are only responsible for how YOU behave and react in all situations. If every year your mother-in-law criticizes your culinary skills, expect her to be different but if she is not, smile and do not utter a sound. Dial down your energy from any stressful situation or person. See yourself as Un-offendable. You know that someone being rude or nasty is their issue and you can either chose to do your old familiar dance with them or just…not. Don’t micro manage anything or anyone. Find family members whose company you enjoy and focus your time with them while affirming how calm, peaceful and grateful you feel. (Of course the key here is to FEEL it and hold that feeling in your chest.)
4. NO Is Not A 4 Letter Word:
You have the right to say no to anything that will take the joy out of the season for you or your family. If certain family gatherings create debilitating stress then give yourself permission to respectfully decline and create new traditions that bring you joy. If a situation is too toxic, it is your job to protect yourself from it. If you have children, let each one chose an event or party to attend that really matters to them, politely declining the rest. If exchanging gifts with grown siblings is too costly say so and perhaps pull names out of a hat so you are only buying for one person. If hosting is too much work and money, transition to a potluck meal with everyone contributing their own special flavor. Being over burdened financially or emotionally is not fun. Say no and feel good about taking care of yourself and your family.
5. Know When To Say When:
Drunks are stressful AND boring. This time of year produces many opportunities to overindulge in alcohol. The reasons not to drink too much are obvious. If you don’t think you drink too much and everyone else in your life thinks you do…it’s probably not a conspiracy, you probably drink too much…but that is a blog for another time.
6. Pay It Forward:
Remember what the holidays are really all about and donate your time to help others less fortunate in your community. This is a wonderful way to teach children the importance of service to others and to keep your head at the heart of what really matters. Forgive a grudge you have been holding and reach out, help an elderly neighbor or family member, go out of your way to communicate your gratitude to the important people in your life for their presence. No material gift ever received is as satisfying as truly making a difference in someone else’s journey (although those new Louboutins platform pumps come pretty darn close…hee hee…kidding!)
I hope that some of these ideas help you create the holiday experience you seek, filled with love, light joy and laughter.
A couple of years ago, I was given a gift of a one-week stay at Rancho La Puerta, a destination spa in Tecate, Mexico. This is a legendary spa dedicated to fitness, health and wellness, and delicious healthy food. Forget Calgan; Rancho la Puerta, take me away.
To most people, this sounds like a heavenly offer—a free week to spend doing nothing but yoga and pilates, taking glorious hikes up mountains with breathtaking views, enjoying delicious specially prepared meals and unwinding with a pure-bliss relaxation massage. To me, it sounded like pure hell: I was dedicated to my growing business and wanted to spend every waking moment towards developing TV shows, writing books, designing products to just keep growing, growing, growing.
To make a long story short, a year had gone by and I was basically reminded by the gift giver that I had still not taken advantage of the trip. Out of guilt, I packed up my things and went, hoping I would not freak out wondering if I was needed on a TV set, in a production meeting or at a photo shoot. Yes, I was stressed out about going somewhere created to relieve stress.
On Day 1, I thought I had entered my personal nightmare: people said hello to me everywhere I went, there was no television in my room, not a drop of alcohol in sight and my Blackberry only worked when I illegally tapped into the ranch’s wifi. What I wanted was to be left alone to watch TV, check my email and have a glass of wine. That’s what we call getting off on a bad start. I called a friend and said, “Help. I’m at Promises Rehab Mexico. Send. Wine.”
But as the week progressed, I noticed something about myself. Out of boredom, I took yoga, mat pilates, stretch and cardio circuit training classes. I never looked at my watch during these classes, which I normally would do back home wondering if I had enough time to get to a meeting. Yes, I am that person who leaves yoga class right before the meditation part of the class. Instead, I could basically enjoy the moment and focus on the activity at hand. I met interesting and friendly people at breakfast, lunch and dinner, and never felt hungry. I relished my 8PM massages, staggered back to my villa in a stupor and had the best sleep of my life.
I didn’t miss my sugar-free Red Bulls, my evening glass (er, glasses…) of wine and most importantly, my Blackberry. What I experienced was something I hadn’t felt before: bliss. And I lost weight (about 7 pounds) that I didn’t even know I needed to lose. I felt great.
The day I checked in for my third visit to Rancho La Puerta, I saw a sign with names of guests who had been there multiple times. I noticed that film critic Roger Ebert had been a guest more than 30 times. The first time I saw this, my reaction was “crazy people.” Now, being a three-peat guest, I think “it’s crazy I don’t come here more often.”
The lesson I walked away with goes beyond bettering my fitness regime, getting cooking tips or losing those extra pesky pounds. Instead, I realized the investment I make in a one-week retreat towards myself is re-investing in my business: if I’m not living my life at optimum health, I can’t perform well in all aspects of my business. My whole life, I’ve been using a mantra that it’s the quality of the work that matters, not the quantity. Rancho La Puerta has taught me that the same philosophy applies to myself as well.
