11 Signs That Your Adrenals Are Spent

While your adrenals may be small, they’re kind of a big deal. They sit on top of your kidneys and control a wide range of functions in the body, including stress response, weight loss or gain, blood sugar levels, immune response and blood pressure.

Beyond these obviously vital functions, our adrenal glands are unique in that they provide the basic tools we need to survive. Ever heard of “fight or flight?” Yeah, that’s all thanks to your adrenals, which release the hormones cortisol and adrenaline according to certain stressors or environmental pressures. When we are in danger or under pressure, our adrenals kick into motion and begin producing high levels of both cortisol and adrenaline, two hormones which focus our thinking, elevate our energy levels and mobilize blood sugar to fuel our muscles.

Think about an instance where you might have been chased by a dog as a kid, momentarily lost control of your bike as you were going down a hill, or simply almost tripped and fell. What you felt at that moment would have been a surge of energy, an almost instinctual bodily response (in the case of the dog, to run faster, in the case of the bike, to jam on the brakes, and in the case of tripping, to put out your hands), and a feeling of exhilaration afterwards. That was the surge of adrenaline and cortisol pumping through your veins from your adrenals, which were informed of the imminent crisis by your brain.

While such responses might be a little more mundane in today’s world, our hunter-gatherer ancestors relied on them for their very existence. In their world, danger lurked around every corner, be that in the form of an oversized bear lurking in a cave or a nearby tribe launching an attack. That initial surge of cortisol and adrenaline provided our paleolithic friends with the fuel they needed to get themselves out of a sticky situation, but once that danger had passed, the adrenals would switch off once more and those stress hormones would recede.

The problem today is that chronic stress is forcing our adrenals to remain permanently in the “on” position. Many of us are experiencing prolonged, everyday stress which our bodies were not designed to deal with, and which would never have plagued our hunter-gatherer ancestors. These stressors are everywhere and include work troubles, family pressures, financial concerns, commuting frustration, relationship issues and environmental toxins from things like exhaust smoke, VOCs from our homes and chemicals in our food and personal products. These everyday things which we take for granted are telling our brain that we are under constant pressure, which then forces our adrenals to keep producing more and more of these stress hormones to “deal” with the problem.

The result is adrenal fatigue, which can lead to major health issues like excessive weight gain, chronic tiredness and compromised immunity. If you’re on of those people I described above, the ones who are constantly plagued by stress, chances are you have adrenal fatigue, and chances are it’s really impinging upon your health and happiness. Here are 11 signs to look out for.

1. Trouble sleeping

Not only are you having trouble falling asleep even though you’re tired, you’re also having trouble staying asleep. People with adrenal fatigue have trouble attaining sufficiently restful sleep and so their body becomes even more ravaged over time.

2. Rapid mood swingsAdrenal fatigue can run rampant with your emotions and is most often associated with people who get irritated easily or are quick to anger. Sometimes these people might not even know why they got angry in the first place, and have difficulty curbing their negative feelings once they’ve been unleashed.

3. Feelings of anxiousness

Interspersed with those rapid swings could be periods where you’re beset with unfathomable depression or anxiety. That’s the cortisol working its wily ways on your brain.

4. Food cravingsA classic symptom of adrenal overload is the production of excessive levels of blood sugar and insulin, leading to insulin resistance (the precursor to diabetes). This resistance causes us to be at the mercy of frequent and strong sugar, salt and fat cravings. Next time you find yourself reaching for those sugary snacks, think why you crave them in the first place!

5. Weight gain

Exercising regularly, eating well but still gaining weight? A little more cushion around the midriff or rump could signify that you have adrenal fatigue, on account of that insulin resistance I talked about previously. Plus all that exercising is only going to stress your adrenals out more, exacerbating the situation.

6. A bad case of 3.30itisDo you find yourself getting really tired between 3 and 4 in the afternoon or gravitating towards the coffee machine? This is one sign that you could be suffering from adrenal fatigue.

7. Lowered immunity

If you find yourself succumbing to colds and the flu more often than you used to, you’re having a lot more trouble recovering from being sick, or your cuts and scratches become infected easily, you could be suffering from adrenal fatigue.

8. Reduced digestive capacityAnother symptom of adrenal overload or fatigue can manifest itself in compromised digestion. This can involve increased intolerance to foods, gas, bloating or cramps after eating, and regular constipation or difficulty moving your bowels.

9. Hormonal imbalance

You’re thinking, “well duh!” but the chronic and excessive production of those stress hormones can imbalance the production of other vital hormones in your body. This can result in issues like infertility, lack of libido, intense acne breakouts and thyroid problems.

10. Cognitive issuesSuffering from gaps in your memory, or struggling to cram in extra information at work or study? It could be on account of exhausted adrenals.

11. Dark circles under your eyes

While it’s true that adrenal fatigue can affect your sleep, dark circles under your eyes are in large part due to a disruption in blood circulation — something that can be caused by the dehydration and emotional stress of adrenal fatigue.

How to fight adrenal fatigue

Unfortunately, there’s no “magical cure” or wondrous supplement which can treat your adrenal fatigue and get your body back into the groove of things again. That’s the bad news. The good news is that allowing your adrenals to recuperate is simpler than you might have thought. It involves simply taking time out, time away from your fast-paced life and a break from the constant stress of work, money and life in general.

Consider taking up meditation, cultivating mindfulness and embracing constant movement throughout your day. All of these practices can provide some much-needed relaxation time both for your body and your brain, briefly halting those stress signals being constantly sent from your brain to your adrenals and allowing them to recharge.

Other big things you can do to help your adrenals is getting plenty of sleep, eating filling, wholesome meals while avoiding sugary or sodium-rich snacks and cutting back on your caffeine intake. Keep in mind that exercise is good, but too much can harm your adrenals even more, as intense and prolonged exercise promotes the production of cortisol which, as we know, puts pressure on the adrenals. Look after your body and your adrenals will thank you!

— Liivi Hess

In addition to the actions outlined above, you might like to try these herbs as a way to get your adrenals back on track.