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Dr. Carrie Jones: Stress And Your Adrenal Glands - Do You Have The Energy?

By Expert HERWriter
 
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Your life - and how you live it - matters. Did you know that? Do you believe that? Do you surround yourself with people who believe it too? When you experience stress in any form it affects your entire body from the inside to the outside. It affects your cellular function, your emotions and even what you crave to eat.

Stress, as you have probably already experienced, comes in many different forms. It can be emotional, physical, psychological, environmental, infectious, or any combination thereof.

Your adrenal glands are not racist, sexist, or ageist and treats a newborn baby the same way it would treat your great-grandparents. Repetitive stress makes a person more prone to adrenal fatigue - and unfortunately is also cumulative. All of the stress you experience in your life day after day (...after day) adds up and begins to take its' toll on you. With that said, please remember your life - and how you live it - matters.
Your adrenals are walnut sized glands that sit on top of your kidneys and are made up of three layers.

The first layer produces aldosterone which is a hormone that controls your sodium and potassium levels (as well as other electrolytes) and your fluid balance within your body. Increased thirst and craving salt/salty foods happens with chronic stress due to inefficient aldosterone.

The second layer produces cortisol, the hormone your body makes in response to stress of any kind. When chronic stress remains (good or bad), your body tries to adapt by continually elevating the cortisol levels however symptoms of fatigue, high blood pressure, hypoglycemia, insomnia, irritation, weight gain, and/or chronic infection/illness creep in. Eventually, the adrenals become exhausted, your cortisol levels fall and you hit burn-out.

The third layer produces some sex hormones. In women it makes very small amounts of progesterone and estrogen. This layer also helps women with libido as it is a source of testosterone. When you are running from the saber toothed tiger (or experiencing any number of other stressors) 'getting in the mood' is not generally a priority because there is no energy left...for anything or anyone else.
So what do you do to repair the damage and feel like your old self again? Well, stop burning yourself out! Stop taking on the world and start making time for you!

Eat regular meals (real meals with real food) or several mini-meals throughout the day. Drink plenty of water, ease up on the caffeine and alcohol depleting your cortisol and get to bed at a decent hour.

Spend 10 minutes or so completely alone everyday and do something relaxing. Read a book or magazine. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Stare out the window. Take a bath or long shower. Go for a stroll in fresh air.

Eliminate or reduce the things in your life that are sucking you dry. Are there people, places, or things that are pulling down your adrenal glands? Maybe it's time for an evaluation of the situation. It is your health we are talking about - not theirs.

Finally, see your healthcare provider for an adrenal test and some supportive vitamins, minerals, and herbs to get you on your way to wellness.

P.S. If you read this article and recognize yourself and perhaps want to take on some of the recommendations, then I suggest you tell the people, places, or things sucking you dry that it's "Doctor's Orders." Who can argue with that?

BIO:
Dr. Carrie Jones is a Naturopathic Physician with a focus on food intolerances, women’s health and hormones. She has a private practice outside of Portland, Oregon and is an adjunct professor at The National College of Natural Medicine.

Visit Dr. Jones at her Websites:
www.naturalwomenshealthcare.com
http://thehappyhealthywoman.blogspot.com

To share how you eliminate stress in your life with the EmpowHer community, visit https://www.empowher.com/share.

Add a Comment1 Comments

Maggiemay

I see this was written awhile ago, but maybe writing is that confirmation, or relaxing moment for me. I do see myself in this article and have suspected my adrenal system was tired. In fact, aldosterone may be the missing link that I'm viewing a few dominoes away from the source. I've writing under the blog about painful legs and feet upon rising and have noticed that I am acidic and dehydrated (fluids go right through me). Anyway... now face to face with the second step; what do I do to strengthen my adrenal system? And could the liver (and fellow digestion aids) also have been brought down a little by all this resulting in a lack of hydrochloric acid? Because I make very, very little digestive acid (so says my Naturopath). Good information! Please tell me more. :)

July 26, 2009 - 8:08am

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.