What is Adrenal Fatigue?
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| Woman with Adrenal Fatigue |
Dr. James L. Wilson first used the term Adrenal Fatigue in 1998 to describe a specific type of chronic exhaustion characterized by severe and constant stress. This stress can be mental, emotional or physical. After years of working with "stressed and tired" patients, Wilson realized that his patients' adrenal glands (endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys and release hormones in response to stress) were functioning below the necessary level. As a result, his patients were feeling a general sense of lethargy, tiredness and poor health.
Adrenal Fatigue is also known as hypoadrenalism or neurasthenia. Addison's disease is a somewhat similar but different disease, as its symptoms are much more severe. The two should not be confused.
Although Adrenal Fatigue symptoms vary, if you feel most of the following without due cause you may be suffering from it:
- Feel tired for no reason
- Struggle to get out of bed in the morning, even after getting plenty of sleep
- Depend on coffee, soda, sweet and salty snacks for energy
- Feel run down and stressed
- Feel overwhelmed and exhausted
- Have difficulty recovering from stress or illness
- Only feel awake and alert after 6 p.m.
If you think you're struggling with Adrenal Fatigue, you are not alone. An estimated 80% of people experience Adrenal Fatigue and the physical symptoms of stress at some time in their lives. In addition to interfering with your quality of life, Adrenal Fatigue can also contribute to health issues that range from obesity to allergies to depression.
Stress is often unavoidable in today's modern life. Juggling work, family, and social events can leave little time for rest and relaxation. Our bodies do an incredible job of "keeping up" but there comes a point when we start to break down. Therefore, it is no surprise that more and more people are feeling the effects of chronic stress.
In addition to long-term stress, Adrenal Fatigue can be brought on by illness, a life crisis, or repeated infections such as the flu or bronchitis. Even the healthiest person can develop Adrenal Fatigue. Athletes can suffer if they work out too hard and too often without taking days off to rest. Working professionals can fall victim to adrenal fatigue due to content stress in the work environment. College students who stay up all night studying for tests and eat poorly (junk food and coffee are big culprits) are also prone.
As you can see, virtually anyone can develop Adrenal Fatigue. However, there are certain factors that increase your risk. These include:
- Unhealthy diet
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Inadequate sleep
- Overly stressed lifestyle
- Long-term illness or persistent infections
- Feeling overwhelmed by life circumstances
The good news is, by making diet and lifestyle improvements (which includes reducing stress and improving rest) most people can overcome Adrenal Fatigue and feel good again. Therapeutic massage is also an excellent treatment for Adrenal Fatigue, as it promotes healthy adrenal function while relaxing a tired body.
Many people who visit my practice tell me that they "just don't feel well." They are stressed, tired and sluggish and they have no idea why. It is very likely that these clients' adrenal glands are fatigued in some way.
In such cases, I usually suggest Visceral Manipulation Therapy, which is a gentle massage technique that focuses on the internal organs and their interrelationship with one another. This approach can help restore the adrenal glands to optimal functioning, revitalizing your body, mind and sense of well-being.
To learn more about Visceral Manipulation Therapy and how it can help with Adrenal Fatigue, please visit my website. It's truly a fascinating technique - one that often has life changing results.
Eugene Wood
Licensed Massage Therapist
http://www.eugenewoodmassage.com
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