By Dr. Valerie Girard, Santa Barbara Chiropractor
Do You Have Adrenal Burnout?
So many people today are working more than one job or working long hours. Added in are family responsibilities, housekeeping and all the other cogs in the wheel of life to keep it spinning. In this age of Information, we try and cram so much into each day.
You probably realize all that is causing your feelings of overwhelm and fatigue. The question is: how are you going to make changes that will help you to recover from your chronic fatigue and adrenal burnout?
The first thing to do is to recognize that you are overworked, burned out and chronically fatigued. Many people are unable to do this. They think that they are destined to always be working or that necessity drives them to do too much. They hit the caffeine to wake up, then drink it all day long to perform well at work. They may grab a muffin or a donut or worse yet, skip breakfast all together. In the evening, several drinks are consumed in order to “relax”. If they skipped breakfast and maybe even lunch, a large meal is consumed at dinnertime. Then they attempt to get a good night’s sleep with a heavy meal in their digestive tract. Doesn’t sound healthy, does it?
This scenario, common in the corporate world, is extremely stressing to the liver and adrenals. The liver has to detox all the caffeine and alcohol. It does a fairly good job in your 20’s and 30’s but around 40, it starts to fail. Women have the additional burden of hormonal changes happening at that time. Soon the thyroid and other glands are taxed and begin to malfunction. Aging is accelerated and health issues begin to develop that need medical attention. Drugs are prescribed - hopefully they do not have side effects.
Recognizing that your habits may not be healthy for you is the first step. How many patients have said to me,” I could never give up my coffee?” or “ I need my wine in the evening”. Meanwhile, the afternoon fatigue and the nighttime insomnia intensify, resulting in external and internal premature aging.
Does some of this sound familiar? If so, it is time to take some positive action! If you are ready to make some changes, read on!
A Chiropractor's View as to How to Treat Adrenal Burnout
Once you have recognized that your lifestyle needs to shift and are willing to take steps towards slowing down the aging process, there are 10 suggestions that holistic practitioners such as myself, offer to their patients.
1. Get some sleep! As much as you can! Seven hours will do, but eight hours are much better. Scientists now agree that getting proper REM sleep is rejuvenating and helps in weight loss (you eat more when you are tired). There are non-pharmaceutical formulas that lead to a good nights sleep. Ask your holistic practitioner.
2. Eat protein three to five times per day in small amounts. Protein for breakfast! Protein at lunch! Protein at 3PM! This will help you combat mid afternoon drowsiness by stabilizing blood sugar, giving the liver and the adrenals a needed break from attempting to modulate the big swings that come from too much caffeine, sugar, processed carbs and alcohol.
3. Exercise moderately. Over exercising to compensate for those two lattes and a croissant will tax the adrenals when they are fatigued.
4. Avoid caffeine or limit to one cup a day. Avoid sugar or enjoy occasionally. Drink less alcohol, even taking days off during the week.
5. Meditate, spend time in nature or read a good book before you go to sleep. Everyone needs down time.
6. Yoga, tai chi or qi gong add energy without strain and tend to reduce cortisol levels (indicators of adrenal stress) while resetting the nervous and glandular system back to normal levels.
7. Visit healthcare practitioners that work on the body energetically, such as holistic chiropractors, acupuncturists, body workers and energy practitioners. One session can be so effective in resetting the body back to a more peaceful and yet naturally energized condition. Laser Therapy can also be applied to treat the adrenals and other organs.
8. Ask your healthcare practitioner for supplements that will rebuild and support your liver and adrenals. There are blood tests that give accurate assessments about your adrenal and liver and other organs and glands. Get a comprehensive blood workup and take it to a complementary healthcare practitioner once a year. (All too often MD’s are used to evaluating for serious diseases and may overlook the conditions that got their patients to pathological conditions.) Your holistic practitioner will recommend diets, supplements and lifestyle changes that will steer your health back to vibrancy.
9. Schedule in vacations and playtime. I prescribe vacations to patients who I see are overworked. They could not believe how much better they felt when they returned. One or more vacation a year should be designed for rest and rejuvenation.
10. Find a way to constructively process your emotional and mental turmoil. Journaling, meditation, therapy, energy treatments, group therapy and retreats are just some of the venues available. Learn techniques for processing your own emotions as they arise and you will lead a more productive life that is balanced, peaceful and fulfilling.
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