Adrenal Exhaustion

There are two levels of stress resistance.  A superficial component which can be easily replenished; for example, after a late night or a busy few days;  and a deep component which cannot; for example, when we stay on high alert for a prolonged period of time.

We then experience exhaustion and burn-out which is often termed ‘Adrenal exhaustion’

Most busy people fail to note the difference between energy and drive.  They often say that they have lots of energy, when in fact they’re not energetic, just so stressed and wound up that they can’t turn off.  They have become so accustomed to high levels of tension that they no longer remember relaxation.

Energy is renewable on a daily basis.  We sleep, we refresh ourselves, we balance our day with work, rest and play and we can go on forever.  Theoretically!

Drive on the other hand is when the mind’s sheer determination pushes the body although the energy supply is exhausted.  In this situation, the body utilises adrenaline to make up an energy short-fall.

This mechanism is useful in the short term as a stop gap; and we’ve all used it – last minute cramming for exams, working until midnight to finish an important project, an all night party, a sick child that keeps us up all night or a new puppy howling to be allowed to sleep in the bedroom.

The adrenal push gets us through the next day when we can get some extra rest and restore ourselves.  No problem.  Our adrenal gland produces a base supply of hormone to keep us going on a daily basis and then can provide an extra surge in times of stress.  This is designed as a short term response.

However, if we undergo prolonged periods of stress without renewal, our adrenal reserve becomes exhausted and we are less able to respond appropriately.

We can start noticing symptoms such as

• Fatigue that is unrelieved by a good night’s sleep and is worst in the afternoon.
• Trouble getting off to sleep and then sleeping restlessly - commonly waking in the early hours of the morning at two or three am.
• Anxiety, sweating, tremor and palpitations.
• Depression and lack of enthusiasm for life, even for the things that one normally enjoys.
• Poor concentration and memory.
• Loss of coping skills where the mind is saying ‘I should handle this no trouble, I have easily managed in the past’; but the body is struggling to cope.