Signs That Adrenal Fatigue is Behind your Anxiety & Sleep Problems

Adrenal fatigue is a term that is used to describe your adrenal glands when they are struggling to cope with both stress and an overly busy schedule. In this state of adrenal fatigue, you’ll likely be feeling pretty burned out, overworked and feeling dull all over.

While ‘adrenal fatigue’ isn’t a diagnosis you’re going to get from your doctor, experiencing these signals below should be considered as warning signals from your body, that something needs to change, and your routine has got to ‘give.’

If you surpass the 4 stages of adrenal fatigue you may enter an adrenal insufficiency, which is now something that your medical doctor can diagnose. Listen to your body and it’s many signals now, tackle stress and get out of the tired rut before it potentially turns into something more serious!

Many of us have taxed our adrenals; when stress doesn’t go away we are left with elevated cortisol levels, and other systems in the body become weakened – because your adrenals can only handle so much, just like you!

9 Signs Of Adrenal Fatigue

So how do you know if you’ve got adrenal fatigue? And what can you do about it? Here are 9 signs of adrenal fatigue & some tips for a more vibrant you.

1. You’re Feeling Overwhelmed By Life

So many of us put self-care at the bottom of our to-do list – until it is too late! I agree that it can be so much easier to say ‘yes,’ than ‘no’ in many situations – but all work and no play can lead you right to a burnout! Being a go-getter and an over-achiever is ok.

READ: 5 Signs You’re Overstressed (And Don’t Know It)

But the key to your success also resides in self-care practices (how can you BE your best if you don’t feel your best) You can SEE stress on people, and it does not look nice on anyone! Take a step back from some commitments that do not serve you, and add some self-care into your daily routine & remember that you need time for YOU.

Give yourself permission to take a step back, your body and adrenals will thank you. Bear in mind that if you’re feeling more of the signals listed below – what you are currently doing is NOT working for your body.

2. You Can’t Sleep

Ideally, we should all be getting 8-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Your body needs this time to recover, reset and recharge for a new day. You should wake up every morning feeling refreshed & energized.

However, many of us are instead giving up sleep to continue with more work + we rush from one thing to the next – this throws off your balance and makes it harder for you to fall/stay asleep. It’s time to introduce a healthy new habit to improve your rhythm.

Try and be in bed by 10:30 pm, even if you can’t fall asleep quite yet – being in the dark helps your body to produce melatonin – aka your sleep hormone. If your mind is racing before bed – practice some guided meditation, such as the HeadSpace App or take a warm bath with added AlkaBath to help you relax.

STUDIES: When You Skip Sleep, You Eat 300+ More Calories the Next Day, Study Finds

3. You Feel Exhausted After Working Out

Exercise should make you feel more energized, and it shouldn’t make you exhausted and fatigued afterward. Physical Stress is a known stressor for the adrenal glands – and too much exercise can do the opposite of what you want – as it can have negative effects on your adrenals since adding stress to your body!

READ: Odd Side Effects After Working Out