Adrenal Fatigue: Tired Mind and Body

By Ronnie Freedman, Ph.D

Constant fearful worry may produce an extremely tired mind. One experiences an extreme weakness and even the smallest tasks seem monumental. Even though the mind is tired, the body often feels just as exhausted, in response to the constant release of adrenaline.

Adrenaline is the body’s chemical that enables it to respond to all signs of danger. It provides the necessary energy to escape from danger, either real or perceived. Unfortunately, when one is caught up in the cycle of anxiety, the adrenal gland is firing off adrenaline too frequently and too unnecessarily, leaving the individual feeling flat and exhausted.

If the exhausted person were to apply the skills necessary to turn off the habit of fear and worry, the adrenal gland would rapidly restore itself and energy levels would quickly rise. This is by far the most important step when overcoming this type of adrenal fatigue. Once the source of the release of adrenaline is identified and remedied, recovery is swift and complete.

Therefore, learn to acknowledge your own cycle of fear and worry. Catch yourself and your own particular brand of negativity. This is not about merely positive thinking, not by a long shot. This is clearly a strong habit that requires breaking. Learn the process of talking back to a stubborn mind and change that behavior because doing so will allow the mind to refresh.

In the interim, here are some hints and tips for speeding up the process of recovery from adrenal fatigue:

– Always eat something before 10:00 AM.
– Avoid coffee and other stimulants as they will create a rebound effect.
– Go to sleep earlier (before 10:00 PM is preferable).
– Have a glass of water with a 1/2  – 1 tsp of sea salt in the morning.
– Avoid becoming overtired.
– Take moderate exercise rather than aerobics. Walking, swimming, yoga.
– Never skip breakfast and eat early (when awakening).
– Avoid sugary fruits, such as melons, overripe bananas, dried fruit.
– Avoid too many starchy foods, simple sugars and processed/refined foods.
– Enjoy your life, laugh and surround yourself with those who bring out the
the best in you.
– Change your way of thinking by learning to effectively catch fearful thoughts and replace them with productive behavior.

Generally, anxiety related adrenal fatigue is mild and rarely lasts for more than a few days to weeks. By following the above suggestions, one will not only fully recover from this form of adrenal fatigue but prevent its recurrence in the future.