My Introduction to Adrenal Fatigue

Is the term "adrenal fatigue" new to you? Have you ever felt burned out without identifying the root cause of the underlying issue? Or have you consulted several doctors or medical professionals and undergone numerous blood tests, only to hear that nothing is wrong, even though your body feels different? You may have faced the frustration of repeated setbacks and relapsing into burnout or fatigue without determining what is causing this. 

These issues haunted me for years before the term "adrenal fatigue" was introduced and caught my attention. I also have a lot of empathy and can relate to the endless frustration of all the pain it brings. That's why I wanted to include this topic in my blog.

My Story.

For years, I had been pushing my nervous system to its limits. I worked long hours, had little or no social life, faced crumbling personal relationships, and suppressed my emotions. I left my hometown after a childhood filled with trauma and a series of distressing events in my twenties.

I had just rebuilt my life after experiencing personal bankruptcy, and my fiancé was leaving. Sticking to coping strategies and working as many hours as possible each day allowed me to be one of my favorites. I was highly ambitious and utterly unaware of what life would teach me in the years to come. 

At the time, I believed everything was going well despite a growing sense of fatigue that I had been feeling for a while. Eventually, I decided to hit the brakes. Like most stories about burnout and fatigue, I was too late to address the underlying issue. Then the COVID lockdowns hit, and my body shut down completely.

The learning curve has been quite steep since then, as I have continued to face relapses and setbacks due to burnout and fatigue. Time and again, my body would crash after an unsuccessful rebuild, with increasing frustration each time.

In search of answers.

As the relapses and setbacks continued, I gathered the courage to begin addressing my traumas in late summer 2022. It was daunting, but I recognized it was essential for my healing. Thus, I entered the realm of psychedelics for the first time. During my initial session, I shared my story and past traumatic experiences. "This sounds very similar to PTSD," he told me after about half an hour of listening.

For the first time, someone could identify the exact direction of a solution to my endless puzzles. It was a moment of immense relief, a glimmer of hope in the darkness of my struggles. This breakthrough instilled renewed optimism and determination in my healing journey.

In this environment, I grew close to and became friends with the person who introduced me to adrenal fatigue. Fast-forward a few years after my first psychedelic experience in 2022 to a phone call in the late summer of 2024. As we spoke on the phone, he said, "I'm very certain and confident that you are currently experiencing adrenal fatigue, and you need to address this underlying issue."

I could hardly muster the energy to get out of bed, enduring a great deal of suffering. Not researching the subject isn't an option, so I looked into the available information.

Perfect bloodwork. Something doesn't add up.

Since my first major burnout, I have undergone my fair share of bloodwork. Frustrating as this process has been, my bloodwork consistently yields positive feedback on my values. While experiencing a nasty burnout, I wanted to understand what was happening inside my body and which elements needed adjustment to return to "normal." 

My friend told me, "You should take a hair mineral analysis." Desperate for answers and trying to navigate a body that was completely burnt out and crashed multiple times a day, I'm so glad I decided to follow his advice. The lab results and report matched how my body felt at that time. It's such a huge relief.

What is hair mineral analysis?

A hair mineral analysis examines the levels of minerals and heavy metals stored in your body. A sample should consist of 2-3 centimeters of hair (close to your scalp), and since hair grows slowly (about 1 centimeter per month), the minerals from your blood accumulate in your hair as it grows. 

That's why a hair mineral analysis can provide a picture of mineral and heavy metal levels over several weeks or months, unlike bloodwork, which offers a snapshot of your values at the time you decide to have it done.

It's important to note that hair mineral analysis isn't recognized in traditional medicine. However, I strongly advocate for being open-minded and proactive in your healing journey. Consider collaborating with a Nutrition Therapist alongside your medical supervisor. This proactive approach can empower you to take control of your health and well-being.

My takeaways from this process:

• One of the most profound lessons I've learned from my journey is the importance of addressing the root cause of health issues. In my case, it was complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) that had a significant impact on my adrenals, leading to fatigue. I regained my health once I focused on healing from this root cause. This realization can be enlightening and motivating for others on your healing journey. Adrenals that are entirely out of balance will continue to keep you in a fight-or-flight state even after you have healed from traumatic events and will also make you more prone to relapsing into anxiety and depression. 

• From my experience, there is a significant link between trauma and adrenal fatigue, especially in cases involving childhood trauma (C-PTSD). Trauma, particularly when experienced at a young age, can profoundly and long-lastingly impact the body's stress response system, including the adrenal glands. Unresolved trauma can lead to chronic stress and eventually result in adrenal fatigue. I've worked with many individuals who have shared a similar path and have spent years searching for answers. It can be easy to get caught up in the psychological aspect of trauma and overlook our body-mind connection. Trauma takes a heavy toll on our endocrine system over time.  

• Low emotional states like anxiety, depression, and chronic stress often impact our diets negatively. In such a mental state, our bodies typically crave fast carbs, sugar, and excessive caffeine. I heavily relied on energy drinks to boost my energy and push my body forward, ignoring the warning signs. Depending on caffeine and energy drinks proved to be unsustainable in the long run. When our bodies' nutritional needs aren't met over time, it creates a self-reinforcing cycle that worsens as time goes on.

• Doctors often overlook the nutritional and physical aspects of fatigue and trauma. Furthermore, from the perspective of many doctors, nutritional therapists are viewed as part of alternative medicine. This narrow viewpoint frequently leads to questions of credibility and conflict between the two professions rather than fostering meaningful solutions for individuals suffering from adrenal fatigue.

• In our modern society, there is an increasing number of stressors, even for those who haven't experienced any traumatic events. Neglecting the long-term effects of stress can lead anyone to adrenal fatigue. Ultra-processed foods and pollution (such as screen light) also affect our stress levels.