Waking up Tired? Could it be Your Adrenals?

When someone comes into my clinic and their first response is “I’m tired”, I am going to suspect there is some adrenal involvement (although of course there can be many other reasons for fatigue). Your adrenals are small glands that sit atop the kidneys and are responsible for secreting adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol.

Your adrenal glands play a big role in your body’s stress response. If you are feeling worried, anxious, mental tension or heightened emotions caused by problems or distress, your body will activate it’s stress response. This stress response triggers the ‘fight or flight’ process which causes the adrenal glands to release adrenaline and noradrenaline. 

In ancient times, this adrenaline release was to prepare us to flee from immediate danger. Put simply, the adrenaline and noradrenaline allow for increased blood flow to the brain and muscles and increased blood glucose production for energy, among other things.

When this stress response, or fight or flight activation, is prolonged, cortisol is also released to support the fight or flight process with the production of more energy. If this stress response continues in the longer term, the body can become overwhelmed and can’t maintain appropriate levels of stress hormone release. This is when the exhaustion sets in and your adrenal glands can potentially become under-functioning.

With all the body’s energy going into managing it’s stress levels, your gastrointestinal function can become affected, you may experience brain fog, insomnia, weight gain, reduced libido, thyroid disorders, chronic fatigue, heart disease, blood sugar issues or autoimmune diseases to name a few.

The first step of treatment is to manage your stress levels in a way that works for you. Some suggestions are meditation, gentle exercise – yoga and walking are great, good healthy food, avoiding caffeine and plenty of rest. 

I find herbal medicine works beautifully to support the adrenal glands and to improve stress levels. Magnesium and B vitamins are also beneficial. If you wake up in the morning and your first thought is “I’m tired”, there is a chance you are adrenally fatigued. Contact me if you would like help with the fatigue, stress and overwhelm you are experiencing.