Adrenal Fatigue Overview

Adrenal Fatigue Overview

Adrenal Fatigue Overview

Adrenal fatigue is a condition that weakens the adrenal glands due to stresses on the body.  It’s important to understand, people can have adrenal fatigue separate from Hypothyroidism. However it is quite common for patients to have both Adrenal Fatigue and Hypothyroidism.

According to Natural Thyroid Treatment, of the millions of people who are diagnosed with thyroid conditions, many of these people also develop adrenal fatigue. If a healthcare professional aims their treatment directly at the thyroid gland and ignores the adrenals, there is absolutely no chance of restoring the patient’s health back to normal.

Basics Causes of Adrenal Fatigue

Adrenal fatigue occurs when the adrenal glands cannot adequately meet the demands of stress.* The adrenal glands mobilize the body’s responses to every kind of stress (physical, emotional, and psychological) through hormones that regulate energy production and storage, immune function, heart rate, muscle tone, and other processes that enable you to cope with the stress.

Whether you have an emotional crisis such as the death of a loved one, a physical crisis such as major surgery, or any type of severe repeated or constant stress in your life, your adrenals have to respond to the stress and maintain homeostasis. If their response is inadequate, you are likely to experience some degree of adrenal fatigue.*

During adrenal fatigue your adrenal glands function, but not well enough to maintain optimal homeostasis because their output of regulatory hormones has been diminished – usually by over-stimulation.* Over-stimulation of your adrenals can be caused either by a very intense single stress, or by chronic or repeated stresses that have a cumulative effect.*

  • Stressful relationships, stressful work, financial stress, or traumatic events
  • Major surgery
  • Long-term malnutrition or poor eating
  • Drug addition
  • Long exposure to toxic chemicals or pollutants
  • Recurring disease, infection or illness

Basic Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue

Natural Thyroid Treatment explains there are many different symptoms people can experience with adrenal fatigue, but here are the more common symptoms:

  • Extremely tired, especially in the morning
  • Find it difficult to obtain quality sleep
  • Crave sweet and salty foods
  • Feel stressed out most of the time
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Low blood pressure (light headedness)
  • Loss of body hair
  • Needing stimulants or high doses of caffeine

How Stress Affects Adrenals

The adrenals are what handle the Fight or Flight” response in the body. Meaning, we experience stress, adrenaline kicks in and gives our body an energy boost.  As cave women, it was great for fighting the occasional tiger (or running from said tiger) which we only had to do on occasion. But in the modern world we can experience stress every day from work, family stress, financial stress, poor diets, sickness, chronic illness or disease which means continually draining the adrenal system. When we are sick with a condition like Hypothyroidism, our bodies are continually draining the adrenals. Many people who have hypothyroidism also find they have adrenal fatigue.

We risk burning out the adrenals, resulting in a “crash”.  You know that feeling, for example, after a big family holiday ends you just want to lie on the couch for days?  Or you’ve finished a big work deadline and either you get sick, or simply can’t do anything for a few days? That’s the adrenal crash from stress.  When you say “you burned yourself out” that’s totally true! You did. You fought that tiger, and you won, sister! But now you’re paying.

Adrenal Fatigue Can Be Missed

Although adrenal fatigue affects millions of people in the U.S. and around the world, conventional medicine does not yet recognize it as a distinct syndrome. According to AdrenalFatigue.org, Adrenal Fatigue has been known by many other names, such as non-Addison’s hypoadrenia, sub-clinical hypoadrenia, neurasthenia, adrenal neurasthenia, and adrenal apathy. 

Adrenal fatigue can wreak havoc with a person’s life. In more serious cases, the activity of the adrenal glands is so diminished that people may have difficulty getting out of bed for more than a few hours per day.

As the adrenals become more tired, every organ and system in the body is increasingly affected. Changes occur in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, fluid and electrolyte balance, heart and cardiovascular system, and even sex drive. The body does its best to make up for under-functioning adrenal glands, but it does so at a price.

Learn more at According to AdrenalFatigue.org, or read Dr. Wilson’s book, Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome.

Can people experiencing adrenal fatigue heal and feel good?

According to AdrenalFatigue.org, YES. In my own experience, and reports from other patients, YES. It is possible to heal weak adrenals and feel healthy again.

How to Get Started

Miss LizzyAdrenal Fatigue Overview

My Journey With Adrenal Fatigue: The Big Mistake with Hydrocortisone

Looking back, my journey with adrenal fatigue wasn’t a quick fix. It was a hard-earned lesson in listening to my body, understanding root causes, remembering more medication isn’t the answer (and may backfire), and learning the difference between band-aids and true healing.

I want to share what I tried, what I learned (the hard way), and what finally helped me support my adrenals, so that maybe it doesn’t take you ten years to figure it out like it did for me.

How It Started: Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

Like so many people in our community who have hypothyroidism, I was struggling with the classic signs of adrenal fatigue:

  • Exhausted but wired, unable to fall asleep or stay asleep
  • Waking up unrefreshed, dragging through the day
  • Light and noise sensitivity
  • Brain fog, poor word recall, and a sense that my body just wasn’t keeping up
  • Feeling shaky or jittery under stress
  • Struggling to recover from even minor stressors

These symptoms made life feel so much harder than it should have been. I was taking thyroid medication but I never felt quite stable. The weight, brain fog, and fatigue seem unpredictable. Sometimes I felt great other times I felt like I made no progress. I was desperate for answers and that’s when I discovered that not only was my thyroid struggling, my adrenals were also worn out. I was still in the early years of my journey with hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue, so I thought “I will try anything and everything!”

That was a huge mistake. Not only did I spend time and money on every new “solution” but I also suffered major health setbacks because my doctor and I were largely guessing and learning through trail and error.

Through this process, and researching well-intentioned thyroid user groups, I came across prescription hydrocortisone as a possible answer to help my adrenals.


My Experience With Hydrocortisone: A Quick Fix That Backfired

When I started hydrocortisone, it felt like a miracle. I took my first dose and within hours, I felt amazing. My brain fog cleared, my energy soared, and for the first time in ages, I felt like I could handle life again.

For a while, I thought I’d found the solution. I followed the dosing recommendations, splitting my doses throughout the day, and even learned about “stress dosing” when I needed extra support.

But here’s the hard truth: hydrocortisone wasn’t the answer. It was a short term band-aid that had disastrous consequences.

Over time, the cracks started to show. I became dependent on it, terrified to stop or miss a dose, afraid I’d crash. I stayed on it for over two years because I was afraid of the fatigue returning.

All the while, my hair started thinning and falling out. My once-full hair became dry, brittle, and sparse (a change I wrote about in this story, where I talk about how hair loss can be a warning sign that something isn’t working)

Looking back, I realized I was trying to force my hormones with hydrocortisone, but I wasn’t addressing the root causes of why my adrenals were struggling.

The adrenals are dynamic which means they product cortisol in cycles over a 24 hour period (called the circadian rhythm). If the adrenals are producing cortisol at the wrong time of day, or producing too much, hydrocortisone may backfire. That’s what happened to me.


What Finally Helped: Shifting to a Root-Cause Approach

The turning point was understanding that healing my thyroid and adrenals isn’t about chasing symptoms, forcing medications, or waiting for labs to tell me how I feel. It’s about having a clear plan that supports your body naturally.

That’s why I created the HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol. It’s a step-by-step system that helped me:
Track my body temperature and symptoms to uncover hidden thyroid and adrenal patterns
Fuel my thyroid and adrenals with the right minerals, hydration, and halogen detox
Optimize by making adjustments based on my unique story and data

This approach helped me finally get off the hamster wheel. My energy came back, my brain fog lifted, and I learned how to support my body in a way that didn’t leave me dependent on external crutches like hydrocortisone.


A Word of Encouragement

If you’re struggling with fatigue, brain fog, or hair loss like I did, please know, you’re not alone. And while medications like hydrocortisone can sometimes feel like a lifeline, they aren’t always the long-term solution we hope they’ll be.

What I wish someone had told me years ago is this: healing is possible when you address the root cause, not just the symptoms.

If you’re ready to break free from the cycle of trial and error, the HypoHero Thyroid Protocol is here to help you do exactly that.

👉 Learn more about the HypoHero Thyroid Protocol and take the first step toward real, lasting relief.

Miss LizzyMy Journey With Adrenal Fatigue: The Big Mistake with Hydrocortisone
Adrenal Fatigue Testing

Adrenal Fatigue Testing

Adrenal Fatigue Testing

There are several options for Adrenal Fatigue Testing, including the free at-home Pupil Test, Blood Pressure test; and the 24 Hour Saliva Test. These testing options may give you some information in order to have more insight when you talk with a good doctor.

Symptoms Checklist

If you answered yes to at least half the Adrenal Fatigue symptoms, in particular the symptoms related to low energy and poor sleep that’s a good first indicator of Adrenal Problems.

The Pupil Test

Adapted from Adrenal Fatigue by Dr. James L. Wilson, you can do this test at home yourself for free and will give you quick insight about whether there might be an adrenal fatigue. You need a chair, a small flashlight, a mirror, a watch or timer, and a dark room.

  • Darken the room and sit in a chair in front of a mirror
  • Angle a flashlight from the side (not directly into it), and shine the light toward your pupil
  • With the other eye observe, holding for two or three minutes
  • Normally a pupil will stay contracted in the bright light
  • With adrenal fatigue or hypoadrenia, the pupil will not hold its contraction. Within two minutes the pupil will start to dilate and this will last 30-40 seconds before it recovers and contracts again.
  • Make note when the dilation started, how long the dilation lasted, and the date.
  • Let the eye rest
  • Re-take the test monthly
  • If needed, ask a friend to help you with the test

Blood Pressure Test

Also according to Dr. James L. Wilson 1, blood press is an important indicator of adrenal function. Wilson says if your blood pressure drops when you stand up from a lying position this almost always indicates low adrenals. For me personally, when I stood up too fast I would nearly black out!

This test can be done at home. All you need is a blood pressure gauge which does not require a stethoscope. After you know how to use the blood pressure gauge here are the steps:

  • Lie down quietly for 10 minutes
  • Then while laying down take your blood pressure
  • Next stand up and immediately measure your blood pressure
  • Normal blood pressure will rise about 10-20 mmHg
  • If it drops when you stand up this likely means you have some form or hypoadrenia, adrenal fatigue, or you may be dehydrated
  • The more severe the drop the more severe the hypoadrenia
  • Dizziness or light-headedness might accrue when standing, so it is wise to do this test with someone beside you, or next to something you can grab like a chair

For more about the Blood Pressure test see Dr. Wilson’s book., Adrenal Fatigue.

24 Hour Saliva Test

The Saliva Hormone test is the single best lab test available for testing adrenal fatigue 2,. This test is done at home, but  typically it is not covered by insurance. The cost runs about $120-150, but it is more accurate than blood or urine tests which are covered by insurance.   The test measures cortisol levels at four different times of the day to show how your cortisol varies during the day:

  • Between 6-8 AM (within one hour after waking and cortisol is at its highest)
  • Between 11AM-12 PM
  • Between 4-6 PM
  • And between 10PM-midnight

Dr. Wilson also notes that, when doing the saliva test he usually measures DHEA-S (but not necessarily DHEA) because the adrenals are a primary source of DHEA-S.

The 24 hour Saliva test can be ordered by a doctor or by patients directly through these labs:

 

Notes:

  1. Adrenal Fatigue, .79
  2. Adrenal Fatigue, Dr. James L. Wilson, p. 83
Miss LizzyAdrenal Fatigue Testing

What I Wish I Knew Sooner About Hypothyroidism and Adrenal Fatigue

Looking back on my journey with hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue, my one big regret is that it took me over ten years of trying different things, chasing symptoms, making mistakes, and feeling frustrated before I finally found a system that worked. I wish I had known sooner that true healing isn’t about guessing, adjusting thyroid medication, or chasing lab numbers. It’s about having a clear plan that addresses the root cause and gives you the tools to make the right adjustments along the way.


The Connection Between Hypothyroidism and Adrenal Fatigue

If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in an endless cycle of fatigue, brain fog, and burnout, you’re not alone. Many of us with hypothyroidism also struggle with adrenal fatigue, and the symptoms often overlap which makes both conditions frustrating and confusing:

  • Waking up feeling exhausted, no matter how much you sleep
  • Feeling wired but tired
  • Needing an afternoon nap, or caffeine to get through the day
  • Crashing hard after stress
  • Struggling to fall asleep at night
  • Sensitivity to light, noise, or overwhelm
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness when standing up
  • Feeling anxious, stressed, or easily startled
  • Brain fog that makes it hard to think or focus
  • Needing days to recover from even minor stressors

These symptoms aren’t random. They’re signals that your thyroid and adrenal glands may be struggling.

What Finally Helped: The HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol

After ten years of trying different approaches (Levothyroxine, Armour, compounded thyroid hormone, adrenal medication, adrenal supplements, a range of supplements, diet changes, and other strategies) that never gave lasting results, what finally helped me get my thyroid and adrenal health back on track was the HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol.

This isn’t just a collection of tips or a one-size-fits-all supplement. It’s a step-by-step strategy, supplement system and coaching program that helps you uncover what’s really going on in your body and make the right adjustments to heal.

Here are the reasons why I created the protocol:

🧭 Track: Learn Your Body’s Signals

I started by tracking my body temperature and symptoms because temperature is like a window into how your thyroid and adrenals are actually doing, day by day.

Most doctors focus on labs, but those don’t always tell the full story. Tracking temperature helped me see what was happening, instead of guessing, so I could learn, adapt and make changes proactively.


💧 Fuel: Support Your Thyroid and Adrenals

Once I could see the patterns, I focused on fueling my body:

  • Restoring minerals to support thyroid and adrenal health

  • Staying hydrated with mineral-rich water

  • Gently detoxing halogens (like fluoride and bromide) that can block thyroid function

  • Supporting my body’s natural rhythm

This is where things started to click: my energy came back, my mood lifted, and I could finally handle stress without crashing.


🔧 Optimize: Adjust as You Go

Healing isn’t a straight line. The protocol taught me how to adjust based on my thyroid diagnosis and what I was tracking. I stopped guessing and started seeing real, measurable progress:

  • My temperatures stabilized

  • My energy and mood improved

  • I felt more like myself again

  • I was finally able to get off thyroid medication!

The Bottom Line

If you’re struggling with low energy, brain fog, sleep issues, and slow metabolism, you don’t have to keep guessing or trying random solutions. The HypoHero Thyroid Protocol gives you a proven, step-by-step system to support your thyroid, balance your adrenals, and finally feel better.

You’re not broken. You’re just missing the right strategy, the right supplements, and the right support.


Ready to Start Your Own Transformation?

Thousands of people have used the HypoHero Thyroid Protocol to improve their energy, focus, and metabolism, and saved themselves years of trial and error.

👉 Learn More About the HypoHero Thyroid Protocol and start your journey today!

Miss LizzyWhat I Wish I Knew Sooner About Hypothyroidism and Adrenal Fatigue
Lab Tests for Hypothyroidism

Lab Tests for Hypothyroidism

If you’ve been told your thyroid is “normal” but still feel tired, cold, foggy, or stuck, there’s a good chance you haven’t had the full picture. It’s not just about TSH. And it’s not just about labs.

When you’re trying to get to the root of fatigue, weight gain, low body temperature, or other thyroid-related symptoms, having the right tests can help but they only work if you know what to look for and how to connect the dots. That’s exactly what we do inside the HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol.

Why Standard Lab Testing Isn’t Always Enough

Most doctors run a TSH test and stop there. But TSH is a pituitary hormone, it’s not a direct measure of thyroid function. It doesn’t tell you how well your body is converting thyroid hormone, how much active hormone is available to your cells, or how your adrenals are influencing your energy levels.

That’s why many people get told “everything looks fine” while still living with hypothyroid symptoms. I was one of them.

Here’s a better set of labs to request if you’re still trying to get answers.

Basic Thyroid Labs

Free T3

This measures the active form of thyroid hormone your body actually uses. If Free T3 is low, even with “normal” TSH, you can still have hypothyroidism symptoms. It’s one of the most important thyroid markers to monitor over time.

Free T4

Free T4 is the storage form of thyroid hormone. Your body converts T4 into T3. Low Free T4 can signal underactive thyroid, but it must be interpreted alongside Free T3.

Reverse T3 (RT3)

Reverse T3 is a blocker. When it’s too high, it can slow your metabolism and compete with active T3 at the cellular level. The best way to evaluate this is by looking at the Free T3 to RT3 ratio—we explain how to do this inside the protocol.

TSH

This test can be helpful as a reference range over time, not as the single diagnostic test.

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO)

This test can help identify autoimmune thyroid issues like Hashimoto’s. If TPO antibodies are elevated, your body may be attacking its own thyroid.

Adrenal Health Labs

24-Hour Saliva Cortisol Test

This test maps your cortisol rhythm throughout the day. It’s helpful if you feel wired at night, can’t wake up in the morning, or crash in the afternoon. Cortisol patterns matter more than a single cortisol value.

Note: If you’re planning to take this test, stop any adrenal supplements at least two weeks beforehand for best accuracy.

Nutrient Labs That Impact Thyroid Function

These labs aren’t always run, but they may provide additional insights:

Ferritin (Iron Storage)

Low ferritin can mimic hypothyroid symptoms. For thyroid function, most women feel best with ferritin between 70–90.

Vitamin B12

Low B12 can lead to fatigue, brain fog, and mood issues. Some people with thyroid issues don’t absorb B12 well and may need sublingual or injection support.

Vitamin D

Aim for a level between 50–70 ng/mL. Low vitamin D is common in people with autoimmune conditions and can affect immune and thyroid function.

Serum Iron / TIBC

These tests help determine if your body is absorbing and transporting iron effectively. Iron is required for thyroid hormone conversion.

Zinc

Zinc is needed for hormone production and immune health. Blood zinc may look normal even when you’re functionally low, so symptoms and temperature tracking are important.

Secondary Labs (Optional but Useful)

These may be helpful in certain situations:

  • DHEA-S

  • Aldosterone / Renin

  • ACTH Stimulation Test

  • RBC Magnesium

  • Folate (Vitamin B9)

We go into more detail about when and why to consider these in the Optimize phase of the HypoHero Thyroid Protocol.

Why Lab Tests Alone Aren’t Enough

Even with all the right labs, it’s still possible to miss what’s going on. That’s why, in the HypoHero Thyroid Protocol, we focus on daily temperature tracking and symptom patterns.

Your body temperature can give you clues about thyroid and adrenal function in real-time (something no blood tests can’t do). When temperature is consistently low (especially under 97.8°F in the morning), it’s often a sign of low thyroid function, even if labs are in range.

Inside the HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol, we show you how to:

  • Track temperature and symptoms daily

  • Identify patterns that point to thyroid, adrenal, or conversion issues

  • Use labs alongside your data, not in place of it

  • Support your body with targeted minerals

  • Adjust your approach based on progress, not guesswork


Ready to Understand What’s Really Going On?

If you’ve been running in circles trying to get lab answers that make sense, the HypoHero™ Thyroid Protocol gives you a different approach—one that puts you back in control.

Take the first step now and start your thyroid transformation:
👉 Click here to learn more and take the quiz

Miss LizzyLab Tests for Hypothyroidism
The Importance of Sleep for Adrenal Health

The Importance of Sleep for Adrenal Health

If you have adrenal fatigue like me, or know someone who does, getting up before 9 a.m. can often be painful. As far back as high school I joked about not being “a morning person”. Staying up late at night was easy for me, but mornings were so bad that in college I scheduled all classes after 2 p.m. Seriously, I did.  I would be a zombie until around noon. People thought I was lazy, I thought I was lazy. But my brain just didn’t function in the morning, so I did what my body was telling. And you know, my body was pretty darn smart, thank you.

Even as a adult it was painful to wake up before 9 AM. I admired early-risers and longed to be one, having a strange idea that morning people are good people. Only the lure of coffee would pull me from the comatose state of sleep.  The idea of waking up at 6 a.m. actually made me panic. If I woke up before 9 a.m., I could easily drink two cups of coffee and go right back to sleep for hours.  Curiously though, if I slept until about 9 a.m. I could pop right out of bed awake and alert.  This always seemed odd, but apparently, there are lots of people out there like me!

Anyone who has chronic illness will understand you lead a secret life, arranging your business hours around rest opportunities and finding excuses for missing social events – Lynne Farrow, author The Iodine Crisis

Then I started learning about Adrenal Fatigue and how cortisol runs our body clock. So my sleep pattern wasn’t a matter of choice after all. What a revelation! According to James L. Wilson, Ph.D, Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome, though most people’s schedules do not allow it, it helps to sleep until 8:30 or 9 in the morning.

Wilson also writes, for people with normal functioning adrenals, cortisol rises rapidly between 6-8 am, which helps them to pop out of bed.  (And explains why some people can’t sleep past a certain time.)  Further, there is something magical about the restorative power of sleep between 7-9 a.m. for people with Adrenal Fatigue. Partly, he says, because cortisol levels rise slower in people with adrenal fatigue, and when cortisol levels are lower it takes longer to feel fully awake. Wilson also explains that with adrenal fatigue, when you sleep may be more important than how much you sleep.

Finally something that made sense after all these years!  After getting treatment for Adrenal Fatigue, my Cortisol levels have become more normal, so waking up is much easier. In fact, I can get up at 7:45 a.m and actually function these days. But given the chance, I sleep late without guilt, knowing it will help me tackle the day with energy. Brilliant.

 

Miss LizzyThe Importance of Sleep for Adrenal Health

What is Adrenal Fatigue?

What is Adrenal Fatigue?

Low energy, feeling tired and run-down, frequently waking up at night, craving salty or sweet snacks, frequent illness, feeling overwhelmed, difficulty waking up in the morning are all possible signs up Adrenal Fatigue.

With Adrenal Fatigue the body burns itself out trying to produce Cortisol. If you’ve had a poorly functioning thyroid, the body considers this a kind of stress which could then drain the adrenal system leading to a host of symptoms.

According to AdrenalFatigue.org, as the name suggests, the paramount symptom is fatigue that is not relieved by sleep. You may look and act relatively normal with adrenal fatigue and may not have any obvious signs of physical illness, yet you live with a general sense of un-wellness, tiredness or “gray” feelings.

People experiencing adrenal fatigue often have to use coffee, colas and other stimulants to get going in the morning and to prop themselves up during the day.

Another important detail is that Cortisol helps move the thyroid hormone from the blood to the cells. So while you might be taking Natural Desiccated Thyroid Medicine for Hypothyroidism, it may not be making into the cells because of the low Cortisol. In short, treating Hypothyroidism also means looking at Adrenal Fatigue.

Well we all know stress is bad. But why?

The adrenals are what handle the Fight or Flight” response in the body. Meaning, we experience stress, adrenaline kicks in and gives our body an energy boost.  As cave women, it was great for fighting the occasional tiger (or running from said tiger) which we only had to do on occasion. But in the modern world we can experience stress every day from work, family stress, financial stress, poor diets, sickness, chronic illness or disease which means continually draining the adrenal system. When we are sick with a condition like Hypothyroidism, our bodies are continually draining the adrenals. Many people who have hypothyroidism also find they have adrenal fatigue.

What happens when we continually exhaust the Adrenals?

We risk burning out the adrenals, resulting in a “crash”.  You know that feeling, for example, after a big family holiday ends you just want to lie on the couch for days?  Or you’ve finished a big work deadline and either you get sick, or simply can’t do anything for a few days? That’s the adrenal crash from stress.  When you say “you burned yourself out” that’s totally true! You did. You fought that tiger, and you won, sister! But now you’re paying.

Why Don’t People Talk About Adrenal Fatigue More?

Although adrenal fatigue affects millions of people in the U.S. and around the world, conventional medicine does not yet recognize it as a distinct syndrome. According to AdrenalFatigue.org, Adrenal Fatigue has been known by many other names, such as non-Addison’s hypoadrenia, sub-clinical hypoadrenia, neurasthenia, adrenal neurasthenia, and adrenal apathy. 

Personally, I think every doctor, and every person would benefit from knowing about this condition. Adrenal fatigue can wreak havoc with your life. In more serious cases, the activity of the adrenal glands is so diminished that you may have difficulty getting out of bed for more than a few hours per day.

As the adrenals become more tired, every organ and system in the body is increasingly and profoundly affected. Changes occur in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, fluid and electrolyte balance, heart and cardiovascular system, and even sex drive.

Many other alterations take place at the biochemical and cellular levels in response to and to compensate for the decrease in adrenal hormones that occurs with adrenal fatigue. The body does its best to make up for under-functioning adrenal glands, but it does so at a price.

Learn more at According to AdrenalFatigue.org, or read Dr. Wilson’s book, Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome.

What causes adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is produced when your adrenal glands cannot adequately meet the demands of stress.* The adrenal glands mobilize your body’s responses to every kind of stress (whether it’s physical, emotional, or psychological) through hormones that regulate energy production and storage, immune function, heart rate, muscle tone, and other processes that enable you to cope with the stress. Whether you have an emotional crisis such as the death of a loved one, a physical crisis such as major surgery, or any type of severe repeated or constant stress in your life, your adrenals have to respond to the stress and maintain homeostasis. If their response is inadequate, you are likely to experience some degree of adrenal fatigue.*

During adrenal fatigue your adrenal glands function, but not well enough to maintain optimal homeostasis because their output of regulatory hormones has been diminished – usually by over-stimulation.* Over-stimulation of your adrenals can be caused either by a very intense single stress, or by chronic or repeated stresses that have a cumulative effect.*

How can I tell if my adrenals are fatigued?

You may be experiencing adrenal fatigue if you regularly notice one or more of the following:

  1. You feel tired for no reason.
  2. You have trouble getting up in the morning, even when you go to bed at a reasonable hour.
  3. You are feeling rundown or overwhelmed.
  4. You have difficulty bouncing back from stress or illness.
  5. You crave salty and sweet snacks.
  6. You feel more awake, alert and energetic after 6PM than you do all day.

Read the full symptom list.

Are there health conditions related to adrenal fatigue?

The processes that take place in any chronic disease, from arthritis to cancer, place demands on your adrenal glands. Therefore, it is likely that if you are suffering from a chronic disease and morning fatigue is one of your symptoms, your adrenals may be fatigued to some degree.

Can people experiencing adrenal fatigue heal and feel good?

According to AdrenalFatigue.org, YES. And in my own experience, and reports from other patients, YES. It is possible to heal struggling adrenals and feel better again.

What It Means For Me, Miss Lizzy

With proper care most people experiencing adrenal fatigue can expect to feel good again. For me personally, I brought myself to good heath and was able to treat my adrenal fatigue and feel better. It is an on-going journey. I am careful to protect my body from stressors so I can remain in good health. If I stress my body too much, it lets me know and I listen.

Miss LizzyWhat is Adrenal Fatigue?

Adrenal Fatigue Treatment Options

There are several Adrenal Fatigue treatment options, including supplements and prescriptions, depending on the severity of the condition and doctor recommendations. This information is made available for educational purposes, to discuss with a good doctor.

Licorice

For slightly Low Cortisol. Licorice is an anti-stress herb known to increase energy, endurance and vitality. Licorice has also been used to help decrease symptoms of Hypoglycemia. The best form of Licorice is in tea. And can also be found in the form of capsules, liquid herbal extract and dried root which can be chewed. 1

Ashwagandha Root

Therapeutic uses of Ashwagandha date back to at least 1000 B.C. Ashwagandha has beneficial effects on the adrenal tissue and function. Ashwagandha is considered an adaptogen which means it helps the body function more towards its normal level. Ashwagandha is capable of normalizing cortisol levels whether they are low or high. But it should not be taken at doses higher than 35 gms/day because this would inhibit adrenal function.  2

Adrenal Cortical Extracts

According to Dr. James L. Wilson  3 probably the most reliable way of rebuilding adrenals from adrenal fatigue is the use of adrenal cortical extracts. In 1918 Adrenal Cell Extracts became commercially available, and since then they have been a powerful form of treatment for non-Addison’s type of hypoadrenia.

There are several brands available both in table and liquid form. According to Wilson the the liquid is generally more powerful than the tablet, but also costs more. He uses the tablets for milder cases, and the liquid in moderate to severe cases. Dr. Wilson explains:

  • Dosage for the adrenal cortical extract tablets is 6-12 per day, depending on severity
  • Dosage for the liquid is usually one vial under the tongue 2 or 3 times a week as directed by your physician

Many doctors are unaware of the existence of this type of therapy and do not know how to use it. This can mean some doctors are reluctant to explore it even though there is a long history of its use.

Adrenal glandular products 

According to Stop the Thyroid Madness, Adrenal glandular products should be avoided.

Hydrocortisone (HC)

Corticosteroid therapy with Hydrocortisone is the best natural form of cortisol, available by prescription 4. When administered in physiological doses of approximately 20 mg per day it can give the adrenals a rest. This is considered a short -term protocol for treating adrenals with a goal of gradually decreasing the dose after six months.

For me personally, and from the stories of others, Hydrocortisone helped me to strengthen my adrenals and provide the cortisol needed to help with absorption of Natural Desiccated Thyroid medicine. In hindsight, I believe I stayed on Hydrocortisone too long and should have weaned off after six months. But it did indeed help me.

Notes:

  1. Adrenal Stress, Dr. James L. Wilson, p. 203
  2. Adrenal Stress, Dr. James L. Wilson, p. 204
  3. Adrenal Stress, Dr. James L. Wilson, p. 209
  4. Adrenal Stress, Dr. James L. Wilson, p. 217
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Foods for Adrenal Fatigue Recovery

Finding the right balance of foods for adrenal fatigue was a helpful part of my recovery. Because of adrenal fatigue, I had severe hypoglycemia which meant I needed to eat every two hours. And I was drawn to foods which gave me a boost, including sugar and caffeine. Understanding how foods affect my body helps me to keep my adrenals feeling strong.

According to AdrenalFatigue.org, when your adrenals respond to stress your cell metabolism speeds up, burning many nutrients. With adrenal fatigue, the cells have used up much of the body’s stored nutrients, creating a nutritional void. Good quality food is the best source for replenishing these nutrients. 

When to Eat

Eating frequently is helpful for the balance between adrenals and  blood sugar. Basically, if you feel hungry, it’s too late. Your blood sugars are starting to drop and the adrenals are being stressed. Here is a quick guide for when to eat to support adrenals:

  • In the morning, eating soon after waking is important for people with adrenal fatigue. For me, and others with adrenal fatigue, eating before 10:00 AM can make a big difference in our energy.
  • For lunch, eating before noon, ideally between 11-11:30 AM is best
  • Between 2-3 PM eat a nutritious snack to sustain your body during the afternoon. Typically, cortisol dips between 3-4 PM. If you wait until 3:30 PM for a snack, most likely you will crave sugar or caffeine!
  • For dinner, eating between 5 and 6 PM is best
  • Late evening before bed, a small service of good fat and protein can help with sleep

What to Eat and Drink

For those of us experiencing adrenal fatigue, a good meal and snack combines fat, protein and complex carbohydrates (vegetables). This combination helps provide a steady stream of energy throughout the day. Sugary snacks or highly processed foods convert too quickly, and do not provide lasting energy. They can also cause sugar crashes, or hypoglycemia.

Salt

In most cases of adrenal fatigue, good salt is beneficial. Interestingly, cravings for salt can be an indicated of adrenal weakness. Unless you are one of the rare people with adrenal fatigue and high blood pressure, add some salt to your food 1. Sea salt or Celtic salts are preferred because they have more beneficial nutrients (and they taste good).

Proteins

Good quality protein such as grass fed beef, fish, free range chicken, omega-3 eggs, dairy from grass fed cows (and/or raw mild) and various plant sources (legumes, nuts and seeds) are beneficial in supporting adrenals. Try to avoid processed proteins such as packaged lunch meats and processed cheeses. Proteins generally have more nutritional value and are easier to digest when eaten lightly cooked or raw.

Vegetables

Vegetables are an important part of supporting adrenals. With each meal aim for 2 vegetable servings of a wide variety of vegetables, especially those that are naturally highly colored (bright green, red, orange, yellow or purple). Vegetables provide essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and a high amount of fiber. It is a good idea to vary how you prepare vegetables, because different nutrients are made available through different cooking methods. Personally, my body has much more energy eating raw, rather than cooked, vegetables.

Fruit

Dr. Wilson notes that people with adrenal fatigue and blood sugar problems should go lightly on fruits, especially in the morning. Personally, with struggling adrenals, if I ate fruit in the morning I felt pretty nauseous and ill by lunchtime. With stronger adrenals I can eat a little fruit in the morning if accompanied by protein and a little fat.

According to Dr. Wilson, fruits contain a significant amount of fructose and potassium, which is a detrimental combination for those with exhausted adrenals. However, Wilson says it is preferable that any fruit that you do eat is organically grown. Hey, we do the best we can. Below is a short list of fruits people with adrenal fatigue tend to do well with, and ones to avoid or notice if they make you feel bad:

Preferred fruits:

  • Papaya
  • Mango
  • Plums
  • Pears
  • Kiwi
  • Apples
  • Grapes (a few)
  • Cherries
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Blackberries

Fruits that might make you feel bad:

  • Bananas
  • Raisins
  • Dates
  • Figs
  • Oranges
  • Grapefruit

Easy Guidelines

Here are some easy guidelines which are simply and make loads of sense!

  • Eat a wide variety of whole, natural, unprocessed foods
  • Combine a healthy fat, protein and carbohydrate source with every meal
  • Eat lots of vegetables, especially the brightly colored ones. Raw is even better
  • Salt your food to a pleasant taste using good salt like Real Salt or Himalayan Salt
  • Eat mainly whole grains (avoiding gluten)
  • Combine grains with legumes (beans), or legumes with seeds or nuts to form a complete protein
  • Avoid fruit in the morning
  • Mix 1-2 tablespoons of fresh essential oils (cold pressed olive, grape seed, safflower, flax, etc.) into grains, vegetables and meats daily. Or try avocado with meals.

 

 

Notes:

  1. James L. Wilson, “Adrenal Fatigue”
Miss LizzyFoods for Adrenal Fatigue Recovery

Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

Below are some of the Adrenal Fatigue symptoms. There are similarities between Adrenal Fatigue and Hypothyroidism. It’s possible to have both conditions, or one condition but not the other. 
According to Adrenal Fatigue.org, if you are regularly experiencing one or more of the following this could mean indicate fatigue:
  • You feel tired for no reason.
  • You have trouble getting up in the morning, even when you go to bed at a reasonable hour.
  • You are feeling rundown or overwhelmed.
  • You have difficulty bouncing back from stress or illness.
  • You crave salty and sweet snacks.
  • You feel more awake, alert and energetic after 6PM than you do all day.

In addition, the folks at Stop the Thyroid Madness have compiled this list of more specific symptoms related to adrenal fatigue which can also be found in the Stop the Thyroid Madness book. Not all symptoms apply to everyone but if you have a good percent of symptoms it is worth exploring more.

  • Continuing hypothyroid symptoms with a high free T3
  • Shaky hands or general shakiness
  • Diarrhea
  • Bad palpatations
  • Higher heart rate
  • Pounding heart
  • Feeling of panic
  • Craving for salt or salty foods
  • Weakness or feeling a lack of stamina
  • Lethargy (everything feels like a chore)
  • Difficulty even doing every day tasks
  • Tasks seem to take longer and feel much harder
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Inability to handle stress
  • Inability to handle interactions with others
  • Inability to focus
  • Rage or sudden angry outbursts
  • Emotionally hyper sensitive
  • Mild depression and/or feeling less happiness, not much seems to interest you
  • Increase PMS. Bloated, tired, crabby, cramping, and craving chocolate
  • Overreacting (this is hard to measure in ourselves)
  • Highly defensive (this is hard to measure in ourselves)
  • Feeling paranoid about people or things
  • Exacerbated reactions to daily stress
  • Impatience
  • Easily irritated
  • Mild to severe hypoglycemic episodes
  • Symptoms increase if meals are skipped.
  • A strong need for snacks, colas and coffee just to keep from collapsing.
  • Nausea in the face of stress
  • Taking days to recover from even minor stress
  • Taking days to recover from a dental visit
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Headaches
  • All over body ache
  • Super-sensitive skin
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Scalp ache
  • Hyper or jittery feeling
  • Clumsy (drop things, bump into things)
  • Confusion
  • Suddenly feel extremely hungry
  • Low back pain
  • Feeling dull
  • Cloud-filled head
  • Jumpiness (easily startled)
  • Muscle weakness
  • “Air hunger” or feeling breathless
  • Dizziness
  • Light headedness (especially standing up quickly)
  • Motion sickness
  • Coffee putting patient to sleep
  • Vomiting even running up the slightest incline
  • Almost passing out every time patient gets up
  • Dark circles under eyes
  • Waking up in the middle of the night for several hours
  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Difficulty waking up in the morning
  • Frequent urination
  • IBS symptoms
  • Worsening allergies
  • Don’t really wake up  and feel alert until 10 AM
  • Between 3-4 PM you feel sluggish or very tired, sometimes requiring a nap
  • After 6 PM and dinner, you start to feel alive again

If you have any of the above, read more about Adrenal Fatigue testing and treatment options.

Miss LizzyAdrenal Fatigue Symptoms