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~ Back to Articles Index Page ~  Life is very busy these days what with rushing the kids to their lessons, household duties, financial responsibilities, the pressures to perform (and outperform) on the job and the energy required just to keep a family, marriage and household running smoothly. Add to that all the worry, anxiety and doomsday premonitions we heap on ourselves and, to paraphrase Mark Twain, some terrible things might actually happen. Whether actual or perceived, stress flips the switch on some primitive, hard-wired and automatic responses by our body. Initiated in the hypothalamus, a sequence of nerve cell firings and chemical releases prepare our body to do one of three things; run, freeze or fight. The chemical release signals your body to increase your respiratory rate, bringing more oxygen into the body. Non-essential functions are shut down, such as digestion and repair (probably why you can't stomach food when you're upset). Blood is shuttled to important organs like our brain and muscles. Our sight and reflexes sharpen and remain at the ready. Our immune system readies itself with increased activation. Even our perception of pain is diminished during the "hunt for the enemy". Quite a neat package, really, if you need to run away from a saber-tooth tiger but not so necessary in today's world. Today, most saber-tooth tigers are created in our mind. And again, it's worth repeating, this biological and physiological response is automatically activated whether the threat is actually real or simply perceived. The Role of the Adrenal Glands (To read the complete article on adrenal glands, CLICK HERE.)  The adrenal glands are comprised of two parts – the cortex and medulla. The medulla, or inner part of the adrenal glands, produces the hormones norepinephrine and epinephrine which regulate the "fight or flight" response. When you feel threatened, physically or emotionally, the medulla pumps hormones into the bloodstream to enhance and prolong the effects of an increased heart rate, blood pressure, nerve response, muscle activity and blood glucose levels for energy. Prolonged or chronic mental, emotional and physical stress puts a strain on your adrenals glands, but it doesn't stop there. Constant stress has far-reaching consequences for other parts of your body; your muscles are constantly tensed, your brain is constantly "on" and as a result, important functions such as digestion and repair are neglected so that you can be ready, at a moment's notice, to fight of flee. By its very design, the "fight or flight" response leads us to react or to retreat—both of which create immense amounts of muscle movement and physical exertion. This physical activity effectively metabolizes the stress hormones released. Once the fighting is over, and the threat—which has triggered the response—has been eliminated, our body and mind return to a state of calm. Unfortunately, you cannot "fight" traffic jams, flight delays, harassing customers or bank's hours. The primitive aggressive and over-reactive responses from our past are not tolerated in today's civilized society so we have to internalize until it's appropriate to "let it all out". This is why physical exercise works so well to burn off stress if you're having a "saber-tooth" kind of day. Some Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue We all experience the following symptoms at one time or another however, if you are experiencing the majority of these symptoms on an ongoing basis and they are interfering with your daily life, you may be approaching adrenal fatigue:
And the evidence is overwhelming that there is a cumulative buildup of stress hormones over time. If not properly metabolized, excessive stress can lead to disorders of our autonomic nervous system (headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension) and disorders of our hormonal and immune systems, leaving us susceptible to infection, chronic fatigue, depression and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and allergies. However, if you recognize this and make an effort to compensate with downtime, family outings, a good comedy, wonderful food and the company of trusted friends, you'll be on the road to avoiding adrenal burnout.  Solutions to Avoid Adrenal Fatigue Change Your Physical Environment – Make the places you live and work in "safer" by removing as many toxins as you can (noise, light, smoke, fumes). Take a ten-minute walk to get some fresh air into your lungs. Make sleep a priority. Ride a bike with your kids or take the dog for a walk. Dust off your camera and learn to love the excitement of photography again. Learn to paint, start a journal, take a swim, weed the garden; anything that helps you regain your composure again. Change Your Emotional Environment – Surround yourself with trusted friends and colleagues, change your communication skills to include less confrontation, manage your time better and learn to say no. Set priorities, reset your sense of purpose, cut back on negative self-chatter and understand and embrace your limitations. Change Your Nutritional Environment – Choose whole grains more often and avoid "white" foods, reach for the olive oil instead of the creamy salad dressing, drink green tea, make desserts from fresh fruit, make sure at least 2/3's of your dinner plate is vegetables, choose lean proteins, cut out caffeine and excess salt and sweets, graze on nuts and raw veggies throughout the day and drink at least a liter of water every day (2 x 500ml bottles) to help flush toxins from your system. Nutter's Can Suggest…  Clinically-proven ingredients - shown to improve mental outlook, promote mental acuity and a sense of relaxation. Based on clinical research, the results you can expect with PURE calm+ joy include:
 Natural Factors Stress-Relax Products - Tranquil Sleep, Mental Calmness, Serenity Formula, GABA – are formulated to address all areas of your life from feeling more relaxed and in control during the day to having a more restful and rejuvenating night's sleep. Carol Roy is a Natural Health Practitioner, registered with Natural Health Practitioners Canada, who received her diploma from the Alternative Medicine College of Canada in Montreal, Quebec. With 10 years experience in her area of expertise, naturopathic medicine, Carol has also trained to become a fully qualified Reiki Master, Quantum Touch ® Practitioner and Reflexologist. are recommendations only and not a substitute for any medical advice or a replacement for any prescriptions. Seek medical advice for any health concerns. Consult your health care provider before using any recommendations herein. |
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