Chronic Exhaustion Part 2 - Am I Lazy or Crazy
Previously, we discussed what adrenal fatigue was and 5 simple steps to help strengthen your adrenals. Now I would like to address the connection be low thyroid and adrenal fatigue.
If you have an underactive thyroid AND adrenal fatigue, you literally may think you are lazy or crazy!
Remember, the adrenal glands influence all major physiological processes: hormone regulation, utilization of carbs and fats, normal blood sugar regulation as well as cardio and GI function. The thyroid gland is also an endocrine gland, which is located in the front of our necks. It stores and produces hormones that affect the function of virtually every organ in our bodies. Sounds similar to the adrenals, doesn’t it? Given that information, one can begin to understand why adrenal dysfunction may contribute to thyroid dysfunction. Since the thyroid is also a major regulator of our hormones, it is imperative to support your thyroid while addressing adrenal fatigue.
Many symptoms of adrenal fatigue are very similar to low thyroid and can be mistaken as just a thyroid issue since the mainstream medical community does not address or diagnose acute adrenal fatigue…only extreme cases, such as Addison’s or Cushing’s disease. If hypo-thyroid people are put on thyroid hormone alone, they may respond negatively or not at all due to the underlying adrenal insufficiency.
So, if you suspect you have adrenal dysfunction and conventional medicine does not address that challenge for you and will only look at your thyroid, what do you do? First, seek an alternative medical professional who believes in adrenal function and understands how the thyroid and adrenals work together (like ME!).
Once you find a practitioner who “gets” your problems and symptoms, then you can begin your healing journey and get your life back.
Last month I gave you 5 basic and foundational ideas to address in your life for improved adrenal health:
- Diet-cut out all sugar
- Eat real live food, not in a package
- Avoid caffeine
- Exercise moderately
- SLEEP
I would like to address diet a bit more. I bet some of you are thinking…well a little sugar now and then can’t hurt. Oh, you are so wrong. Processed sugar is toxic to your body EVERY time you ingest it. Sugar sucks the life out of your adrenal glands as they work overtime to regulate your blood sugar. Sugar also decreases your immune system response, which puts stress on your thyroid. Processed sugar is just downright toxic!!
My second recommendation was to eat real food, not in a package. This means avoiding the center isles of the grocery store where the packaged food lives. I know it is very convenient in the short term to buy a can of soup, frozen lasagna, hamburger helper, Oreos, or mac and cheese, but the long-term inconvenience of compromised health resulting from poor food choices will be costly. Our bodies were not created to process, processed food. Your body can do amazing things if given the proper nutrition.
The third recommendation was to avoid caffeine. Caffeine increases your cortisol levels and over-stressed adrenals do not need any more cortisol stimulation. Also, if you are ingesting caffeine, then chances are you may ingest soda, which is either loaded with processed sugar or a toxic sugar alternative. Either way, this causes a toxic dump to your liver, impairs digestion, and ultimately stresses your adrenals. You might be thinking, “I don’t like water.” Ok, then drink caffeine-free herbal teas, kombucha, or another fermented drink, add lemon, lime, or other fruit to your water as the possibilities are endless on healthy beverages. 
The bottom line on adrenal fatigue is, to do your very best to find a good practitioner (like me) who won’t think you are crazy or lazy. Take responsibility for what you are putting into your body, how much exercise you get, and your sleep patterns.
Adrenal recovery is a lifelong journey as we learn to deal with stresses, reduce our environmental toxic overload, make good food choices, and find deep gratitude and contentment for things right before our eyes.