The adrenal glands are the main stress modulation centers of the body. When stressors (either physical or emotional) overwhelm the adrenals ability to compensate, Adrenal Fatigue may ensue. This is usually a slow and insidious process that progresses through many years, though some can experience it after an intense episode of acute stress, such as death of a loved one, financial distress, or acute infection.
The job of returning the body to its normal function rests with the adrenals. This process is indeed complicated and convoluted, accompanied by many unpleasant symptoms. They are mediated primarily by hormones. The main ones are cortisol, adrenaline, estrogen, and androgen. The adrenals bear the blunt of this responsibility, as it secrets over 50 different hormones in an exact and very precise manner to maintain normal internal homeostasis. Adrenal hormones in turn affect other hormones in the body, ranging from thyroid hormones to serotonin to insulin. No part of the body is spared of these influences. All major body systems are affected, from musculoskeletal to metabolic, cardiac, neurological, reproductive, and immune systems. The body may activate its internal emergency system if the stress is perceived to be threatening to the body. Due to the crude nature of this system, sufferers often experience a range of very unpleasant symptoms, many of which are uncomfortable and paradoxical.The state of dysregulation of these hormones resulting in unpleasant and abnormal physiological responses during an acute adrenal decompensation episode is called an adrenal crash.
If the adrenal's compensatory emergency response effort is successful, the adrenal crash will eventually stop and the body will begin to stabilize and gradually return to its pre-crash state of function through what is known as the Recovery Phase.The Crash and subsequent Recovery Phase taken as a whole constitute the Adrenal Crash and Recovery Cycle. Unpleasant symptoms slowly disappear during the recovery cycle. If not successful, the body will continue to decompensate until such time as external help is rendered to support the adrenals and arrest the crash. In the absence of that, the body will naturally and slowly deteriorate, ultimately resulting in adrenal failure.
Total adrenal failure is a medical emergency, but there are several measurable degrees of Adrenal Fatigue before adrenal failure. These Adrenal Fatigue states (Adrenal Fatigue stages 1-4) usually progresses with time and is triggered and exacerbated and marked by periodic adrenal crash and recovery cycles.
This paper will examine the adrenal crash and the recovery cycle in great details as they are found in each of the Adrenal Fatigue stages. Due to the lack of quantitative and laboratory investigative tools, findings presented here is primarily based on the clinician's perspective.
The complete crash and recovery cycle is broken down into two phases: the Crash Phase, where the body decompensates with worsening symptoms, and the Recovery Phase, where bodily function is gradually restored to the pre-crash level of function.
The most prominent symptom during the adrenal crash phase is fatigue and lack of energy. The sum of all dysfunctional and dysregulated hormonal and metabolic pathways ultimately results in reduced energy output as the main outcome. Gauging the energy level during the crash phase therefore gives us the most accurate indication of the severity of the crash over time.There are no laboratory tests that can quantify this objectively. The more intense and more symptoms coming from the adrenal crash, the deeper and more severe the crash.
The Recovery Phase is marked by a gradual return to pre-crash level of adrenal function and energy level. Symptoms of adrenal crash will reduce and spontaneously resolve as recovery proceeds. The Recovery Phase is further broken down into a stabilization period followed by one or more mini-recovery cycle, each consisting of a preparation period, a honeymoon period, and a plateau period. The three period flow in sequence resembles a set of steps going up. The overall successful recovery plan consists of multiple "S" curves in an upward sustained series without allowing any major downward crashes. This is illustrated in the graph above and it is comprised of the following:
Stabilization Period. Immediately after an adrenal crash and prior to the initial min-recovery leg up there usually is a stabilization period where the body ceases to decompensate and gradually arrive at a steady state of lower function. As we shall see later, this stabilization period carries an important and significant role in the overall Recovery Phase. The sensation is "the worse is over, but it can come back anytime".
Preparation period.This period normally lasts from 1 day to 6 weeks, depends on the stage of Adrenal Fatigue. The stronger the adrenal function, the shorter the duration. During this time, the body normally may not feel any significant energy difference even though nutrients have been administered, though there is a sense of improved control and reduce sense of impending doom. One continues to feel fatigue, but there is a subtle sense of improvement if one pays careful attention. This is the phase where the body builds its lost reserve and internally gets stronger. It is not uncommon to feel even worse from time to time.
Honeymoon Period. This usually follows immediately after the preparation period and can last a few days to 12 weeks if the preparation period is carried out properly. Again, the duration is highly dependent on the stage of Adrenal Fatigue. Generally speaking, the earlier the Adrenal Fatigue stage, the longer this period can last. The weaker the adrenals, the more tendency for this period to be short-lived unless under professional guidance. During this time the body is able to handle stress better. Fatigue reduces, palpitation frequently dissipates, and anxiety attack diminishes. Blood pressure starts to stabilize, brain fog starts to dissipate, and functional sleep returns. There might be mini-crashes and setbacks from time to time that last a few days. They are more tolerable compared to before, but recovery is faster. There is an overall sense of well being as if a burden has been lifted from one's shoulder. An overall sense of optimism returns.
Plateau Period. The body is stabilized. There is no set time frame for the duration of this period. Generally, it lasts a few weeks to a few months. In early stages of Adrenal Fatigue, this phase can go on for years and totally asymptomatic. In later stages of Adrenal Fatigue, the picture is much more dismal. Sufferers have to slowly adapt to an overall lower level of energy function. If the adrenal function is already at its maximum, one can be stuck at this phase for a very long time without upward progress. Many on self-guided programs would not be able rise to the next cycle due to the lack of foresight and planning. This is perhaps the most trying time, as impatience sets in. Most interpret the lack of continuation and sustained improvement as failure and become disappointed. Yet within this period often is embedded a resetting time where the body can be pushed to a higher level of function if take advantage of properly.
Most Adrenal Fatigue sufferers, especially those with advance weakness, go through multiple crash and recovery cycles over time. A careful analysis and comparative study of triggers and accompanying symptoms of each cycle over time serves as a good guide on overall adrenal function.
Adrenal Fatigue sufferers are no strangers to "crashes". The crashes are usually the first alarm bell to ring early on in Adrenal Fatigue. At first they appear harmless, and can be as simple as a short period of exhaustion that recovers spontaneously after taking a nap or a sugar fix; or by way of a caffeine crash after the stimulatory effect of caffeine has worn off. With time, crashes become more intense and more prevalent. In severe cases, crashes can be triggered by something as simple as taking a longer than usual walk, and can last for months. They can vary greatly in intensity, depending on the stage of Adrenal Fatigue.
With each crash, the body usually recovers on its own. Internally, the body gets weaker with each crash. If not properly nurtured back to full function, these small crashes become more frequent, and more intense. Over time, as the body gets weaker, the recovery time also lengthens. The body enters stage 1 of Adrenal Fatigue and slowly gets worse, advancing to stage 2 and 3, and ultimately adrenal failure if no steps are taken to repair the damage.
Minor crashes can occur infrequently in the early stages of Adrenal Fatigue (stage 1 and 2), and every few days in late stage Adrenal Fatigue (stage 3 and 4). Major crashes usually only occur once every few years in early Adrenal Fatigue, but can occur as frequently as every few weeks in late stage Adrenal Fatigue such as adrenal exhaustion (stage 3). In such cases, the body never really gets a chance to fully recover. It goes through one crash cycle after another. If corrective steps are not taken to nurture the adrenals back to health, the body becomes preoccupied with fighting the crashes and trying to recover and function normally while being on the alert for the next crash. This constant state of alertness and repeated activation of the emergency system of the body to overcome crashes eventually drains the body of much needed energy, leading to a state of chronic fatigue and physical exhaustion.
In severe cases (adrenal exhaustion stage 3C or 3D or beyond), the sufferer may be bedridden in a state of what is described as "living hell" or "walking dead". On the outside they look normal. On the inside, they can hardly function. Conventional medicine's understanding of this state is unfortunately quite poor.
All adrenal crashes are precipitated by some form of stressor event, if one looks deep enough. Such events may be obvious (such as death of a loved one) or minor (such as taking a long walk). Small crashes might also delude detection. It is of paramount importance that the cause of each crash be fully investigated. The same stressor will likely trigger subsequent crashes. This is where an expert clinician's guidance is critical. History will likely repeat itself if no steps are taken understand what triggers the current crash and steps taken to prevent it from occurring again.
Examples of situational stressors that can trigger adrenal crashes include: overwork; dehydration; long road trips; vacation; dental procedures; infection, overexposure to sun, lack of sleep, sexual intercourse with ejaculation, drinking soda or coffee, medication withdrawals, especially steroids; thyroid medication sensitivity, especially T3; infection such as the flu or insect bites; overmedication such as the use of steroid and anesthesia with epinephrine, investigative procedures such as ACTH stimulation test. Other stressors trigger include: over use of stimulatory supplements, metal toxicity, excessive exercise, exposure to heat such as sauna or steam room, exposure to toxic fume, prolong standing, overly anxious, relationship difficulty, death of a loved one, long airplane or car trip, sexual intercourse especially with ejaculation, moving, overly aggressive detoxification such as enema, homeopathy, certain massages or acupuncture, excessive improper breathing and use of stimulatory breathing exercises, and excessive stimulatory entertainment such as watching an action movie or riding a roller coaster.
It is important to note that the more advanced the Adrenal Fatigue, the less intensity the stressor needs to be to trigger an adrenal crash. The body's reserve in advanced Adrenal Fatigue is already low and very close to hovering above the adrenal symptom threshold level. It does not take much to cross this threshold as the crash occurs.
Comprehensive Article on Adrenal Fatigue
Read the most complete and extensive article on the web about Adrenal Fatigue. This article covers everything you need to know about Adrenal Fatigue.
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