You may have noticed my posts have started to slide this week. To be honest my week has been a bit of a disaster. After weeks of running around at full speed, this last week I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus!

This is adrenal exhaustion.

For the last 3 or 4 weeks I was buzzing around with so much energy. I hardly slept more than 6 hours a night, generally waking several times throughout the night. I’d wake up early with my mind is instantly racing.

Now I’m someone who really needs my sleep, yet at this point I didn’t feel tired just constantly wired.

stage 1 adrenal fatigue.

Usually the adrenal glands release adrenalin and cortisol and certain times. To get us out of danger, to wake us up in the morning. However if your under prolonged periods of stress they basically go a bit haywire. What’s been happening with me is that my adrenals have been releasing a contract stream of cortisol.

What comes next? Burn out.

Stage 2 is not so much fun

Fatigue, exhaustion, digestive problems and weight gain

Stress hormones override all other hormonal functions (as there basic function is to get us out of danger) so everything else is compromised. You get sick as your immune system is not functioning, your more susectable to digestive problems as the gut wall starts to become permeable and let in all sorts of bugs…Sex hormones are put on hold too which also compromises fertility.

So what can you do about it?

Rest. Eat well and support the adrenal glands as much as possible with supplements. Stages 3 and 4 get even worse and can lead to chronic fatigue.

After the 5k run on Sat I think it may be time to wind down for a bit!

If anyone else feels like this you can get your adrenals tested with a simple saliva test. Anna Marsh at annamarshnutrition.co.uk offers this service. She can also prescribe the right supplements to get you back on track. I’ll be buying mine in bulk!

Kat (tired but wired) Bryson