“Can Stress Cause Fatigue?”

You wake up late on a day when you have an early morning meeting.

You jump out of bed; race to get ready and run out of the door.

You begin to relax as you drive down the street because you still have time to make your meeting.

As you merge onto the highway you see a wall of traffic in front of you.

You realize with a sinking feeling that you're going to be late after all.

You probably got stressed out, tired or fatigued just reading that.

Most of us are used to dealing with stress intermittently throughout the day.

Stress from work, family, and or money problems is par for the course; however it can adversely affect our health if we don't manage it correctly. TIREDNESS AND FATIGUE CAN RESULT.

Stress is very insidious because it chips away at your wellbeing little by little. It comes and goes but residual effects remain.

Excessive stress can also lead to fatigue, because our body becomes overwhelmed dealing with the hormones and physiological response of stress.

Stress Response

Certain symptoms of stress are very common. We may get sweaty palms, increased heart rate, and dry mouth to name a few. But what's actually happening in our body when we're in a stressful situation?

Our body's response to stress can be characterized as short term or long term:

• Short term responses – Produced by The Fight or Flight Response via the Sympathomedullary Pathway (SAM)
• Long term stress – Regulated by the Hypothalamic Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) system.

The Hypothalamic Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) System

When your body responds to stress your HPA system is activated. The hypothalamus, which is located in the brain, sends a message to the pituitary gland that secretes adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).

Next, the ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands; there are two of them and they're located above the kidneys. The adrenals release cortisol to prepare your body for 'fight or flight'.

This is referred to as the cortisol stress response.

The immune system is suppressed the entire time this happens. This is why too much stress over an extended period of time will give your HPA system a run for its money, and it's the reason that adrenal fatigue and stress are closely related.

Issues with the HPA System

When you're under a prolonged state of stress (hyperarousal), over time, your adrenal glands can become overwhelmed.

Your brain sends the message and your adrenal glands fail to react and can cause Adrenal Fatigue.

Your body needs those hormones to recover, so when they aren't available fatigue comes into play.

Symptoms of Adrenal fatigue are:

• Muscle weakness and back pain
• Recurrent infections
• Dizziness
• Salt cravings
• Memory problems

Stress and Insomnia

When your mind is racing with stressful thoughts it can be particularly difficult to fall asleep at night because stress affects the Pineal Gland and Melatonin (the sleep hormone is reduced) and insomnia is the consequence.

However in some instances stress can cause hyperarousal, which upsets the balance between sleep and wakefulness.

Although hyperarousal is commonly linked to post traumatic stress disorder, the symptoms can be experienced on their own.

Some of the symptoms of hyperarousal are:

• Insomnia
• Nightmares
• Constant feeling of being in danger
• Aggression

And because of this high cortisol levels it can also cause Insomnia. Lying awake night after night would stress anyone out, and the ongoing sleepless nights will lead to serious fatigue over time.

Natural Treatment for Adrenal Fatigue

Those adrenals are really important for your body's overall function so it's important to take good care of them. You can do this in the following ways:

Diet – Eliminate foods that cause inflammation and sensitivity such as:

• Refined carbohydrates such as white rice and sugar
• Fruit juices
• Caffeine

Include the following foods:

• Eggs
• Free range chicken – high protein
• Avocado
• Leafy greens and vegetables

Try these supercharged nutrients or supplements for adrenal fatigue:

• Co Enzyme Q10
• Vitamin B5, B6, Energy and cell metabolism
• Vitamin B12 gives an immediate energy boost, better concentration, reduced stress and irritability. It must be activated though.
• Vitamin C – This vitamin is involved in cortisol production so it can help with adrenal recovery
• Magnesium – Assists with maintaining energy
• Omega 3 – reduces inflammation and eases the workload of your adrenals

Managing Stress Naturally

• Exercise – Natures antidepressant will get those good hormones flowing and set you up for a great night's sleep.
• Commune with Nature – Disconnecting from technology and spending a day in nature can be very soothing
• Deep breathing – Taking several deep breaths can have a direct impact on your nervous system and bring much needed relief in a moment of stress.
• Meditation – Setting aside a specific amount of time each day to be mindful and focus on your breathing will reduce your stress immensely overtime.
• Acupuncture – By inserting needles at certain areas of the body, the balance of energy can be restored.

Fatigue caused by stress is more common that you think. Luckily there are many remedies available to get you back on track with your energy and stress levels, so that you can live your life to the fullest!