I have a confession to make. I’m a multitasker.
I also was recently diagnosed with adrenal fatigue. If you aren’t familiar with your adrenals, a very VERY simple biology lesson: your adrenal glands control stress and help to regulate the “fight or flight” response in your body. When your body thinks you’re being threatened, they provide you with the energy needed to evade the threat.
My kinesiologist told me that my adrenals were exhausted because my body had been essentially operating in this fight or flight mode for a very long time, potentially years, unable to shift back into normal stress production and management.
This has been my first serious health issue-and it has definitely challenged me. Adrenal fatigue shows up in the body in a number of irritating ways, including extreme exhaustion. Prior to seeing my kinesiologist, I was sleeping 10 hours a night and still unable to get out of bed. I relied way too heavily on caffeine, and would have to take a nap in the afternoon. Aside from the physical symptoms, it also drove me crazy not being able to focus on my work and finish tasks. I’m an entrepreneur, and each day that I needed to nap felt like a waste of valuable time. I had to learn a new level of patience with myself.
I’m a learner-I always have been. So, when I had an incredible learning opportunity arise shortly after my diagnosis, I jumped on it. I was on supplements and learning how to manage the fatigue when I was invited to the Southeast Wise Women’s Herbal Conference. There were a multitude of sessions on adrenals and the overall endocrine system.
One teacher at the conference spoke about this “fight or flight” response, and what can trigger it. Essentially, our body has only this one response to stress and isn’t able to vary its response if the stressor is less serious. She went on to explain that the act of multitasking alone is enough to trigger our fight or flight response. I’ll repeat that, because I think it deserves it.
The act of multitasking alone is enough to trigger our fight or flight response.
I realized that while my adrenal fatigue might be helped by taking supplements and paying better attention to my nutrition, I had to make some drastic lifestyle changes as well. I committed to quitting my multitasking habits. I committed to developing a regular yoga practice. I committed to learning more about my body and how to heal it. I agreed to allow my mind (and, therefore, my body) the gift of full presence in each moment.
Whether you have adrenal fatigue or not, what are some actions you can commit to in order to reduce the unnecessary stress in your life? Hit reply and let me know.