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Writer's pictureChad Brandt

Understanding Stress and Adrenal Fatigue: A Comprehensive Guide


Stress is an unavoidable part of life, and we all experience it at some point.

In today's fast-paced world, we often juggle multiple responsibilities and handle demanding schedules. Stress affects us mentally and physically, but its impact on our health is often underestimated. In this article, we'll delve into the world of stress, exploring what happens inside our bodies during stressful situations, the different types of stress, how stress can lead to a condition known as adrenal fatigue.

I will also discuss my struggle with stress and adrenal fatigue.

Most importantly, we'll provide practical advice on managing and reducing stress in your daily life.


The Anatomy of Stress

Picture this: You're walking down the street, and suddenly, a car swerves to avoid hitting you. Your heart races, you start sweating, and your body goes into a heightened state of alert. What's happening internally? It begins with a pair of glands above your kidneys known as the adrenals. These glands release adrenaline when your brain perceives a stressful situation. Adrenaline increases your heart rate and blood pressure, giving you the energy and focus to respond to the threat.

But that's not all. Stress also triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that raises blood glucose levels. This surge in cortisol helps provide extra energy to deal with the stressor. While short bursts of cortisol are helpful in survival and can even aid in fat loss, problems arise when cortisol remains elevated for extended periods. Chronic, low-level stress can lead to physical problems and disrupt your body's balance.

Stress is about more than just that near-miss with a car. It comes in various forms, including physical, chemical, thermal, and emotional stress. Your body accumulates stress from these sources, and the intensity, frequency, and duration of exposure all contribute to your overall stress load.


The Three Stages of Stress

Stress doesn't stop at that heart-pounding moment; it follows a process known as the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS). The first stage is the "Alarm Reaction," where your body is fully alerted. The adrenals work overtime to cope with the stress.

If the stress persists, you enter the "Resistance Stage." Here, your adrenals adapt to the ongoing stress, but this prolonged state can eventually exhaust and deplete them.

The final stage is the "Exhaustion Stage," where your body loses its ability to handle further stress, leading to potential organ dysfunction. It's crucial to recognize these stages and seek medical help if needed.


Recognizing Adrenal Fatigue

Symptoms of High Cortisol:

Increased blood sugar

High blood pressure

Insomnia *poor sleep, no regeneration!

Hypothyroidism

Poor digestion

Decreased immune function aka getting sick all the time!

Constipation

Mood swings

Decreased appetite


It's essential to be aware of the signs of high cortisol levels, which can manifest as difficulty falling asleep, frequent illness, mood swings, and more. These symptoms can escalate if left unaddressed, potentially leading to adrenal fatigue.


My Scary Journey:

For myself, I was in complete adrenal fatigue, under massive amounts of work stress, life and financial stress. I was putting everything and everyone in front of my health to make others happy, totally neglecting my own health. Hey. when coffee is your highest macro, you are in trouble!

I battled back and learned my lessons!




Here are some of my scariest symptoms:

Total insomnia, not sleeping for days, maybe the odd crash nap for an hour

Heart arrhythmia. Want to be scared, have your heartbeat so irregular that it stops and starts again with a pounding thump!

Mood swings, more like a pissed off T Rex daily!

Blood sugars were through the roof. So much so that my vision was foggy all time!

Blood pressure was super high, like I was working out 24 hours per day! (in reality my body was just trying to live!)

Massive joint pain, especially in my knees and back

I lost all my hard-earned muscle as a Professional Natural Bodybuilder and most likely years on this earth from what occurred.


My BIG WINS from this journey! *Always look for wins people!

I got professional help and did not live in a pitty party!

I educated myself on stress and adrenal fatigue

Changed my lifestyle and job

Changed my sleep routine! This was huge for me!

Laughing again and having some fun! Work is not everything in life!

I replaced poor daily habits with supportive daily habits

I started to fuel my body with high nutrient dense real foods 80-90% of my day, while still enjoying 10-20% of flexible food when I wanted it. (Jaxen and I love our pizza dates)

I changed the way I worked out! NO more death workouts. I train for longevity and the love of training!

I stopped abusing cardio for weight loss, into training my cardiovascular system to improve capacity in all energy systems!

I changed what type of clients I wanted to work with and not just take on anyone!

Most importantly, I changed for my son and my wife!

I felt it selfish as a man, to not take care of myself, increasing the chance of my death, leaving my son and wife alone!


The upshot

Stress is inevitable, but it's crucial to understand its impact on our bodies and health. By recognizing the signs of stress and its various forms, you can take steps to manage and reduce its effects. Remember that chronic stress can lead to adrenal fatigue, which requires professional attention.

Prioritize relaxation, laughter, sleep, and a balanced lifestyle to control stress.


💥A great book that helped me along with great professional coaching help was:

Adrenal Fatigue, The 21st Century Stress Syndrome, by James L. Wilson


👉Share your thoughts and experiences with stress in the comments below.

How do you manage stress in your daily life?

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