Stressful experiences and chronic stress affect your body's ability to repair, heal, and recuperate. When there is long-term stressors or major transitions/shifts in life, your body may go into a state of Flight or Flight - a constant state of over-stimulation of the adrenal glands. This constant "reaction" mode can cause shifts on your body's natural balance of hormones. Long-term stress like this can cause disruptions like difficulty with sleep, sugar cravings, anxiety, and low energy. Although all blood tests may say "normal", you may not agree with that anymore. Below are some possible causes of these unexplained symptoms.
What you may have been through (possible causes)...
Stressful experiences like death of loved one, divorce or surgery
Exposure to environmental toxins and pollution
Prolonged stress due to financial hardship, bad relationships or work environment, and other conditions that entail feelings of helplessness
Negative thinking and emotional trauma
Poor diet (including crash diets)
Lack of exercise
Pain
Food sensitivities
Adverse events in childhood
Surgery
Reliance on stimulants like caffeine or energy drinks
What you may be experiencing now (symptoms)..
Autoimmune conditions
Chronic fatigue (always feeling tired)
Brain fog
Hormone imbalance
Weakened stress response
Lightheadedness
Decreased sex drive/libido
Moodiness and irritability
Depression
Muscle or bone loss
Skin ailments
Sleep disturbances
Weight gain
Sweet and salty food cravings
Ways to help:
Support the adrenal glands through nutrition and diet (Vitamins B + C, magnesium, omega-3 fish oil, healthy fats, vegetables, herbs like ashwagandha, licorice root, etc)
Avoid adrenal stressors such as caffeine, refined sugar/sweeteners, processed foods, carbohydrates like white bread, processed meats
Balance hormones and blood sugar with exercise + mind/body stress reduction activities & treatments (N.E.T., EMDR, EFT, mediation, prayer, yoga)
Work towards 7-9 hours of sleep/night
Hydrate with water (1/2 your body weight in ounces)
Seek counseling or professional support
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