Are you feeling exhausted and stressed almost always for no reason? Besides, are your nights all counting sheep in the field and stars in the sky? If this is your condition, adrenal fatigue may be the reason.
Adrenal fatigue is the feeling of exhaustion and tiredness, being with you constantly. It occurs due to the low function of the adrenal gland – hormone factory that affects the function of every tissue, organ, and gland.
The debated disease adrenal fatigue causes several symptoms such as stress, insomnia, fearfulness, etc. Depression is one of the symptoms of adrenal for which many consider antidepressants to treat depression and adrenal fatigue. However, can antidepressants help adrenal fatigue? Let’s find out.
What Is Adrenal Fatigue?
Adrenal fatigue is the most debated issue in the medical world. The symptoms are so common that doctors may diagnose the symptoms for many other medical problems like sleep apnea, depression, or hypothyroidism. However, your symptoms and adrenal fatigue none are unreal.
So, what is adrenal fatigue?
Adrenal fatigue is a constant feeling of tiredness during the whole day and sleeplessness during most nights. It usually occurs when you have chronic mental, physical and emotional stress for a lengthy period. Another reason is adrenal insufficiency or the low function of your adrenal gland.
The adrenal gland is the hormone factory that produces hormones, influencing the function of almost every organ, tissue, and gland. The factory delivers the anti-aging hormone DHEA, reproductive hormones ( estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone), aldosterone, controlling sodium and potassium levels in your body, and stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline).
When you are under stress for a long time – a nonstop flight and fight mode – your adrenal produces too much cortisol and adrenaline. As a result, your body’s reserves drain out. There isn’t enough production of hormones, resulting in insufficient cortisol at a certain point. Therefore, you encounter adrenal fatigue.
What Causes Adrenal Fatigue
The leading reason for adrenal fatigue is excess stress – emotional, physical, or environmental pressure. However, it’s not the story of one stressful day. Instead, it’s the epic of long-term stress, haunting you continuously.
Stress signals the adrenals to produce more cortisol. This overworking weakens the glands that fail to make sufficient hormones after a certain period. And you encounter adrenal fatigue. Some stressors that affect your cortisol production are-
- Overwork
- Unhealthy diet
- Lack of emotional support
- Physical trauma, shock, or injury
- Emotional trauma
- Insomnia
- Chemical toxins
- Toxic relationships
- Allergies or food sensitivities
- Prolonged pain
- Anxiety
- Pregnancy
Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue
Some common signs and symptoms of adrenal fatigue are-
- Fatigue
- Persistent anxiety
- Depression
- Poor stress and mood management
- Always tired
- Autoimmune disorders
- Skin discoloration
- Cognitive problems or brain fog
- Increased energy levels in the evenings
- Salt or sugar craving
- Dependency on caffeine and other stimulants
- Hair loss
- Poor digestion
- Insomnia
- Frequent urination
- loss of muscle tone
- Hormonal imbalance
- Weight gain
- Lowered libido
- Lacking focus, concentration, brain fog
- Low motivation
- Excessive sweating in the early phase and less in the late phase
- Cold hand and feet
What Is Antidepressant?
Can antidepressants help adrenal fatigue? Before exploring that, let’s learn what antidepressants are, their types, and why you need them.
Antidepressants are medicines that manage and relieve your symptoms of depression. Besides, they also help treat several other issues – social anxiety disorder, anxiety disorders, seasonal affective disorder, mild chronic depression dysthymia, etc.
The primary purpose of these medications is to correct the chemical imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are acknowledged to be accountable for your mood and behavior changes. Due to a stressful life and an imbalanced diet, people suffer from depression and anxiety more than before. Therefore, the use of antidepressants has become more common in the last 20 years.
Types
There are five different types of antidepressants; however, SNRIs and SSRIs are the most common to prescribe by doctors.
SNRIs or serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors are primarily prescribed for major depression and mood disorders. Less commonly, they are used for ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorder, menopausal symptoms, fibromyalgia, and chronic neuropathic pain.
SSRIs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants that effectively treat depression. Besides, they have fewer side effects than the other antidepressants. They block the absorption of serotonin in the brain, making it easier for the brain cells to receive and send messages and help achieve better and more stable moods.
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and Noradrenaline and specific serotoninergic antidepressants (NASSAs) are the other three types of antidepressants used less to treat depression and anxiety disorders.
Can Antidepressants Help Adrenal Fatigue?
Adrenal fatigue is a confusing condition that doctors find difficult to determine. However, how far, to treat adrenal fatigue, antidepressants are capable? Antidepressants are mainly prescribed to treat depression or anxiety disorders. Now, depression is one of the common symptoms of adrenal fatigue. Most importantly, depression and adrenal fatigue feed off each other.
If you have a neurotransmitter problem and suffer from depression, an antidepressant will be more helpful. However, if your depression is associated with vital adrenal fatigue, antidepressants probably won’t be beneficial. Instead, you may even feel worse.
When you go to your doctor complaining about your low mood, anxiety, and depression, the doctor usually performs a complete medical checkup to determine the reasons for your issue. The reasons can be thyroid issues, anemia, or other problems like adrenal fatigue.
The doctors usually prescribe medication like thyroid replacement or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. If they don’t work, they turn to antidepressants. You may ask what the best antidepressant for adrenal fatigue and depression is. Doctors’popular choice is SSRIs, increasing the serotonin available in your brain.
In addition, if you have low vitality and a low energy state due to fatigue, antidepressants often solve the problem and give you more energy. Usually, antidepressants help you sleep because they let the body slow down. However, if the root of your depression is adrenal fatigue, antidepressants are likely ineffective.
Remember: if you have depression alongside adrenal fatigue, antidepressants may help your issue. However, if adrenal fatigue is the real reason, you will still experience low energy levels and fatigue.
Treatment For Adrenal Fatigue
There is no precise path to diagnose adrenal fatigue. Firstly, the symptoms are uncertain, and secondly, the symptoms match the symptoms of many other health conditions.
However, like Dr. David Nazarian, few doctors perform blood tests and stimulation tests to detect the issue. For this, you need to have an open and honest talk with Dr. David Nazarian. If you are constantly feeling low, tired, and depressed, you can do the following as a start-
- See a health professional immediately to get specialized help.
- Try some natural remedies – supplements, digestive enzymes, and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Try to lessen your overall stress levels to ease adrenal fatigue.
In addition, you can consider sufficient self-care, lifestyle changes, a healthy diet, and work-life balance.
Remember, knowledge is the first step to healing. Therefore, you must see a doctor you can trust who will guide you with patience, support, and care. Contact Hormone Replacement Therapy, LA, where Dr. David Nazarian will guide and treat your adrenal fatigue with consideration and dedication.
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Adrenal Fatigue Diet
An adrenal fatigue diet is highly effective in treating your symptoms and providing a quality life. The diet mainly aims to manage-
- Adrenal glands function
- Balanced cortisol levels
- Blood pressure
- Blood sugar levels
- Healthy nutrients
- Stress levels
Now, the question is, what is an adrenal diet?
The definition of an adrenal fatigue diet is balanced protein, healthy fats, and high-quality carbohydrates with sufficient nutrients. In addition, you need vitamins, especially C, B-5, and B-6), minerals, and magnesium. They will make your adrenal gland a super-strong defender to fight stress. Eat foods like fish, eggs, lean meats, whole grains, non-starchy vegetables, low-sugar fruits, dairy, herbs, etc.
In addition, you need to avoid several foods to get a healthy life treating adrenal fatigue. They are processed food, white flour, white sugar, caffeine, alcohol, etc. Most importantly, remember to drink plenty of water. It keeps you hydrated, as dehydration can influence your stress level and cortisol production.
Tips For Adrenal-Fatigue-Free Life
Medication is beneficial – correct. However, lifestyle modification is the best healer. You can maintain the following if you want a healthy life, free from adrenal fatigue.
- Try to get sufficient sleep- at least 7 to 8 hours.
- Go to bed early.
- Try meditation, breathwork, and yoga.
- Move and manage fatigue – regular, low-intensity exercise
- Avoid multitasking.
- Surround yourself with motivating people with positive influence and concern for your well-being.
- Do things you enjoy.
- Reduce stress.
- Avoid being over-critical or hard on yourself.
- Avoid toxic people.
- Enjoy outdoors.
- Avoid being excessively serious.
- Most importantly – laugh.
Final Words
Adrenal fatigue is the most debated disease that scientific evidence doesn’t support. However, the problem is real. So is your depression as one of the common symptoms of adrenal fatigue. However, can antidepressants help adrenal fatigue? If depression is your problem with adrenal fatigue, antidepressants may be beneficial. However, if adrenal fatigue is the main reason for your depression, antidepressants may not be effective.
The most important thing you need to treat your adrenal fatigue is professional guidance, considering your condition with care and dedication. Contact Hormone Replacement Therapy, LA, and schedule a date with the expert doctor, Dr. David Nazarian. He will assist you in navigating your adrenal fatigue and provide the necessary assistance to make you feel yourself again.
