Unmasking Stage 2 Adrenal Fatigue: The Unending Cycle of Over-Exertion

In our fast-paced, modern world, it's not uncommon for people to push their limits in pursuit of success, often neglecting the subtle signals their bodies send. It's alarmingly easy to overlook the silent cries of our bodies, until they scream out for attention. One such consequence of chronic over-exertion is adrenal fatigue. It's a condition that's often overlooked and misunderstood, but it can have a profound impact on your physical and mental health. In this blog, we will explore the mysterious and debilitating stage 2 adrenal fatigue, which manifests when a disrupted cortisol cycle becomes the new normal, triggering a vicious cycle of insomnia, restless sleep, fatigue, and anxiety

Imagine a life where every morning brings boundless energy, where your hormones harmonize like a symphony, where restful sleep is your nightly companion, and your mind is a razor-sharp tool, ready to conquer the world.

🌟 It may sound like a dream, but it can be your reality too 🌟

I see so many women who are juggling a hectic life, battling stress, and yearning for that elusive balance and harmony. They feel fatigued, out of tune with their bodies, and are trying to reclaim their vibrant self. Herbal adaptogens can be a key to helping your nervous system (let’s be honest, we all have some degree of a dysfunctional nervous system) regulate and harmonize with your hormones and adrenal system.

Are you just plain tired . . . of being tired?

Do you find yourself struggling to get through the day, experiencing mood swings, trouble focusing, or feel like your hormones are just irritable?

It’s time to address that hidden root issue of adrenal fatigue, and learn how to tap into a deeper well of energy and vitality.

As we have been discussing, in our most recent Thrive Live micro series, the progression and complete realm of adrenal fatigue, I want to dig deeper into the first phase. Stage 1 is an early, but crucial phase to recognize. This is when the lights start flashing and we want to address it before it progresses further. By recognizing the symptoms, setting treatment goals, and adopting lifestyle interventions, you can take control of your adrenal health and be set to engage with life and thrive.

Stage 1 Adrenal Fatigue

Stage 1 is the Overstimulation phase. Your adrenals are on wired hyperdrive shooting out too much cortisol and DHEA. This can trigger difficulty sleeping, hypertension, headaches, high blood sugar, palpitations, agitation, irritable bowels, imbalanced hormones (think more hot flashes, PMS, breast tenderness, cramps . . the hormonal works), fatigue, energy crashes, and brain fog.

As we dive into this phase, stress management and bringing the body out of hyperdrive become the key focus.

Balancing Hormonal Weight With Natural Treatments

Do you find yourself gaining weight easily, or struggling to balance your weight alongside your hormones?

Are you frustrated with trying to exercise and eat well, but not seeing any results?

Weight and metabolic health is a dynamic system, an orchestra, and key players in maintaining overall health and well-being. Beyond weight, the studies abound linking metabolic inflammation to increased rates of heart disease, dementia, fatigue, disrupted sleep, hormonal disruption, cancer propagation, and cellular aging.

Too often, the focus on weight loss and metabolic health completely misses the target. Losing weight and reducing metabolic inflammation is more than just calories and exercise. It is about balancing the background hormones (like insulin, estrogen, thyroid), detoxification, gut health, diet, and lifestyle.

Myths, Metabolism, and Stress in PCOS

PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, but the name does not tell the whole story. It’s one of the most common conditions to affect the menstrual cycle and reproductive health, yet it’s also frequently misunderstood and misdiagnosed. So, first let’s clear up some common misconceptions about this condition and then look at how naturopathic medicine can help.

5 Myths About PCOS

Myth 1: Everyone with PCOS has ovarian cysts.

Nope. It’s possible to have PCOS with no ovarian cysts, and it’s possible to have ovarian cysts without PCOS. To be diagnosed with PCOS, a woman only needs to meet 2 out of 3 conditions: ovarian cysts, irregular periods, or androgen excess.

Myth 2: Everyone with PCOS should take the birth control pill.

Nope. The pill is commonly prescribed to women with PCOS, but it is far from the only option and does not address the whole picture. Whole-body strategies that rely on nutrition, lifestyle, and stress management can also be powerful ways to manage PCOS.

Myth 3️: Everyone with PCOS is overweight.

Nope. While it’s true that PCOS causes many women to gain weight, this is not an absolute. Also, weight loss becomes easier when we address the deeper metabolic patterns of PCOS, like changes in cortisol and insulin resistance.

Myth 4: You can’t get pregnant with PCOS.

Wrong. Even though PCOS is a common cause of infertility, it does not mean that pregnancy is impossible—particularly if you work to support your hormones and reproductive health through diet, lifestyle, and functional medicine.

Myth 5️: PCOS will go away at menopause.

Nope. PCOS disrupts far more than the menstrual cycle. Its effects on insulin resistance, cortisol, inflammation, and weight gain continue (and may even worsen) after menopause.

A Naturopathic Approach to Fatigue

Is it normal to be tired all the time?

Clients come to me because of menstrual issues, digestive problems, sleep struggles, or weight gain…but the vast majority also struggle with fatigue. Here are some common things they struggle with:

Some battle the snooze button every morning, only to drag themselves out of bed with their mind set on one thing—coffee.

Others crash in the afternoon with brain fog and trouble concentrating, pushing through until they can go home to their couch.

Most know they’d feel better with more exercise and healthier foods but can’t find the motivation to do it.

Fatigue is so common that it can seem to be the norm.

But it’s not normal.

Keep reading because I’m about to unpack what might be causing fatigue (even if all your tests have come back normal) and what you can do to regain your energy.

10 Root Causes of Fatigue

Men’s Health & Hormones

In the natural health space, women’s hormones get a lot more attention than men’s. But guess what? Men can struggle with hormonal imbalances too!

Hormonal changes in men can cause:

Abdominal weight gain

Sugar cravings

Lack of motivation

Tiredness

Low libido

Infertility

Moodiness

Irritability

Brain fog

Even though men don’t have periods or go through menopause, their hormones DO change over time, respond to lifestyle, and play a huge role in health and well-being.

So if you’re a man struggling with any of the symptoms above (or if you have a man in your life struggling with these things), keep reading. This post will break down everything from estrogen dominance in men to foods and exercises that keep men’s hormones healthy.

How would you like to sleep BETTER? Sleep is the key to more energy, hormone balance, peak brain performance, and just feeling good.

While everyone is talking about how important sleep is for overall health, I want to ask another question: What about the other way around? The truth is that if you’re not doing things throughout the day that support your physical health, even the best bedtime routine will never help you sleep.

So, first let’s lay the groundwork with some ways to support your physical body for better sleep. Read this list and make a mental note of which ones you may need to pay more attention to.

“Why am I so bloated?”

It’s a question I hear a lot when new patients come to me trying to make sense of their digestion. Bloating is one of the most aggravating symptoms because of how uncomfortable and embarrassing it can be!

When the usual attempts to avoid beans, broccoli, salt, and greasy foods fail, it’s time to get to the root cause. I use functional medicine testing to look under the hood, and here are some of the top root causes I look for:

Food Reactions

It’s not only beans that can cause the bloat! Some people are reactive to gluten, dairy, or other foods they eat every day without even thinking about it.

Gut Dysbiosis

That’s a fancy word to say the gut microbiome is out of balance. There could be an overgrowth of yeast or unwanted bacteria to blame.

Hormones

Hormonal changes can cause fluid retention and bloating—sometimes leading people to believe they have a digestive problem when it’s actually hormones!

SIBO or IBS

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and irritable bowel syndrome are two common diagnoses that cause bloating. Keep reading to learn how to know the difference!

Root Causes of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain

Even though the causes and contributing factors are unique to each woman dealing with pelvic pain, there are common causes we can investigate with naturopathic medicine. For example:

Hormonal Imbalance

Some women with endometriosis have estrogen dominance, or a mismatch between the amount of estrogen and progesterone produced. We can test for hormonal imbalances with a hormone panel.

Gut Microbiome

Research has found unique changes in the gut microbiome associated with endometriosis. We can test for disruptions of the microbiome with stool testing.

Immune Reactions

Higher concentrations of inflammatory molecules and immune cells are found in endometrial tissues, suggesting immune reactions may be at play. We can test for markers of inflammation with blood tests.

Chemicals & Toxins

Common everyday products like plastics and lotions often contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals that mess with your hormones and can contribute to endometriosis and pelvic pain. We can test for toxins and chemicals with an environmental toxin panel.

How to Live an Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle

Not enough people are talking about this.

Nearly every chronic disease in the world today can be linked back to this same thing:

Chronic Inflammation.

3 out of 5 people worldwide die because of chronic inflammatory diseases, and the World Health Organization ranks these diseases as the greatest threat to human health.

Chronic inflammation is at play in:

Diabetes

Heart Disease

Autoimmune Disease

Arthritis

Eczema

IBD (Crohn’s & Colitis)

Depression

The list goes on….but here’s what you really need to know: Chronic inflammation can be subtle as it gradually builds up over time. Even in the absence of a chronic disease, inflammation can contribute to:

Fatigue

Achiness

Sleep Problems

Anxiety

Weight Gain

Weight Loss

Digestive Issues

Or other vague and confusing health issues.

There’s so much to unpack about chronic inflammation, so let’s get into it.

Your brain is connected to the rest of your body. So your mood depends on the right balance of nutrients, hormones, and other chemical messengers throughout your entire body—including your gut, thyroid, and immune system.

This is not an exhaustive list, but to give you some examples, here are 5 root causes of mood issues that we investigate when taking a naturopathic approach. 

How to Get Your Circadian Rhythm Back in Sync

Daily rhythms keep your body ticking like a clock. It’s true for morning glories, crickets, birds, dogs, and yes—humans too. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of body processes that follow a 24-hour clock:

Hormones

Blood Pressure

Blood Sugar

Immune Function

Detoxification

Digestion

A new study showed that people with metabolic syndrome who are night owls have a higher risk of insulin resistance and developing type 2 diabetes than those who are early birds. 

It’s not too surprising. Many of our hormones follow a daily rhythm, so it makes sense that sleeping patterns could affect hormones related to blood sugar levels. 

But there’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s backtrack to review what exactly insulin resistance means and (more importantly) what we can do to reverse it. 

I can’t tell you how many times women ask me, “could it be my hormones?”

Lots of times they’ve been told that everything checks out fine, that it’s just normal hormonal changes, or that the only option they have is to take the birth control pill.

Well…

Those things are often only partially true or not even true at all.

Lots of times when we do more thorough testing, we discover an explanation—like estrogen dominance.

I’m not saying estrogen dominance is the issue for every woman, but it is commonly overlooked and something I believe more women should be aware of.

Estrogen dominance is a pattern in the body where estrogen levels are too high in comparison to progesterone levels. It can happen because of any of these reasons:

Increased estrogen production

Decreased progesterone production

Slowed estrogen elimination

Exposure to synthetic estrogens

A Naturopathic Roadmap to Healthy Aging

Whether you’re more concerned about the fine lines, memory lapses, or sexual function, we can’t do anything about the aging process unless we understand WHY and HOW it is happening.

So let’s look at some of the most common theories of aging—especially the ones we can do something about!

How to Know if You Have High-Functioning Anxiety

Naturopathic Solutions for Peak Brain Performance

Is organic actually better?

Questions Answered: Q&A with our Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Rosia Parrish - Thrive Fertility