Thousands
of people suffer from constant fatigue that is not relieved by rest and sleep.
This is the main symptom of adrenal weakness or adrenal burnout syndrome.
This article examines this extremely common syndrome – its causes,
symptoms and the process of recovery of vibrant health by natural methods.
WHAT ARE THE ADRENAL GLANDS?
The
adrenal glands are rounded, disc-shaped glands about 3-4 inches across. One sits atop each kidney, located on
either side of your lower back, just above where the ribs end. You may at times feel a sensation of
pressure in this area when under stress.
However, muscular tension and other factors also commonly cause pain or
a sensation of pressure in this area.
The
adrenal glands are essential for life.
They secrete a number of hormones that prepare our bodies to respond to
stress. These include adrenalin, also called epinephrine, noradrenalin, also called norepinephrine, cortisol and cortisone. The adrenal glands also produce aldosterone, estrogens, testosterone, progesterone, pregnenelone
and DHEA.
These
hormones regulate many body activities.
Of greatest importance for this article is that the adrenal hormones,
particularly adrenalin and cortisol, activate the
bodyÕs fight-or-flight response.
This
consists of increasing the amount of glucose or sugar in the blood, raising
blood pressure, and promoting increased energy production. There are many other effects of the
adrenal hormones, but we will focus on these effects for now.
Of
great importance to our discussion is that the adrenal glands are innervated
and stimulated by activity of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic or
automatic nervous system of the body.
This is the part of our nervous system that activates when we must
respond to threats to our life.
A DEFINITION OF ADRENAL BURNOUT
The
adrenal glands may develop various types of problems. Before we define adrenal burnout, let us briefly discuss
these rarer conditions.
CushingÕs disease. Severe overactivity or hyperfunction of the glands is called CushingÕs syndrome or
CushingÕs disease. It is
characterized by a Ômoon faceÕ, obesity in the trunk, muscle weakness, poor
wound healing, kidney stones and often psychological symptoms.
This
condition is relatively rare and usually caused by a tumor of the adrenal
glands that secretes cortisol or cortisone, two of
the important adrenal hormones.
AddisonÕs disease. Extremely low adrenal activity is known as AddisonÕs
disease. It is characterized by
weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure, changes in skin color, dehydration,
anorexia, nausea, decreased cold tolerance and dizziness. It is also a fairly rare condition,
though I have met people who say they have AddisonÕs disease when they really
are just in adrenal burnout, which is very different.
AddisonÕs
disease is also caused at times by a tumor on the adrenal glands that shuts
down the glands completely. It may
also be caused by a severe shock to the system, as happened in the famous case
of John F. Kennedy.
Mr.
Kennedy developed AddisonÕs disease when his small patrol boat was suddenly
rammed by a Japanese destroyer on a dark night during World War II. Most of the crew was killed instantly. He survived, but the shock damaged his
body severely.
Adrenal burnout syndrome. Adrenal burnout syndrome is
basically a mild form of AddisonÕs disease. It is a low functioning or underactivity of the adrenal glands. It may also be termed adrenal insufficiency or adrenal exhaustion. It differs from AddisonÕs disease in
several important ways:
1.
In most cases, it can be corrected using natural methods. We do not like using cortisone therapy
or any bio-identical hormone therapy for this condition. Most often it is not needed and just
slows true recovery of the adrenal glands.
2.
In most cases, the cause is not a single shock to the system, as with AddisonÕs
disease. Instead, it is
usually a slow decline in adrenal
activity due to nutritional deficiencies and the accumulation of toxic metals
and chemicals in the body. As
these causes are removed, the adrenal glands easily recover.
3.
Unlike AddisonÕs disease, adrenal insufficiency or burnout is very, very common
today, especially among adults.
However, few physicians are prepared to diagnose it.
Fatigue versus adrenal burnout. Adrenal burnout syndrome differs from simple fatigue in that
burnout is not relieved by getting
a few good nights sleep, as is the case with fatigue.
This
is the case because adrenal exhaustion is not just a sleep deficit, although
that may be an aspect of the syndrome.
Burnout is a deeper derangement of the bodyÕs energy-producing system,
of which fatigue is one symptom.
DETECTING ADRENAL BURNOUT
Unfortunately,
when a patient complains of fatigue, depression or other symptoms that are
often related to the adrenal glands, most of the time the doctor does not ask
the right questions and does not run tests of the adrenal glands.
Instead,
patients are told to take a vacation, or given an anti-depressant, or told it
is Òin their headÓ.
The
right questions, however, would often be enough to assess the condition fairly
accurately. These would include
ÒHow many hours of sleep are you getting?Ó , ÒDo you use caffeine or other
stimulantsÓ and ÒWhat other
symptoms are you having?Ó. Let us
examine how this can often identify adrenal burnout, even without other
testing.
Signs and symptoms. A simple and quite reliable way to assess adrenal burnout in
a general sense is with signs and symptoms. A common sign, for example, is a low blood pressure in
the absence of other obvious causes.
Usually,
the person will also often feel fatigued, even though one sleeps well. If one is not sleeping, the problem may
simply be a sleep deficit. One may
not feel tired, however, if you drink coffee, other caffeinated beverages or
use other stimulants.
Another
common symptom is depression.
Others include joint pain, cravings for sweets, pain in the low back
area and perhaps excessive thirst or craving for sweet and salty foods.
Together these symptoms can help one decide if one needs further testing.
HAIR MINERAL ANALYSIS AND ADRENAL BURNOUT
Hair
mineral analysis is a very exciting, cost-effective and non-invasive test. I have
used hair mineral analysis to help assess the condition of the adrenal glands
for almost 30 years with more than 25,000 clients. I am very satisfied with the results using hair analysis for
adrenal assessment and to guide the correction of all types of adrenal
imbalances.
Hair analysis indicators for adrenal
insufficiency or burnout on a hair mineral test. To be accurate, the hair sample must not be washed at the
laboratory. For each of the
adrenal burnout mineral patterns below, there is an article on this website
that describes it in more detail.
The patterns are:
á A slow oxidation rate. The slower the
oxidation rate, the more likely one is in adrenal burnout or exhaustion.
á A sodium/potassium ratio less than about 2.5:1. The lower the ratio, the worse the adrenal condition, in general.
á A double low ratio pattern. This consists
of a sodium/potassium ratio less than 2.5 plus a calcium/magnesium ratio less
than about 4.
á Three low macromineral pattern. This occurs when three of the four macrominerals
(calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium) are lower than their ideal values of
40 mg%, 6 mg%, 25 mg% and 10 mg% respectively).
á Four lows pattern. This occurs when all four
of the macrominerals above are below their ideal
levels.
á Perhaps other imbalances, such as a copper level of 10 mg% (100 parts per million)
or more, a phosphorus level of less than 12 mg%, and perhaps others. These are less reliable.
Terminology for adrenal
burnout. A way to name the degree of adrenal
burnout is by how many of these indicators are present on a hair analysis. If two are present, one might say it is
a double burnout pattern. If three are present, it is called triple burnout.
What if no adrenal exhaustion patterns
appear on the test? In rare cases, none of the adrenal
burnout patterns appear on the first or even the second hair mineral
analysis. This occurs because
other factors such as toxic metals rarely mask or cause the test to be skewed
until the metals are removed. In these cases, we begin a nutritional balancing
program based on what is revealed on the test. The true condition of the adrenals will be revealed on a
retest in several months in almost all cases.
Program design. The specific patterns revealed on
the hair mineral test are not only helpful to assess the condition of the
adrenal glands. They also tell us
how to proceed to correct the condition.
The patterns tell us a personÕs oxidation type, oxidation rate, tendency for
inflammation and infection, deficiencies of important minerals such as zinc and
others, and much more. Using this
information, a program is designed that will slowly rebalance the body
chemistry, improve the functioning of all the glands, and restore health.
OTHER ADRENAL GLAND TESTS
Blood, urine and saliva hormone
testing. Many holistic doctors today are testing
the levels of adrenal hormones in the blood, urine or saliva. I do not use these tests, as a rule, for
the following reasons:
1.
They are not needed. We find the hair mineral test, when
understood properly, provides plenty of information about adrenal activity and
how to correct the diet and lifestyle, and recommend other healing modalities
to rebuild the adrenal glands.
2.
Cost. Hormone tests, in particular,
are usually several hundred dollars and must be repeated at regular intervals. This is prohibitive for many people,
especially compared to the hair mineral test.
CAUSES OF ADRENAL BURNOUT
Excessive stress, an important cause of burnout, can
be from many sources. Chemical toxicity and nutritional depletion are among the
physical causes. Mental, emotional or spiritual stress may be a major factor.
Financial, family or other stress may also contribute to burnout.
Any
excessive stress can deplete the adrenals, especially when weakened by poor
nutrition. Working too much or emotional stress are two common causes. Excessive stimulation, especially for
children, is another cause. Fast-paced, high-stress, fear-based lifestyles are
a sure prescription for adrenal burnout.
Other
stressors in cities are noise and electromagnetic pollution. Cell phones,
microwave towers and appliances like televisions, microwave ovens and computers
give off strong electrical fields.
Nutritional Deficiencies are a common cause. When under
stress, the need for nutrients is much greater. Carbohydrates, when excessive
in the diet, stress the adrenals. Diets low in protein may also create
deficiencies. Inadequate or poor quality water affects oxygenation of the
tissues.
Most
diets are low in nutrients required by the adrenals. These include B-complex
vitamins, vitamins A, C and E, manganese, zinc, chromium, selenium and other
trace elements. The reasons for
this begin with how food is grown.
Most food is grown on depleted soils. Processing and refining further
deplete nutrients.
Habits
such as eating in the car or while on the run further diminish the value
derived from food. Also, allergic reactions to foods such as wheat and dairy
products can damage the intestines and reduce the absorption of nutrients.
Toxic metals and chemicals often play a large role in adrenal
burnout. Everyone is exposed
to thousands of chemicals in the air, the water and the food. Other sources are
dental materials and skin contact with chemicals. Over-the-counter and prescribed medications add to the
bodyÕs toxic load. Most people do
not realize that antibiotics and many other drugs accumulate to some extent in
the liver and other organs.
Toxins
may also be generated within the body due to impaired digestion. When food is not properly digested, it
either ferments or rots in the intestines, producing many harmful substances
that are absorbed into the body.
A
healthy body has the ability to eliminate many toxins on a daily basis. However, as adrenal weakness develops,
the bodyÕs ability to eliminate all toxins decreases. This produces a vicious cycle in which weaker adrenals
impairs the elimination of all poisons, which then further weakens the
adrenals.
Chronic infections play a critical
role in some cases of adrenal exhaustion.
Chronic infections may originate in infected teeth or gums, though they
can be located anywhere in the body.
They contribute greatly to the toxic load of the body. Infections also cause inflammation and
stress that must be countered using the adrenal hormones such as cortisol and cortisone.
Stimulants damage the adrenal glands. They whip the adrenals. Caffeine, sugar and alcohol are among
the most common stimulants.
Less
obvious but no less important stimulants may include anger, rage, arguing,
hatred, loud music, fearful news and even movies full of suspense or violence.
Other
activities that may act as stimulants and must not be overlooked include
vigorous exercise, sexual preoccupations, recreational drug use or other
thrills. These often provide a
temporary ÒhighÓ, which is caused in part by the secretion of high amounts of
adrenal hormones. However, over
time, this weakens the adrenals and can eventually lead to adrenal depletion
and insufficiency.
Stimulant use, however, can also be
a result of adrenal burnout. While
stimulants can cause or contribute to adrenal weakness, some who use stimulants
do so because they are in adrenal burnout already.
Stimulants
are attractive to one in burnout to provide temporary energy. This is an
important appeal of the drug culture, both legal and recreational. It is also the appeal of loud music,
sexual addiction, and even anger.
These
activities or attitudes can provide enough adrenal stimulation to allow a
person to feel better temporarily.
This is an important reason why giving up oneÕs addictions can be
difficult. When one gives them up,
one must face the fact that one is exhausted, depressed and often just feels
awful due to adrenal burnout. It is
safe to say that most people addicted to stimulants or other drugs including
cigarettes, cocaine, marijuana, and others has some degree of adrenal
insufficiency.
Unhealthy responses to stress are another cause of adrenal
burnout. These include habits of
worrying, or becoming angry or afraid.
DonÕt worry, be happy is a
great prescription for adrenal burnout. This applies particularly to high
strung, nervous individuals and those with very active minds, as they are
especially prone to adrenal burnout.
Congenital Weak adrenals. Many children today are born with weak adrenals due to their
parentsÕ nutritional deficiencies.
This is not a genetic problem.
Instead, it is due to the nutritional imbalances of the mother, in particular. These are passed through the placenta
to the unborn child.
For example, if the mother is
zinc-deficient, as most are, the baby is born low in zinc and often high in
copper, cadmium or other minerals that substitute for zinc to a degree. Fortunately, this means the problem can
be corrected, though it is better to prevent it, of course. By age three or four, these children
are in burnout. They are often
sick, depressed and have difficulty in school. Some of these children react to the situation by becoming
hyperactive, compulsive, obsessive
or by developing various other behavior problems.
On
their hair mineral analyses, these children are often in a state of burnout at
this early age, a relatively new phenomenon, in my experience. By gently rebuilding their body
chemistry, however, their behavioral and other disorders generally vanish in a
few months to a few years.
SYMPTOMS OF ADRENAL BURNOUT
Common
symptoms include fatigue, some weakness and often depression. Others may be a craving for sweets, low
blood pressure and low blood sugar.
Low energy impairs every system of the body. Thus, secondary symptoms can range from impaired digestion,
aches and pains to chronic or recurring infections.
Emotional and mental symptoms.
Often, emotional and psychological symptoms are present or even
predominant. Depression is very
common. Apathy, despair and even
suicidal tendencies are also quite common. Emotional instability, mood swings, bipolar disorder,
anxiety, and irritability are also common symptoms associated with adrenal
burnout syndrome. The world can
look evil, one loses faith in people, and a hopeless attitude is not uncommon.
Compulsiveness
and obsessive-compulsive tendencies may be associated with adrenal
burnout. One may become addicted
or very attracted to excessive exercise, sex, loud music or other forms of
excitement. The unconscious goal is always the same, to stimulate the adrenals
into activity.
Many areas of life affected.
Adrenal burnout affects every area of life. One may lose interest in friends, family
and work. Relationships often
suffer when one person in the relationship goes into adrenal exhaustion.
Unfortunately,
many with adrenal burnout function on anger and resentment. These act as
adrenal stimulants, providing a negative energy with which to function. Most of the world, in fact, functions
on the negative energy of anger.
Bigger implications. While it is beyond the scope of this article, entire nations
can go into adrenal exhaustion as a result of wars, famines and other
catastrophes. When this occurs,
the attitudes of the people change, and with it the leaders they elect.
This
has happened many times in history, and is an important hidden factor in our
politics of today in America. For
example, a population in burnout does not feel capable of taking care of
themselves. They will vote for
more and more government welfare programs, often bankrupting the nation,
without understanding the consequences of their votes.
THE PHYSIOLOGY OF ADRENAL BURNOUT
Low cortisol
symptoms. Low blood sugar, low blood pressure,
low temperature, depression, joint pain and allergies may result from low
levels of cortisol. Multiple chemical sensitivity is an extreme allergic
condition associated with adrenal burnout. Later, blood pressure may rise as toxic substances build up
in the arteries and kidneys.
Copper toxicity and burnout.
Elevated copper and low zinc related to adrenal burnout impair the
immune system. Chronic infections may develop. The stage is also set for the development of degenerative conditions. Cancer, heart disease, ParkinsonÕs and
AlzheimerÕs diseases may be end-stage results of toxic accumulation and energy
depletion.
Thyroid imbalances and burnout.
Often secondary to adrenal exhaustion are other glandular imbalances
such as hypothyroidism. The
thyroid gland and the adrenals have a very close relationship and stress on one
always affects the other.
Much
less common is the development of a secondary hyperthyroidism, or overactivity of the thyroid. This may be a compensation for low adrenals, as the
condition will disappear as the adrenals are allowed to rest and rebuild.
The
adrenal glands produce estrogen and progesterone. They are the main source of these hormones after
menopause. Premenstrual syndrome
and hot flashes often have to do with weakened adrenal glands.
Reduced cellular energy
production. Depression and apathy are often the
result of low energy production in the cells. Also, cortisol provides a natural
ÔhighÕ. Thus, low cortisol can contribute to feelings of depression and even
despair. Unsure if there is energy
to get through the day, anxiety may occur. Irritability is common as one is less able to handle even
minor stress.
Burnout and metal toxicity. When the adrenals are weak, copper builds up in the body. Elevated
copper enhances emotions. Panic attacks, bipolar disorder, mood swings and
schizophrenia are related to copper imbalance. As oneÕs energy level declines, other toxic metals build up
as well. Mercury, cadmium, lead,
arsenic, beryllium and others contribute to hundreds of physical and emotional
symptoms.
MYTHS ABOUT BURNOUT
Myth #1. Burnout is psychological. Burnout is a breakdown of the energy system of
the body. Vital minerals are depleted or Òburned outÓ (used up) and replaced by
toxic metals. Psychological stress
may be a cause, and burnout can affect oneÕs emotions and behavior. However,
burnout itself is biochemical, not only psychological.
Recovery
may involve improving emotions and dealing with psychological issues. However, it also involves rebuilding
body chemistry because it is a physical condition as well.
Myth #2. People in burnout have no energy and cannot work. Many in burnout hold
full-time jobs or other active lifestyles. They may also appear in good health. However, they are
often tired or stressed. They may require stimulants in order to keep going.
Some bury themselves in their work to forget how tired they feel. One can go on like this for years in
some degree of adrenal burnout.
This usually stops, however, when burnout gets very serious, as there is
not enough energy to continue working hard and living a very active life.
Myth #3. Vigorous exercise is good for burnout. Vigorous exercise can be
attractive to those in burnout. Exercise may temporarily make one feel better. While it may provide a boost, vigorous
exercise further exhausts the bodies of those in burnout. People in burnout
need to reduce exercise, often to a minimum. This helps conserve their energy and helps to allow their
adrenals to rebuild.
Exercise
in moderation can assist circulation and oxygenation, factors that may help
with burnout. However, excessive
exercise of any kind uses up energy and adrenal reserves that individuals in
burnout do not have and cannot afford to lose.
Myth #4. A vacation, a diet or a nutritional supplement can cause
recovery from burnout. Most people never recover from burnout, although they could if
they followed a nutritional balancing program to the letter. Recovery also requires a strong
commitment to healing. Recovery
also takes at least several years.
If one recovers faster, one was not in adrenal burnout.
Myth #5. Burnout occurs mainly in men. In fact, it is more common in women
today. This is due mainly to lifestyle changes in women. Many women now work outside the home
and raise the children as well.
Many are also in single-parent homes or both parents work just to pay
the bills and taxes.
Women
are also more prone to copper toxicity, thyroid imbalances and other factors
that can contribute to adrenal burnout.
Women also do not realize in most cases they are different from men and
have greater needs for rest and sleep.
For all these reasons, we see more burnout in women today than in men.
Myth #6. Burnout only occurs in those in high-stress jobs. Burnout occurs in all groups,
regardless of occupation, income or educational level. In fact, many homeless people are
burned out. This helps account for
why they may give up hope or be incapable of holding a job or supporting a
home. In addition, burnout is a worldwide
phenomenon today and is not limited to certain parts of the globe.
Myth #7. Burnout occurs only in adults. In fact, it is common today in
children and even babies. Most children today are being born nutritionally
depleted and toxic as a result of the ill health of the parents. This can be
measured with mineral analysis.
Minimal brain dysfunction, chronic ear or other infections, crib death,
delayed development, learning disorders, failure to thrive, ADHD, autism and
anti-social behavior may all be symptoms related to adrenal dysfunction in our
children.
Vaccination,
wholesale drugging of the children and other abominations led by our public
health authorities and the medical profession are only making the problems
worse in the long term. Children
usually respond very rapidly to nutritional balancing program. This is not at all the same as throwing
a lot of good food and vitamins at a child. It must be targeted, based on a properly performed and
correctly interpreted hair mineral analysis. I teach this science to anyone who will listen.
Myth #8. Burnout affects only physical health. Burnout affects every area of
life. Family and work are often affected. Relationships often
suffer. One may lose interest in everyone and everything. There simply is not enough energy
available for intimate relationships or for activities beyond those required
for survival. Friends, family and employers are often unaware of what is
occurring, which only worsens the situation.
Myth #9. A hectic lifestyle causes burnout. This may be one of many
causes. Oddly, however, a hectic
lifestyle can also be a result of burnout. Excessive
activity, overwork and a very busy life can be a way to stimulate one into
action and a compensation for feelings of exhaustion. When such a one stops working and running around, he will
feel just how exhausted and perhaps depressed he really is.
A
hectic lifestyle can therefore be a stimulant, like caffeine of loud
music. It always makes burnout
worse, but it may be the result of burnout, not the original cause.
Myth #10. Overwork for years causes
burnout. This is
possible. However, adrenal burnout
may also occur quickly due to a single shock or just a few traumas that
occur in rapid succession. In some
caes, however, it is not be related to any single
trauma or activity. Often a
combination of factors causes burnout.
Whether
one goes into burnout from an illness, accident, divorce, overwork or other
stress depends very much on oneÕs ability to handle stress, rather than the absolute
amount of stress. In other words,
some people handle stress and trauma far better than others. For this reason, we recommend a
grounding, centering meditation to everyone with adrenal exhaustion. For more information about this, click
on the article on this website entitled, Meditation.
Myth #11. Burnout is an overused term without a scientific basis. Just because burnout doesnÕt show up on x-rays or certain
blood tests does not mean it is not real.
Burnout can be measured and quantified using tissue mineral testing and
hormone testing. The term is not
overused. In fact it is greatly
underused. A large percentage of
the population is in burnout and it would be helpful if physicians understood
it better, even if they have no drug ÒcureÓ for it.
Myth #12. Plenty of sleep will take care of burnout. Unfortunately, this is not so. The
person in burnout is unable to
regenerate itself adequately during sleep. In fact, waking up tired after 8-10 hours of sleep is a primary
symptom of burnout. Like a
weak battery, the body does not recharge itself during sleep.
Myth #13. Cleaning out toxins will take care of burnout. The accumulation of toxins that
occurs as the body can no longer remove them properly contributes to burnout.
Exposure to toxic metals or chemicals can be an important factor in
burnout. Eliminating them is
helpful. However, energy is
required to release toxins. If the energy system is weak, just fasting or
detoxifying will not be enough.
Fasting, in fact, can and usually does make the situation worse.
One
must rebuild the entire energy system by balancing body chemistry and providing
nutrients as well. A one-month or
even six-month ÔcleanseÕ is nowhere near adequate. It can take over a year just to replenish one mineral.
Warning - For those in later stages of
burnout, some yin detoxification programs such as fasting, raw foods or even
chelating agents can be dangerous.
This is because These therapies can further deplete certain minerals or
unbalance body chemistry in ways that can be quite dangerous. Also, the eliminative organs are
compromised. As a result, toxins
that such programs release from various storage tissues may be redeposited in more vital organs such as the brain. This can significantly worsen oneÕs
health.
A
gentle, complete program of rebuilding and nourishing the body must accompany
any efforts to eliminate toxins.
In fact, as vitality improves, toxin elimination will proceed on its
own.
Myth # 14. One will come out of burnout when one changes whatever
factor or behavior caused the burnout. This means that if you just quit your stressful job or your
stressful marriage, you wil recover from burnout.
I
wish this were true. It is not how
it works, however. As one
goes into burnout, vital minerals become depleted and toxic substances replace
them. The toxic metals become part of the structure of enzymes and even parts
of organs and glands. For this
reason, although one changes oneÕs diet, lifestyle, attitudes or behavior, the
toxins remain. This is very
frustrating for people who expect a recovery after they leave a stressful
situation such as a bad marriage, for instance.
Myth #15. To recover from burnout, just reestablish close
communication with those who are close to you. This is the cure for burnout in one
popular book. Re-establishing
excellent communication with those you love is always helpful. However, in my experience it is usually
not enough. In fact, it can be a
source of frustration. Reason for
this are:
1. As stated earlier in this paper, your loved ones often do not and cannot
understand what has happened to you.
2. Burnout often affects your perception and attitudes. Therefore re-establishing good
relationships can be complex.
3. Burnout is usually a multi-faceted problem that demands a more complete
approach than just communicating better.
Myth #16. To get out of burnout, one needs to get back in touch with
oneself. As with Myth #15, this is an excellent
concept, but in my experience is not nearly enough for recovery. One reason is that getting in touch
with oneself is often complicated when the brain has excessive toxins, thanks
to adrenal exhaustion.
Burnout,
for example, often causes terribly low self-esteem because oneÕs energy is low
and thinking is foggy or clouded.
Adrenal burnout causes most of its victims to become overly
introspective. This is helpful in
some ways, but damaging in others.
The positive side of this is discussed at the end of this paper, and is
very important not to miss.
Myth # 17. One can recover from burnout in a matter of months. It takes at least two years and
often longer. Layers of toxins,
infections and other adaptations and compensations must be undone. Each adaptation uses up energy so that
when one begins correction, there is little energy to work with. This slows
progress and is one reason correction takes several years.
Eliminating toxins that have become
integral parts of the organs and glands also takes time, like rebuilding a
house. Also, most people must replenish
twenty or thirty trace minerals.
This takes time, even if one does all the correct procedures to restore
oneÕs health.
If
one truly recovers in a few months, a person was not in severe burnout. However, often, a small recovery
can feel like a cure when it is not.
As an analogy, those in burnout need an overhaul, not a tune up. One needs to commit to doing whatever
it takes and devoting a few years to healing. This needs to become oneÕs primary occupation or job for a
while, allowing all other interests and activities to become secondary to the
commitment to healing.
Myth #18. Burnout is not an important medical problem unless the
stress of burnout causes high blood pressure or another symptom. Burnout is degenerative
exhaustion. It sets the stage for
all degenerative diseases, because energy is a common denominator of health.
All
illnesses start with fatigue. The body is like a newer car with power steering,
power brakes and power windows. When the power goes down, the entire car stops
working right. Burnout is a serious medical problem, although symptoms may be
vague and unrelated to a specific disease.
Myth #19. Burnout is new phenomenon. In fact, burnout is as old as humanity. Understanding adrenal exhaustion can
even help us understand the rise and fall of civilizations. For example, it is known that many
great civilizations, including perhaps our own, have fallen slowly or even
suddenly. Why does this occur?
One
way to understand the fall is that the people, as a whole, go into adrenal
burnout and cannot sustain the intellectual, cultural and social traditions of
the culture. Wise leaders and
strong traditions become replaced with vulgar habits, lower moral standards and
leaders who sway the peopleÕs passions, but do not appeal to their higher
sensitivities.
Constant
wars, as occurred in Europe, can also contribute to burnout. Toxic technology can also take its
toll. The Roman Republic was
famous for its lead water pipes, for example. We are famous for our medical drug cures and surgeries, both
of which involve a lot of toxic chemicals. Industrialization has brought large amounts of many toxic
metals into our homes, air, water and food.
Even
oppressive political and economic systems can contribute in some nations. This is a problem with the socialist
and fascist ideologies that spring up around the world. They repress the people and, as a
result, the people do not function well after a time.
Freedom,
in contrast, tends to help people live better and function better. This was the goal of the founders of
America. I hope we have not lost
sight of the absolute value of freedom and liberty, as opposed to all other
values such as diversity or environmentalism.
Myth #20. Burnout only affects one generation at a time. This is perhaps the most pernicious aspect of burnout. Children born to burned out parents
will be born nutritionally weaker and thus more prone to adrenal fatigue
themselves. Children today
are going into burnout, as a result, at a younger and younger age. So the story of adrenal exhaustion cuts
across generational lives. This
was ably demonstrated by Dr. Weston Price, DDS, in his classic book Nutrition
and Physical Degeneration.
Melting
pot nations like America have an advantage in this regard. New immigrants are often the more
ambitious ones that are in better health and can help rejuvenate the
population. Also, nations that
emphasize freedom and individual rights allow people to devise better ways of
coping and maintaining their health that those that are stuck in rigid
prescribed social structures.
RECOVERY FROM ADRENAL BURNOUT
Recovery
from burnout is certainly possible.
Nutritional balancing has helped thousands come out of burnout. However, be prepared to spend several
years on a nutritional balancing program.
This does not mean you cannot work or take care of your family during
this time. However, lots of rest
is critical and recovery still usually takes several years of effort. The following is an outline of the
nutritional balancing approach for program for adrenal burnout:
1.
A diet of mainly cooked vegetables and animal protein. Avoid all vegetarian, raw food and
fasting regimens. For much more
information about this diet, click on the Slow
Oxidizer Diet Plan.
2.
Only distilled or spring water to drink – three or more quarts
daily. Carbon filtered water is
the next best, but if not as good because carbon does not remove most toxic
metals or even all the chemicals from the water. Reverse osmosis water is cleaner, but does not hydrate the
body nearly as well as the others above.
Also, be sure to avoid alkaline water systems, Òdrinking waterÓ or tap
water.
3.
An improved lifestyle. Loads of
rest is the single most important lifestyle change. For some other details, click on The Healing Lifestyle and many other
articles on this website about lifestyle.
4.
About 6 or 7 basic nutritional supplements. These must be targeted and individualized using a properly
performed and properly interpreted hair mineral analysis. For more information, click on Nutritional Balancing And Why I Use It.
5.
A detoxification protocol is helpful, though perhaps not always needed. This involves the use of a near
infrared sauna and perhaps coffee enemas or colonic irrigation. This is included with all nutritional
balancing programs. For some
general information about these procedures, click on Detoxifcation
Procedures.
6.
A meditation-observation exercise that is extremely centering and
grounding. Click on Meditation to learn more about this excellent and
simple procedure.
7.
Shifts in your attitudes and perspectives on life, when needed. Attitudes of forgiveness, letting go,
positive attitudes, gratitude, spirituality or prayer can speed up healing
greatly. Several articles on this
website such as Letting Go and others discuss how
important these can be for healing.
Addressing
all these aspects is the way to assure success. The preceding are general suggestions only. If possible, work with someone on our
list of recommended practitioners.
These are the only people I can recommend. Others, no matter what their education or experience, often
do not know how to correct adrenal burnout syndrome. You may also work with us by mail if you prefer. Click on Find A Practitioner
for the list of approved practitioners.
What about adrenal and other
testing? In general, we require only the hair
mineral analysis, with repeated tests every six months for several years. Food allergy testing may be helpful,
but usually not needed, in cases of severe food intolerances.
We
do not require hormone, blood tests or other types of tests, although we are
happy to review any tests you may have.
However, we never discourage other testing when needed.
What about bio-identical hormone
replacement therapy?
Nutritional balancing can almost always rebuild the hormone system of the
body. All hormone replacement gets
in the way of this task.
Nutritional balancing, as a rule, does not require or recommend any
hormones. They are all somewhat toxic. For more information, click on Bio-identical Hormone Replacement.
What about anti-depressants and
other drug therapies for burnout? We very rarely
recommend any pharmaceutical or over-the-counter drug for any reason.
Exceptions
include if one absolutely cannot sleep or perhaps, if one has a severe
parasitic infection, perhaps. In
almost all these cases, however, natural products such as colloidal silver and
others work well at a lower cost and with far fewer side effects. However, I do not take people off
prescribed medication. That is a
matter between you and your prescribing doctor.
THE BLESSING OF BURNOUT
Adrenal
burnout can be the best thing that happens to a person. It is a wake up call. Often, some area of life is out of
balance or alignment. Addressing
burnout is often the starting point for a deeper exploration of self and of
life at a deeper level. Most people
live superficially. Correcting
adrenal burnout often causes a person to begin to live at a much deeper level
and to understand the body and mind from a more spiritual perspective as
well.
This
was the case for me, and for many patients I have worked with. I suffered from adrenal exhaustion for
a number of years. As I began to
understand the condition better, I made many changes in my diet, lifestyle and
most critically, my thinking. I
also forced myself to do coffee enemas, to walk every day, use a sauna, and to
meditate daily, although I did not enjoy doing any these things, at first.
I
let go of some family ties and other relationships that I discovered were toxic
and harmful for me. Eventually, I
also moved out of the polluted city, although the process was terrifying
because I had very little energy or money to accomplish the move.
Perhaps
most important was the need for more subtle changes in attitudes and mental
tendencies. I realized how
important it is to give up all victim thinking and negative thinking. I had to let go of thinking of anyone
else as a victim, either, although that may sound like a strange attitude. I have written about this in other
articles on this website.
I
also dwelled upon and developed the spiritual or real part of myself. This is an incredible benefit if you
can make yourself do it. In the
process, I had to leave behind the superficial life style that I, like most
people, had lived most of my life.
These
shifts have served me extremely well, as they have served thousands of others I
have since worked with. Thus,
I have learned it is wrong to think
that adrenal burnout, or any serious condition, is just a curse to be ÒhandledÓ
as quickly as possible. If you act
this way, you may miss the greatest blessing of your life.
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