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Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

• Why are there so many symptoms?
• Because chronic stress affects more than your adrenal glands.

Are you experiencing many strange symptoms that you know are somehow connected ? ..... but you don't know how.

Do you have an exaggerated startle response? i.e.... are you more jumpy than other people?

If you do startle easily, this is a pretty good hint that your nervous system is stuck in a state of stress.

If you have never heard of Adrenal Fatigue, the first thing you should know is that very few conventional Medical Doctors use that term. It is commonly used by Naturopathic Doctors, and others in alternative medicine.

The article Is Adrenal Fatigue Real? explains how it is essentially the same thing as Burnout Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

......Simply different names for chronic illness caused by being stuck in a states of stress.

Chronic stress gradually takes a toll on your body. Most of the symptoms listed in this article have nothing to do with your adrenal glands, but they are related to chronic stress.

The article Why so Many Symptoms? covers why and how years of chronic stress results in so many symptoms.

Calling them Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms is not really accurate, but that is what people associate them with.

The important thing to remember is that all of these symptoms result from being stuck in a state of chronic stress for many years.

Detailed List of Symptoms:

When you see a percentage(%) after a specific symptom, that indicates survey results. It is the % of people that answered Yes to having that symptom.

Energy and Sleep Patterns

Chronic and long lasting fatigue (83.3%).

Often tired in the evening, but resist going to bed (69.7%), only to feel wide awake at
bed-time (71.6%)

You feel exhausted in bed, but your mind won't stop racing. (88.0%)

Trouble getting to sleep, waking up at around 2:00 am

Often severe insomnia (61.8%)

Afternoon energy crash (89.3%)

Sleep for long periods of time (over 10 hrs), but still have a hard time getting up in the morning

Night sweats and Chills (67.7%)

Emotional / Mental / Speech Symptoms

Anxiety (84.3%), often for no apparent reason (see Anxiety article)

Depression (usually mild, sometimes severe)

Poor short term memory and concentration. (92.6%)

Do you startle easy? (78.1%). i.e. jumpy when someone comes up behind you.

Impatient. Easily annoyed. (87.7%)

No motivation (89.3%)

Lack of Emotions (75.6%) (kind of numb, no joy). However, often "weepy"

Foggy thinking (90.9%) (see explanation)

Slurred speak (55.2%) (might get better with a cup of coffee)

Irritability (87.6%)

Tremble when under stress (55.6%)

Worry constantly (82.9%)

Severe lack of patience (72.8%)

Tendency for addiction (smoking, porn, drinking, etc.) (38.1%)

Muscle / Skin / Hair / Bones / Nails / Teeth Symptoms

Muscle cramps (55.7%)

Hair loss: legs, arms, head in some cases, eyebrows

Skin looks older than it should for your age

Bruise Easily (58.7%) (see explanation)

Persistent muscle pain (64.5%)

Low Back Pain (87.5%)

Muscle weakness. (75.3%). Legs weak going up stairs.

White Spots on Nails (30.8%)

Grinding of teeth while sleeping (Bruxism), can result in damage to teeth.

Reduced Bone Density

Stiff Neck (61.3%)

Muscle wasting (82.3%)

Cracked heels (55.1%)

Reduced tanning (43.5%) as compared to before having adrenal fatigue

Finger tips smooth (ie no finger print) (60.7%)

Pigmentation Spots on skin (48.5%) (see forum post 1)

Thick, coarse hair. Not soft.

Premature gray hair

Bone pain (71.2%), bone aches. (see forum post 1) (see forum post 2) (see forum post 3)

Restless Leg Syndrome

Loss of hair on arms and legs.

Thinning eyebrows (63.6%), especially outer portion of eyebrows. (see forum post 1) (see explanation)

Waking up with numb hands (58.4%)

Joint pain, stiff joints (71.9%)

Jaw Pain. Do have a hard time at the dentist? (55.2%)

Dehydration. (Try the skin pull test on back of hand) (44.7%)

Lack of sweat. Do not sweat as much as you used to.(52.5%)

Food Related: Sensitivities, Hypoglycemia, Cravings

Loss of appetite -occasional (35.9%).

Extreme hunger -occasional (72.7%). Hungry even after eating

Hypoglycemia / Blood Sugar Problems - Lack of energy relieved by eating (80.2%)
(see explanation)

Food Sensitivities

Salt Cravings(65.8%)

Chocolate Cravings (65.2%)

Loss of Taste (31.0%)

Breathing Problems

The following adrenal fatigue symptoms are related to chronic subconscious hyperventilation. Chronic hyperventilation can result from chronic stress. These can also be treated fairly effectively with specific breathing exercises (Buteyko Breathing Exercises).

Tingling fingers upon waking (41.1%)

Shortness of breath, feeling out of breath (60.2%)

Constant air hunger

Frequent gasps or sighs (52.0%)

Asthma / Bronchitis (31.5%)

Digestion / Bowel Movements / Urination

Usually constipation, especially in early stages.

Sometimes diarrhea, especially in later stages.

Light beige bowel movements (50.0%) (see explanation)

Frequent urination, and soon after drinking fluids (64.7%) (see explanation)

Irritable bowel syndrome (63.0%)

Bloating, , cramps, lots of gas

Undigested food

Eyes / Ears / Nose / Throat

Eye Floaters (69.0%) (see explanation).

Blurred Vision (62.6%), or trouble focusing (83.5%)
(see explanation)

Flashes of Light with eyes closed (65.9%). (see explanation)

Near-sighted (need glasses to see far) (58.1%)

Dark Circles under eyes

Double vision (28.3%). (see explanation)

Burning in Eyes (43.5%)

Nasal drip

Chronic sore throat (39.8%)

Bright Light Sensitivity (84.7%) (see explanation)

Tinnitus (ringing in ears)

Body Temperature / Heat and Cold Exposure

Low body temperature

Unable to tolerate low temperatures. Feel cold when others do not (84.7%).

Cold Hands and Feet (cold extremities)

Heat sensitivity. Intolerant of high temperatures (78.0%) .

Other Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

Lack of Libido

Metallic taste in mouth (45.8%) (see explanation)

Frequent Headaches (58.1%)

Chronic Pelvic Pain (19.4%) (30.8%)

Dizziness, loss of balance

Sharp pains or dull ache in the area of adrenal glands

Environmental Sensitivities. Sensitive to things like perfume, chemicals, wood dust, . Break out with exposure. (44.7%) (see explanation)

Electrosensitivity

Inflammation, Prostatitis symptoms in men

Heart Palpitations (55.9%) (see explanation)

Very little perspiration

Tingling during stress (most experience in arms) Read responses to this forum post .

Low blood pressure (49.5%) due to low sodium, but can spike during periods of anxiety

High Cholesterol

Posts on Adrenal Fatigue Forums

The following are some posts from the adrenal fatigue forum on Curezone.com. You will find most of the symptoms listed above in these posts.

  I have many of the classic symptoms,
crash in the afternoon hard,
mental fog,
irritability,
anxiety, no sex drive,
mild depression,
startle easily,
get shaky in times of stress. (none of these were problems in the past).
^{Forum Post by lzqosoz94}

  - Extreme fatigue (just taking out the garbage wipes me out).
- Constant anxiety (I feel wired but tired at the same time).
- Restless sleep (I can fall asleep but I wake every 1-2 hours all throughout the night).
- Ringing in my ears.
- Pain in my upper back and neck that comes and goes.
- Weak legs and sore feet that make it hard to stand for long periods.
- Dizziness (especially when I stand up too quickly).
- Nausea making it difficult to eat.
- Low blood sugar if I don't eat every 2 hours.
- Low sex drive.
- Irritability.
- Sensitive to bright lights and loud sounds.
- Shortness of breath and rapid heart rate.
- Cloudy thinking making it hard to concentrate.
- I feel better than I do all day between 6-9 p.m.
^{Forum Post by Naturalpath}

  low blood pressure 50/80
fatigue
crave salt
fatigue upon arising, energy at night
slight anemia
allergies, depression, brain fog
^{Forum Post by snarf}

If you would like to read more forum posts, the following links will take you to the forum:

Forum Post by Jiffer
Post by aman2012. Very long list of symptoms.
Post by sobeman88
Post by qwerty321
Post by Konnor
Post by thelaughingdogs
Another post by Konnor
Tingling during stress (read through responses as well)

Summary

Hopefully you found this list of adrenal fatigue symptoms helpful.

Chronic stress affects your body in many ways. I am truly sorry you need to be searching the internet for answers.

There is a lot to learn. People do get better, but it is difficult since there is so many things to consider.

Good luck, and please leave a comment if you have any questions.

References

1. Types of stressors that increase susceptibility to the common cold in healthy adults.
2. Psychological Stress and the Human Immune System: A Meta-Analytic Study of 30 Years of Inquiry
3. Hans Selye and the Field of Stress Research
4. The relevance of personality assessment in patients with hyperventilation symptoms.
5. Epinephrine-induced panic attacks and hyperventilation
6. Incontinence & Overactive Bladder Health Center
7. Effects of gender, endurance training and acute exhaustive exercise on oxidative stress in the heart and skeletal muscle of the rat
8. The effect of chronic stress on hepatic and gastric lipid peroxidation in long-term depletion of glutathione in rats.
9. Hypoglycemia & Insulin Resistance
10. The relevance of personality assessment in patients with hyperventilation symptoms.
11. Epinephrine-induced panic attacks and hyperventilation
12. Types of stressors that increase susceptibility to the common cold in healthy adults.
13. Psychological Stress and the Human Immune System: A Meta-Analytic Study of 30 Years of Inquiry
14. Hans Selye and the Field of Stress Research
15. The effect of chronic stress on hepatic and gastric lipid peroxidation in long-term depletion of glutathione in rats.
16.Hypoglycemia & Insulin Resistance
17. Stress-induced hyperglycemia in healthy bungee jumpers without diabetes due to decreased pancreatic B-cell function and increased insulin resistance