Which Came First?

So I finally got my saliva test results back last week. There really was no surprise. My adrenals are shot and my cortisol pattern bears this out. Apparently cortisol levels should be lower in the early morning, enabling you to get up and to get busy, rise during the day when you need to be productive and fall later in the day as you should be relaxing and winding down. My pattern was the complete opposite. My levels were highest in the early morning, hence my early morning awakening complete with my mind rushing and not being able to go back to sleep. During the day I would get progressively more fatigued and weary, as if dragging through the mud. Then at night, I’d become somewhat wired and often have trouble falling asleep. Dr. Edgerton started me on a 3 month adrenal support plan and we’ll see how things go.

My adrenal patterns have made me wonder what came first, my increasing anxiety and insomnia leading to hormonal imbalance and adrenal fatigue or my hormonal imbalances leanding to insomnia and anxiety?? It’s really a tough call.

Our fast paced society really does not lend itself to periods of rest, reflection and contemplation-those times of rejuvenation. However, without them, one ends up in a state of internal and external turmoil much like I experienced. I am very cognizant now of the effect that sleep (or the lack there of) and stress have on my health. One may say, “Well duh!!” but in my case, while I knew it in my head, it was something else entirely as I lived it. While I am a full blown believer, I still struggle with keeping things in perspective, allowing time to rest and rejuvenate and letting go of the “small stuff.”

Christiane Northurp, MD speaks extensively about heeding the body’s cues and tuning into its wisdom in her book, The Wisdom of Menopause. She actually states that the when  a woman is experiencing physical and emotional unrest it may in fact be due to hormonal imbalance, but it is also due to the imbalances in our lives. The pain and discomfort is a wake up call that something is wrong, out of balance and we need to attend to it.  Boy did I get that message loud and clear! And like any good pupil, I am studying the events leading up to my state of imbalance, seeing what I need to change and rectify and doing my best to move forward.

Now I take a thyroid supplement, DHEA, iron, Vitamin D, and adrenal supplements daily. In addition to my multivitamin and Calcium tablet it looks like a lot and my 3 y.o. was quick to point this out. Sometimes I feel a bit like a fool for ever getting so far out of whack and yet, in an effort to be kinder to myself, I acknowledge the struggle, congratulate myself on those days when I am able to refrain from over exertion, excessive stress and taking on that last little task “to help someone out.” Each day is another in the journey. I’m just glad that the damage was not irreparable and that I can continue on.

Add a comment September 1, 2009