Stress is part of everyday life, but sometimes it can overwhelm your body. When that happens, your energy, sleep, mood, and overall health can all begin to suffer in ways that feel confusing and hard to explain.
This is where the concept of Adrenal Fatigue comes in. Understanding how the adrenal glands function and how stress affects your body can explain why you feel tired, foggy, or unbalanced.
In this guide, we will discuss what Adrenal Fatigue is, why it happens, and the practical steps you can take to start feeling like yourself again.
What Is Adrenal Fatigue?
Adrenal Fatigue is a condition that happens when the body can no longer keep up with long-term stress. Over time, this can lead to nonspecific symptoms such as tiredness, poor sleep, anxiousness, brain fog, and weight changes. [1]
The adrenal glands are two small glands that sit on top of your kidneys. They release important hormones like cortisol. Cortisol helps regulate blood sugar, blood pressure, immunity, and most importantly, your body’s response to stress [2].
When stress is short-term, your adrenals produce enough cortisol to help you cope. When stress is constant, your glands can become depleted. Cortisol levels then drop below optimal levels, and a wide range of symptoms appear.
What Happens in Adrenal Fatigue?
Your Adrenal Glands and Stress Response
To understand Adrenal Fatigue, it helps to know how your body reacts to stress.
When you are calm, your body is in a “rest and digest” state. This is controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system.
When stress occurs, the “fight or flight” response takes over. This is managed by the sympathetic nervous system and helps you respond to danger.
Once stress passes, cortisol production slows and the body returns to a relaxed state. But if stress continues, your adrenal glands keep working. Over time, they can become depleted.
Instead of producing normal cortisol levels, they may initially produce too much cortisol and eventually begin to produce too little. This drop can trigger fatigue, low immunity, digestive problems, slower metabolism, and reduced stress tolerance.
The NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response System
While the adrenal glands are important, they are only part of the picture. The body also relies on the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response System.
This system has six circuits, each made up of organs or systems that work together to help the body handle stress:
- Hormone
- Bioenergetics
- Detoxification
- Inflammation
- Neuroaffect
- Cardionomic
When cortisol levels stay low for too long, imbalances can appear in these circuits. The symptoms you feel will depend on which circuits are most affected.
For example:
- The cardiovascular system may react with palpitations or blood pressure changes (Cardionomic circuit).
- The digestive system may become more sensitive, leading to inflammation and gut issues (Inflammation circuit).
- The brain and nervous system may be impacted, causing brain fog, anxiety, or poor sleep (Neuroaffect circuit).
This system explains why stress affects the entire body, not just the adrenal glands. It also helps us understand where symptoms may have come from and identify new pathways for addressing those root causes.
Signs and Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal Fatigue looks different for everyone. Symptoms may vary in severity and often change as the condition progresses.
Common symptoms include:
- Weight gain that you can’t explain, particularly around your waist.
- Getting a lot of colds or illnesses that persist longer than usual.
- Feeling shaky or trembling when under pressure.
- Low sex drive.
- Trouble thinking clearly or remembering things.
- Waking up tired in the morning and feeling a slump in the afternoon between 3–5 pm.
- Getting a temporary energy boost after meals.
- Needing coffee or other stimulants to start the day.
- Cravings for salt, sugar, or protein.
- Changes in PMS or irregular periods.
- Unexplained pain in the upper back or neck.
- Difficulty waking up in the morning.
- Feeling dizzy when standing up.
- Mild depression or low mood.
- Allergies or food sensitivities.
- Dry or thin skin.
- Feeling nervous or having heart palpitations.
- Unexplained hair loss.
- Changes in digestion, like constipation, diarrhea, or indigestion.
If you recognize several of these symptoms, it may be a sign that your adrenals are under stress. No single symptom indicates Adrenal Fatigue, but together they form a pattern of imbalance.
Read more about the full list of Adrenal Fatigue symptoms
Common Causes of Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal Fatigue often develops when the amount of stress you face is greater than your body’s ability to recover. Stress can be emotional, physical, or environmental, and it usually builds up over time.
Some of the most common stressors include:
- Changes in work or stress at work
- Issues in a relationship or marriage
- Loss of a loved one
- Major changes in your life, including moving to a new house
- Ongoing illnesses or chronic health issues
- Pain or injury
- Having financial problems
Other factors that may contribute include:
Unresolved anger, fear, or guilt- Ongoing fatigue or depression
- Exercising too much without enough rest
- Food sensitivities like gluten intolerance
- Low blood sugar or frequent energy dips
- Digestive issues
- Exposure to mold, heavy metals, or other toxins
- Recovery from surgery or medical procedures
- Not getting enough sleep or staying up too late
- Too much sugar or caffeine in the diet
- Long-term dental issues or infections
One of the most overlooked causes is chronic or hidden infections. These infections may not cause obvious symptoms but can trigger ongoing inflammation. Examples include parasites like Giardia or bacteria such as H. pylori.
Adrenal Fatigue Progression: The 4 Stages
Adrenal Fatigue usually develops gradually. Over time, your body moves through different stages as stress continues to build.
- Stage 1 (Alarm Reaction): The body first responds to stress with a burst of energy and higher cortisol.
- Stage 2 (Resistance): Stress continues, and cortisol levels begin to drop. Fatigue, anxiety, and sleep problems often appear.
- Stage 3 (Exhaustion): The adrenals can no longer keep up. Fatigue becomes persistent, and hormone imbalances are more noticeable.
- Stage 4 (Failure): Adrenal function becomes very low. Symptoms are severe and resemble adrenal disease.
Read more about the 4 stages of Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal Fatigue vs. Addison’s and Cushing’s Disease
In conventional medicine, adrenal problems are usually only recognized at the extreme ends:
- Addison’s disease happens when the adrenals produce almost no cortisol.
- Cushing’s disease happens when the adrenals produce too much cortisol.
Doctors use the ACTH stimulation test to check for Addison’s. This test looks at how the adrenal glands respond after receiving artificial ACTH. If cortisol levels do not rise, the diagnosis is Addison’s disease. [3]
The challenge is that many people with Adrenal Fatigue fall in the middle. Their cortisol may not be “low enough” for Addison’s or “high enough” for Cushing’s, but they still experience fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, and other symptoms.
Because standard lab tests are designed to detect only the most severe cases, patients with Adrenal Fatigue are often told their results are “normal.” As a result, they may feel dismissed or left to figure things out on their own.
How to Test for Adrenal Fatigue
Testing adrenal health can be tricky. Cortisol, the main stress hormone, naturally rises and falls throughout the day and can look “normal” even when you still have symptoms.
Common Tests for Adrenal Function
- Saliva cortisol test: This is one of the most useful options for Adrenal Fatigue. Multiple samples are collected throughout the day (morning, noon, afternoon, evening). The results show your cortisol rhythm, which is often “flattened” in later stages of Adrenal Fatigue.
- Hormone panels: These check levels of related hormones such as DHEA, estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormones. Imbalances often occur when the adrenals are stressed.
- Blood or urine tests: These are more commonly used for detecting severe adrenal diseases but may miss subtle dysfunction.
Why Testing Is Not Always Enough
It is possible to have Adrenal Fatigue symptoms with “normal” lab results. In the early stages, your cortisol may still look fine, even if you feel unwell. In later stages, cortisol levels may stay low but not low enough to be flagged as Addison’s disease.
For this reason, test results should never be the only factor. A detailed health history and symptom review are often more revealing than lab numbers alone.
What Can You Do About Adrenal Fatigue?
Recovery works best with steady changes in what you eat, how you supplement, and how you live day to day.
Here are some things you can do about Adrenal Fatigue:
Diet and Foods
Your diet is one of the strongest tools for adrenal healing. The goal is to keep blood sugar steady, reduce inflammation, and supply your body with nutrients.
General guidelines
- 30–40% vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
- 20–30% lean protein.
- 20–30% healthy fats.
- Eat every 2–3 hours, starting soon after waking.
- Drink at least 8 cups of water daily.
- Choose organic when possible.
Foods to Eat vs. Avoid
| Category | Eat More | Limit or Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetables | Leafy greens, colorful veggies, asparagus | Deep-fried or overcooked veggies |
| Protein | Eggs, fish, poultry, legumes, organ meats | Processed meats |
| Fats | Olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, fatty fish | Trans fats, overheated oils |
| Carbs | Oats, quinoa, buckwheat, barley, wild rice | White bread, pastries, refined carbs |
| Drinks | Water, herbal teas | Excess caffeine, alcohol |
| Extras | Fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, kimchi) | Refined sugar, artificial sweeteners |
Sample Meal Timing
| Time | What to aim for |
|---|---|
| Breakfast (6–8 am) | Protein + fiber + healthy fat (avoid fruit juice) |
| Mid-morning snack (10 am) | Nuts, protein-rich snack |
| Lunch (12 pm) | Balanced plate, half vegetables |
| Afternoon snack (2–3 pm) | Protein, veggies, or fruit |
| Dinner (5–6 pm) | Lighter, balanced meal |
Read more about the Adrenal Fatigue Diet
Lifestyle Changes
Small daily habits can make a big difference.
Core Practices
- Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep, ideally before 11 pm.
- Manage stress with breathing, meditation, or journaling.
- Take short breaks during the day to prevent crashes.
- Sip water regularly; a pinch of sea salt may help balance electrolytes (ask your doctor).
Exercise by Energy Level
| Energy today | Good choices | Avoid for now |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Gentle stretching, breathing, 10–15 min walk | HIIT, running, heavy weights |
| Moderate | 20–30 min walk, light cycling, restorative yoga | CrossFit, long intense workouts |
| Building up | Light circuits, Pilates, swimming, play activities | Multiple high-intensity sessions back-to-back |
For stage-by-stage guidance, read more about exercising safely with Adrenal Fatigue
Supplements
Supplements can be helpful, but they must be tailored to your individual needs. The wrong supplement at the wrong time can backfire. It’s usually best to discuss supplements with a doctor aware of Adrenal Fatigue first.
Gentle Nutrients Often Used
- Vitamin C (supports adrenal hormone production) – Found in Adrenal Support (with four premium vitamin C sources) and Adrenal Stress Control (with a synergistic blend of vitamin C and amino acids for adrenal and collagen support).
- B vitamins, especially B5 and B12 (support energy and metabolism) – Present in Adrenal Daily Nutrient, which delivers a complete B-complex, and Adrenal Rescue, which provides B5 alongside adaptogens for stress resilience.
- Magnesium (calms the nervous system, aids sleep) – Included in Adrenal Daily Nutrient and Adrenal Support for relaxation and muscle balance.
- Inositol (helps with mood and sleep) – Featured in Adrenal Quiet, paired with L-theanine to promote calm without drowsiness.
- Glutathione (powerful antioxidant for detox support) – Delivered in a liposomal form in LipoNano Glutathione, formulated for enhanced absorption and cellular protection.
- Probiotics (improve gut balance and immunity) – Available in Adrebiotics, which contains 10 clinically studied strains, including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Streptococcus thermophilus, to support digestion and nutrient absorption.
Botanicals and Adaptogens
Examples include ashwagandha, rhodiola, licorice, and ginger. These can be helpful in early stages for stress resilience, but they may overstimulate in advanced stages.
- Adrenal Rescue includes ashwagandha, rhodiola, holy basil, and Asian ginseng to help the body adapt to stress and maintain balanced energy.
- Adrenal Daily Nutrient contains licorice extract and resveratrol as part of its adrenal support blend.
Glandulars and Hormones
- Pregnenolone, DHEA, adrenal glandulars, or hydrocortisone should only be used under medical supervision.
Tips for Safe Use
- It is much better to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before taking supplements on your own, to ensure safety and proper guidance.
For a complete guide, read more about Adrenal Fatigue supplements
When to See a Doctor
Many people try to ignore their tiredness, sugar cravings, or mental fog. But if these issues keep happening or get in the way of your daily life, you may need to see a doctor. Adrenal Fatigue is a possibility, but you also need to rule out the possibility of other serious conditions.
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should consider visiting a doctor:
- Always feeling tired even after getting some rest.
- Having difficulties getting to sleep or waking up a lot.
- Feeling dizzy, having a rapid heartbeat, or getting sick all the time.
- Not able to deal with stress or do everyday tasks.
- Having gut problems, weight changes, or hormone problems on a regular basis.
If you see these signs, your body may be under more stress than it can handle. While lifestyle changes can help, professional support gives you a clearer path forward.
Conclusion
Adrenal fatigue is about more than just feeling tired. It signals that your body needs support to regain balance.
By understanding how stress impacts the adrenal glands and the NeuroEndoMetabolic Stress Response, you can identify the root causes of your symptoms and take real steps toward recovery.
At Lam Clinic, we focus on this approach in our care for patients. Our practice started from a personal experience with Adrenal Fatigue and has grown into a compassionate, integrative medical practice that focuses on rooted care and restores what has been lost.
If you are ready to feel supported and find lasting answers, visit Lam Clinic and take the next step toward restoring your health and empowering your future.