You've probably been advised, perhaps a thousand times by now, to reduce stress and "lower cortisol.
" Your physician's told you to do so.
Your naturopath has, as well.
So, too, has your chiropractor.
Even your nutritionist is preaching lower cortisol.
But here's the problem with that generic, tired, one-size-fits-all "advice": What if, like a vast majority of Westerners, your adrenals are already strained and in a state of dysfunction??? Then, truth be told, the last thing you want to do is lower cortisol.
In fact, if you don't raise cortisol levels, and you continue to deteriorate through Phase II Adrenal Dysfunction then Phase III AD, you could well die.
This is the Achilles heel of "convenient" and "connected" Modern Western Culture.
"Burnout" is indeed real, it's a common plight, and it serves as a nesting ground for illness and disease.
Here's how it works.
When we get stressed, our adrenals produce cortisol; think of this phenomenon as an "emotional shock-absorber.
" The periodic release of excess cortisol by our healthy adrenals allows us to deal with stress and, oftentimes, thrive under its presence.
However, the longer we're under stress--the more chronic stress becomes--the more our adrenals must work just to produce the excess cortisol necessary for shock absorbing.
This is the case whether we endure external stress (job dissatisfaction, rush hour traffic, a bad relationship, money problems, etc.
) or internal stress (viruses, bacteria, yeast overgrowth, parasites, inflammation, etc.
); with the exception of eustress (anticipation, hope, lust, etc.
), the body views any stress as a threat in need of shock absorbing.
Now, here's the important part: The more taxed the adrenals become, the more difficulty they have in producing sufficient cortisol levels--those required to deal with that chronic stress.
In fact, by the time we enter Phase II Adrenal Dysfunction, those adrenals have already begun to steal raw materials from other vital sex hormones in an attempt to produce sufficient cortisol.
This causes a cascade effect of hormone imbalance and subsequent health issues...
including cancer, heart disease, and/or autoimmune issues.
So, if you're already in late-Phase 1 AD or beyond, the last thing you want to do is lower cortisol!! In other words, don't bother listening to generic advice.
In fact, never guess; always test.
Clinical data, and the proper interpretation of such, is key to your recovery.
Meaning, if you've experienced chronic stress, and you're now enduring some measure of adrenal fatigue, don't wander aimlessly through the bowels of the Internet in hopes to finding a shred of useful information.
Why? Because your physiology is unique (there's no one on earth exactly like you), and 97% of practitioners today simply have no idea what they're talking about when it comes to adrenal fatigue; plain and simple, they haven't been where you and I have been, nor do they truly understand the role of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal axis in regards to adrenal dysfunction, or the custom natural protocols necessary to direct your recovery from it.
Instead, find a qualified functional nutritionist, and get yourself a Functional Adrenal Stress Profile work-up, which should include no less than 11 markers of seven different hormones (including four cortisol), along with three important hormone-to-hormone ratios.
Then you'll know precisely how to handle your own cortisol and adrenal issues...
As well as your major health concerns.