Am I Burning Out?

Phase One

The first stage is the “Initial Alarm Phase”, in which the body is faced with a short term immediate stressor. This may be situations such as a job interview or high pressured exam. At this point, the body is fully capable of creating the necessary hormones and will meet the demands. All you may notice is an increased alertness, perhaps a slightly increased heart rate.

 If your hormones levels were to be measured in your blood, your adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, and insulin levels may be slightly elevated. This stage appears fairly benign and is one we often move in and out of during a regular day living and working in North America.  

Phase Two

The second stage is known as the “Continual Alarm Phase” . The stressor is around for a longer period of time and the demand for stress hormone is sustained. At this time, blood work would likely show a higher level of cortisol, but a declining level of DHEA and testosterone. All resources are shifted towards making cortisol, which means the production of sex hormones become less of a priority. Someone in this stage of adrenal health may notice they are very focused and alert during the day, but as soon as they are finished work or a difficult task, they crash and can barely function the rest of the day. These people are often “tired but wired” and struggle through the rest of the day, turning to caffeine for support. Note: caffeine consumption accelerates the burnout process.

Phase Three

The third “Resistance” phase of adrenal fatigue can last many months or even years. In this phase, the demand for stress hormone is even greater and prolonged. The body is putting all its effort into shunting resources from areas of lesser significance to make more cortisol. The most noticeable change on blood work will be a lower level of DHEA, testosterone and even progesterone. The result is a change in menstrual cycle and lowered sex drive. The fatigue will weigh any time of day, and new symptoms may include a decrease in enthusiasm, motivation and mood. A common finding for practitioners is the constant feeling of a low-grade cold/flu and possibly even swollen lymph nodes around the neck.

Phase Four: Adrenal Burnout

The fourth and final stage of fatigue is known as the adrenal “Burnout” phase. We often throw this word around when discussing students writing exams, individuals going through divorce, or parents with young children.

Let’s take a deeper look at what is going on inside the body. Hormone blood work will show very low levels of all hormones produced by the adrenal glands. This includes cortisol levels, adrenaline, testosterone, DHEA and aldosterone. Essentially, everything is depleted.

At this point, the body has run out of resources, can no longer meet the demands placed on it. Thus begins the crash. Depression, anxiety, irritability, weight loss, apathy, absent sex drive, and poor sleep render the individual nearly nonfunctional. Needless to say, this stage should be fairly obvious to the individual, but even still, people struggle to step back from their day to day lives and recover.

As with all chronic conditions, the Burnout Phase can take months and years to see a full recovery. ​Adrenal burnout is a very real phenomenon and is not to be taken lightly. If you or someone you know is on the road to fatigue, please book them in as soon as possible! Time is precious in these situations and the longer you wait to treat burnout, the more complex the problem becomes. Don’t wait! Book here.