Supporting your adrenal glands — managing adrenal fatigue and HPA axis dysfunction.
Your two adrenal glands sit atop each kidney and produce cortisol, adrenaline, aldosterone and small amounts of sex hormones. They're central to the body's stress response system — the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
'Adrenal fatigue' is a term used in alternative medicine but is not a recognised medical diagnosis. However, HPA axis dysregulation is real — chronic stress can lead to blunted cortisol responses and symptoms mimicking adrenal insufficiency. True adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) is rare and serious.
Persistent fatigue (not relieved by sleep), difficulty waking, energy crashes (especially afternoon), reliance on caffeine, salt or sugar cravings, low stress tolerance, brain fog, low libido, and feeling 'wired but tired'. These symptoms overlap with many other conditions — proper medical assessment is essential.
Foundational: prioritise sleep (consistent bed/wake times), eat within an hour of waking, balanced meals with adequate protein, moderate exercise. Lifestyle: set boundaries, practice saying no, schedule rest. Supplements discussed with a doctor: magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin C, adaptogenic herbs. Exclude medical causes (thyroid, anaemia, depression) first.