Adrenal Fatigue Comparison

Hunting around on the web today, I came across a great comparison of the different symptoms for the different adrenal imbalances. Its a very helpful chart that you can find here.

Symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome (high cortisol):

  • Profound fatigue
  • Weak muscles
  • High blood pressure
  • High blood sugar
  • Increased thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Irritability, anxiety, or depression
  • A rounded face
  • Fatty hump at back of neck/between the shoulders
  • Upper body obesity
  • Skin fragility and thinness, including easy bruising and stretch marks
  • Increased hair in “unwanted” places
  • Irregular periods

Adrenaline dominance/cortisol dominance:

  • Persistent anxiety
  • Always on the go (“high-adrenaline” lifestyle)

  • Difficulty winding down to get to sleep
  • Difficulty staying asleep
  • Feeling “tired but wired”
  • Abdominal weight gain
  • Worsening PMS symptoms (irritability, anxiety)
  • Panic attacks
  • Easily fly off the handle
  • “If you want anything done right, do it yourself!”
  • “I can never do enough!”

Normal!

  • Wake refreshed from sleep
  • Maintain energy levels throughout the day
  • Pleasant tiredness toward evening, looking forward to turning in after a full day
  • Ability to reframe, adapt and respond with flexibility to life stressors (and opportunities)
  • Clear thinking, with steady productivity
  • Good immunity to “what’s going around”
  • Healthy libido
  • Minimal to nil cravings for salt, sugar, and caffeine
  • Positive attitudes and beliefs

Adrenal Fatigue

  • Difficulty getting out of bed in the morning
  • Nonrefreshing sleep
  • Ongoing fatigue not relieved by sleep
  • Weariness, lack of energy, lethargy
  • Lightheadedness
  • Increased cravings for salt
  • Low libido
  • Inability to handle everyday stress
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Longer recovery times from illness, injury, or trauma
  • Mild depression
  • Easily startled
  • Mental fogginess/fuzzy thinking
  • Struggling to get through the day
  • Frequent infections
  • Start to feel better after an evening meal

Addison’s disease (low cortisol, aka adrenal insufficiency)

  • Chronic worsening fatigue
  • Weak muscles
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
  • Low blood pressure that drops further upon standing from a prone or seated position
  • Cravings for salt
  • Patches of dark skin, especially on scars, skin folds, elbows, knees, and knuckles

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