Mission Possible:Conquering Depression, Fibromyalgia, and Chronic Fatigue

Depression, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue affect the lifestyle of many people worldwide; many have given up hope of regaining their energy and zest for life due to the professed incurable nature of their disorder. Many take a smorgasborg of medications to keep symptoms in check, but they only mask the symptoms and do not actually treat the causes. Fortunately, contrary to popular belief, there is a great amount that can be done to improve and eliminate depression, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue.

Adaptation

The body is versatile and is designed to adapt to the environment and changing conditions. For example, the body adapts quickly to cold by shivering and to heat by sweating. This process of adaptation allows one to survive and maintain a homeostatic balance. When undergoing excessive amounts of stress, the body adapts to the specific conditions. Powerful hormones, epinephrine and norepinephrine, are produced to enable the body to respond to stress. After the encountered stress passes, the body is designed to rest and return to a normal state of balance.

Epinephrine and norepinephrine, also know as adrenalin, produce what is called a “fight or flight” response in the body. These powerful hormones are release within five seconds when one encounters any amount or magnitude of stress. This appropriate response allows the individual to properly encounter the stress or flee from it – hence, a “fight or flight” response.

Stress Encounter

In response to the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, the body undergoes many rapid changes. The need for oxygen increases, muscles breakdown stored glucose, blood pressure increases, eyes dilate, heart rate increases, gut mobility decreases, and blood is shunted to the legs. All of these responses encourage alertness and physical strength for encountering or fleeing a given stressor. If the stressful situation continues, the body will release an additional hormone called cortisol which will increase blood sugar by breaking down fat and protein found anywhere in the body; the body is willing to literally eat itself in order to survive and overcome the stressor.

If the body is unable to return to an opposite state of “resting and digesting” and continues to experience high levels of stress, the result of “fight or flight” will have a negative and destructive effect upon the body. Cortisol begins the process of “eating the body alive”. The following symptoms may arise as a result: fatigue, headache, indigestion, depression, insomnia, memory problems, decrease sex drive, joint pain, muscle wasting, sore throat, allergies, panic attacks, weight gain, muscle soreness, excessive pain, restlessness, anxiety, high or low blood sugar, constipation, diarrhea, decrease immunity, loss of concentration, heart palpitations, and fainting. Interestingly enough, these symptoms directly correlate with most symptoms of depression, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue!

Recovery

Rather than masking the symptoms through medications, it is beneficial to treat the source of the problem. By simply addressing the cause of the problems, the symptoms disappear and the body begins to heal.

The adrenal glands are hormone producing machines and are responsible for releasing epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, aldosterone, and secondary sex hormones. When the adrenal glands are worked overtime, they fatigue and begin to decline in productivity. They begin to break down proteins and other vital components of the body to just sustain production of the needed stress hormones. Health is sacrificed for means of survival.

In order to achieve relief and to begin the healing process, the adrenal glands must have an opportunity to relax and heal through diet modification, relaxation / meditation, adequate sleep, nutrition supplementation, and perception habits.

Diet Modification

Adrenal stress overload causes the body to need quick energy – sugar. If one consumes simple sugars, they immediately feel better and then hit an energetic low immediately afterwards. This problem arises from the inability to maintain blood glucose. To help the adrenals, the diet should be modified to include an abundant amount of raw vegetables and fruits. One should avoid modified and processed foods – these foods are designed to have a long shelf life, not assist an individual’s nutritional needs. Simple sugars and artificial sweeteners should be avoided – cakes, cookies, soda, high fructose corn syrup. Splenda, NutriSweet, and Sweet’N Low should be replaced with natural sweeteners such as raw sugar, honey, stevia, lou han guo, or agave nectar.

Relaxation / Meditation

Most people do not spend any time during the day relaxing or meditating. Most go from alarm clock to collapsing on the pillow without a single moment of relaxation. Some would suggest that they spend an hour watching television or listening to the radio, but this is not relaxation. The body needs time each day to ponder, to think, and to reason in silence. Spend 15 minutes per day in silence just focusing on you.

Sleep

Many people sleep but do not actually rest and heal. Sleep cycles can be interrupted by high cortisol levels – cortisol is a major hormonal regulator of the circadian rhythm. Those that cannot fall asleep, have a difficultly waking up once they are asleep, or could sleep all day and still not feel well rested have too much cortisol being released from their adrenal glands. Cortisol levels can successfully be lowered within days with the addition of a proper nutritional supplement. Once the cortisol levels are down-regulated and stabilized, the individual will sleep soundly and will actually begin to experience rest and healing.

Nutrition Supplementation

The adrenal glands, in an effort to produce all of the needed hormones for the body to survive, attack the entire body for needed nutrients. Thus, the body leaves a state of health and enters into a state of survival. In order to reverse this cycle, the adrenal glands need nutritional and glandular support to begin to regenerate without stealing from the rest of the body. Proper nutritional supplementation to support the adrenal glands will begin to produce effects within days. These effects may not be noticeable immediately, but over time will bring significant relief and healing.

Perception

An individual’s perception is key to changing the patterns of stress on the adrenal glands. Two people can perceive the same situation entirely different. Many of one’s perceptions have come from a lifetime of experiences. To change perceptions, it is necessary to look at things from another’s viewpoint and take a relaxed approach to situations. In addition, emotions can also affect perceptions and should also be addressed. This can be done through various emotional techniques such as Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) or Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).

Conclusion

By successfully treating the adrenal glands, one will begin to experience more energy, a balance of body weight, a reversal of symptoms, and more life! Due to the increased level of stress present within our society, adrenal treatment can not only help and assist those struggling with depression, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue, but it can also help others with similar symptoms and problems to experience better health and well-being. Mission: Possible!