Just Tired? Or Something More? Take This Quick Test
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Are you tired all the time–wondering if it is just normal — or if it is something more? Here's an adrenal fatigue test that can help give you a clue to what is going on in your body.
Though it is not discussed much in mainstream medicine circles, adrenal fatigue is on the rise.
In fact, I think that it is now affecting people in our Western societies in epidemic proportions.
Including me.
How can you find out if you have it or not without breaking the bank?
Well, I have for you what is perhaps the best and easiest test of all.
It's a great test, but one that you may wish that you never took because so many of us these days will fail it.
However, knowing you have a problem means you are on the way to a cure.
So while this isn't a true diagnostic test of a medical condition, it's an interesting thing to consider and it will for sure get you thinking about how you keep yourself going.
Adrenal Fatigue Test
Again, this “test” isn't going to lead to a real medical diagnosis, but it is helpful to see the workings of your body and gives clues about what you might want to change.
Here is the test:
Do you rely on stimulants to keep you going? If you feel you really can't exist without stimulants, then you might have an adrenal problem.
That's it.
Oh boy. Stimulants?
“What do you mean”, you ask, “stimulants? I don't take illegal drugs, so what are you talking about?”
Well, how about this list of things that can get your adrenals going — and keep them going.
Stimulant List aka “Adrenal Crutches”
- caffeine (still trying to get off coffee or chocolate? Here's a great coffee substitute recipe that can help.)
- exercise (do you feel that you need to get a run in or you can't make it through the day?)
- sugar (do you keep reaching for sweets for the temporary energy boost that they give you? Check out What is Candida and Why I Went Sugar Free.)
- stress (do you push everything to the last minute, feeding off the adrenaline rush that you get from deadlines?)
- busyness (gotta keep running from one thing to the next to keep life interesting? This post on “Best Autism Therapy” has a tip for you.)
Really anything that “stokes your fire” is a stimulant.
We are not designed to be constantly under stress. Our bodies need rest from all the stimuli in our lives.
Now, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't have any stress in our lives. In fact, we can't live without any stress. But clearly, we have been overdoing it. I have been overdoing it my whole life. How about you?
In the future, I will be (slowly and with as little stress as possible :-)) sharing with you how I have been working both on my own and with practitioners to get my adrenals back in balance. I will also be giving you tips on how I am trying to reduce my dependence on all of the above stimulants — and how you can too!
We all need to be taking better care of ourselves. Body. Soul. Mind.
Other Health Posts You Might Like:
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– Natural Ear Infection Remedies
How did you do on the test?
Which stimulant do you need to work on giving up first?
Adrienne! Thank you for this post.
I have been trying to stay off coffee and drink the dandelion mixture instead. Tastewise; it’s great! I totally feel like I’m still drinking my coffee. However, how long will I feel like a zombie without caffeine? I went four days completely off of it, and caved to several swallows of caffeine the fifth day. I’m also reaching for sugar more!
How long did it take you to feel like you had energy, once you went off of caffeine?
Thank you!
Hi there and you are welcome! Well, the energy thing was much more complicated for me than just going off of caffeine. The reason most say to go off of caffeine is that it’s not great for thyroid and adrenal supports. I had to really stay away from sugar and most recently found other issues. We had mold in our home (not a lot) and then found that I seem to have a sulphur intolerance. I’m working on figuring out why w/ my practitioners but once I removed those foods from my diet things improved dramatically. There are a lot of things that can be involved.
This post is by a pharmacist–might be of help to you :). https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/causes-of-fatigue/
Hi! For some reason, I am not seeing the AF Test…Do I have to have a special setting on my browser? Thanks!
It’s a mere question. Not really a long test. Sorry if that was confusing :).
I thnk I have a Throid problem, How do I have my DR. help me. I have terrible sweating , tired all the time,hair falling out ,hard to swallow don’t sleep what should I do
Hello there. Have you looked at this post? https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/tsh-hypothyroid-thyroid-test/
As for hair issues, I am looking into some things. I will email you b/c not sure how quickly I will get a post up.
So reading this thread, would you say nutritional balancing using the hair testing and detoxing copper while supporting adrenals worked for you?
No- I did much better with my later practitioners. But I can’t say that nutritional balancing wouldn’t be good for anyone. Might depend on the practitioner.
I’m a guy and I feel tired all the time I do not sleep well and when I do I sleep like 14 hours it not normal I think I suffering from the same thing as you are do you have a book or something that I could buy to help me with adrenal fatigue to fix it I’m cold all the time to. And thanks
So this post might be of help.
https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/thyroid-disease-hypothyroid-what-causes-hypothyroidism/
I can’t medically advise but there is a lot that I did that helped. This post as well. https://wholenewmom.com/remove-toxins-healthy-lifestyle/
https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/thyroid-disease-hashimotos-blood-test/
Do any of these seem to be of help?
Wow Julie that article DEFINATELY proved AF is not real! (Insert sarcasm here ^^) This is interesting information to those of us who have these difficulties and mainstream med has no explanation for.
Hi! “adrenal fatigue” isn’t real. (site linked to is now gone so it was removed by Whole New Mom)
Hi Julie. I am not sure I understand your post. Clearly the adrenals get really fatigued and many of us have experienced it. It is a complicated condition for sure, but I don’t see how you can make the claim that adrenal fatigue isn’t real. Thanks.
She was being sarcastic and even said so in her post. She believes AF IS Real
Hi Laura,
Sorry for the delay in responding. Sometimes I get bogged under a pile and this is one of those times! If you look above, Julie said it wasn’t real but another commenter had the sarcasm mention. Hope that helps :).
I don’t have hypo or hyperthyroid. I do have adrenal fatigue. Are you using oils and if so, what? Or how are you treating? My docs plan was so intense with a million vitamins and special diet I couldn’t do it,
I am using a natural practitioner. Happy to share if you’d like. I can email.
Adrienne, I was in a similar boat, similar dietary strategies – then I started taking the Ayurvedic herb Ashwagandha – it’s been a complete life-saver. It’s specifically for adrenal fatigue.
I have been taking that too, but it is a nightshade so I have to be careful. I use rhodiola as well. Have you tried that?
I just found your site and am interested in learning how you handled your adrenal fatigue. what products you used, nutrition and all that jazz. I’ve been dealing with it for years and just 2 years ago diagnosed myself (since the docs just kept saying I was depressed…ugh) so i’m out here on my own trying to figure it out, do lots of research, try different supplements and spend tons of money. I believe I have systemic candida as well as Hashimotos. I just want to get well and have a life…right now i have nothing. Thanks
It’s been a long road, Traci. I am not sure but I think cleaning up my diet (no sugar, no gluten and few grains) has done a lot. I am working on my thyroid and adrenals now but I am in limbo about the treatment. I am trying to keep my protein up, eating nori in the morning and heading to a functional neurologist (chiro w/ extra training) on Monday for the next step. I really wanted to share more but I am not convinced about where I am right now. I will likely post on a tea that has helped me and a tinture that helped for various things. But for overall treatment I can’t say yet – so sorry.
The candida…have you tried a good candida diet? That’s crucial, IMHO but I am not a medical professional at all. Wish I were….
Just saw this. Candida: Greek yogurt, low sugar diet, and APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (Braggs raw, cheap at the Vitamin Shoppe). Drink a shot every day.
I came across an article today called “Defending Fruit and Other Noncomplex Carbs” It spun me out!
Stevia: increases appetite and elevates adrenalin in that it “tastes” sweet but does not provide glucose to the cell when it’s needing it (perpetuating hypoglycemia).
Hi there.
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I was doing some thinking. I don’t know what to say except that that seems like a very odd article to me. It seems she favors Ray Peat quite a bit. She quotes him several times in her post and then has 2 of his works cited as “for further reading.” Well, I was just on his site and all I can say is, “bizarre”. Here is a quote from it:
I really can’t believe he is saying that Coca-Cola has a beneficial effect on animals.
Furthermore, I have interviewed one of the stevia experts on some of the negative things in the press about stevia and he showed me how so much of the research is skewed. I would need to do a lot more studying but I will add something very compelling from my personal experience. I was hypoglycemic for years and I have been cutting my sugar almost to ‘nil and moved my proteins up and I use a lot of stevia extract. I just got my blood results back (I have been using supplements as well) and my blood sugar is in the normal range finally. I was concerned about some things I had read but at least for now, my concern is abated. And I really struggle w/ not getting hungry enough so I don’t see that borne out in my life at all. Hope that helps!