Overwhelm is the gateway to fatigue and burnout. Being in a constant state of overwhelm is a surefire way to cause fatigue and ultimately burn you out. Being overwhelmed can affect your adrenal system which is responsible for producing hormones that help manage mood, stress, and other aspects of living. While adrenal fatigue is currently not a recognized medical condition, adrenal insufficiency is and can be very serious.
Adrenal insufficiency is the inability to produce one of more of the hormones needed to manage fight or flight responses. Adrenal fatigue is thought to be the result of adrenal glands being overworked by a body in a constant state of fight or flight or overwhelm. Whether or not adrenal fatigue is recognized as a legitimate medical condition, there is mounting evidence that there is a toll taken on the body caused by chronic overwhelm.
Some symptoms of adrenal insufficiency and adrenal fatigue are:
😨 Fatigue
😨 Weight loss
😨 Low blood pressure
😨 Decreasing ability to manage stress
😨 Weakened immune system
Overwhelm is the consistent state of feeling in over your head, overburdened, and unable to sustain manageable control over the various expectations in your day. It has a domino effect. Usually beginning in one area of life, it extends to all areas as the body begins to fatigue from the chronic stress.
Have you ever noticed that you develop chronic headaches, stomach aches, body aches, and can’t seem to get enough sleep when you are overwhelmed? That isn’t a coincidence. That is a symptom of adrenal fatigue and your body’s natural reaction to chronic stressors.