A few weeks ago I posted about my chronic lack of energy. I finally know the reason. According to my blood tests, I am borderline anemic . This comes as a great relief. I’m not suffering from depression or peri-menopause or some rare disease. My lack of desire to do anything is simply a result of a lack of iron. I’m on supplements and feeling better already.
There was one other teensy thing on the blood test: an above-normal level of cortisol, the stress hormone. Wait a minute. How can I be stressed when I haven’t had the energy to do anything? My doctor’s explanation is that years of actual stressful living have depleted my reserves of “bounce-back-ability” (my technical term, not hers). It seems the birth control pill is at least partly to blame, as its synthetic estrogen is fine for the uterus but unusable for the adrenal glands, which depend on the real hormone to help deal with stress.
To my poor, exhausted adrenal glands I have this to say: Buck up boys! You think my life is stressful now? Imagine adding a baby to the mix.
Did the doctor suggest anything to build up your “bounce-back-ability”? I feel sure that I used to have much more energy. I’d like to get back to that level.
That is good news. I’m glad the supplements are already helping. And if you or your doctor can help answer Cindy’s question, please let me know!!
A big part of the answer is (of course) eating right and getting enough sleep. Infuriating, I know.
Beyond that there are some supplements that help: Vitamin C, B-12, DHEA hormone to increase stamina, and Phosphatidyl Serine to stop the mind-revving that leads to feeing overwhelmed. http://www.adrenalfatigue.org has a burn-out quiz and supplements that seem interesting.
But here’s the easy secret weapon that has helped me: a restorative yoga pose called Legs Up The Wall. Lie with your back on the floor, you butt against the wall and your legs at a 90-degree angle up the wall. You can raise you legs up on a cushion or yoga block, even better. Stay there relaxing for 20 minutes. Inversion poses are really helpful to rebalance all sorts of systems in our bodies… adrenal, thyroid. Some people have a hard time staying there not
“working,” but it does the trick. Try it every day for a few days and you’ll see that it restores and re-energizes!
Hi Julie,
I met you at a new media conference about a year ago.
I’m also borderline anemic, and very much into natural healing. Here are a few things that have helped me, not only to build blood, but my energy and well being as well:
From Traditional Chinese Medicine, eat more:
Barley
Oats
Rice
Wheat Bran
Corn
Black Bean
Kidney Beans
Aduki Beans
Black Sessame
Bee Pollen
Molasses
Amasake
Dark Leafy Greens
Spinach
Beets
Avocado
Artichoke
Alfalfa Sprouts
Watercress
Grapes
Figs
Dates
Kelp
Microalgae
Dang Gui
Dandelion
Nettle
I also take this blue green algea, it’s great stuff, though pricy:
e3live frozen liquid algae (I get the BrainOn)
http://www.e3live.com/
Of course you already know to eat more fresh, organic, raw foods will help.
I hope this helps.
Thanks for sharing the yoga pose. It’s a great reminder to do it regularly, and though I don’t think I want to stay in a shoulder stand for 20 minutes, I can do this one for 20 minutes.
Julie, I’ll try the yoga pose. 20 minutes seems like forever, but I’m willing to try it. God knows the sleep and eating right advice hasn’t helped yet!