Adrenal health in women as we age

It seems that the medical world now refers to stress as the silent killer. I never truly believed this until I experienced a very scary episode that was finally diagnosed as "stress".

I take really good care of myself, and I was shocked that I had developed several severe symptoms that had apparently been slowly creeping up on me until one day I unsuspectingly woke to an intolerable pounding of my heart that was scary.

You have to understand that I have high energy and juggle multiple responsibilities, so I did not recognise any of the silent warning signs because I assumed nothing of this nature could possibly happen to me. I now look at everything differently. I urge all of you to look at your own life and honestly assess the level to which your multitasking and busy lifestyle may be hurting you.

I had just had my annual physical the week before and all blood work and vitals seemed excellent. What I didn’t know was that I would never have another period and that my adrenal glands now 100% responsible for producing age defying oestrogen were overloaded and exhausted. as a result my body went into a state of chronic fight and flight.

I found this in some literature on stress management and wanted to share it. A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked,

"How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I try to hold it; if I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem; if I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm; if I hold it for a day, I'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If you carry your burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes heavier, you won't be able to carry it any longer. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When you're refreshed, you can carry on with the burden."

"So, before you end your day, put the burden of work down. Pick it up tomorrow. Relax. Learn to meditate; take time for yourself; smell the proverbial roses; laugh a little more and remember how short and tentative life can be. Make sure you enjoy every second.”

Here are some ways to reduce stress

Get organised and manage your time, focusing on one task at a time

Get 8 hours of good quality sleep

Exercise gently every day: Aeropilates reduces stress by 58%

Remove sugar and caffeine from your diet

Breathe deeply into your lungs

Support your adrenals with minerals like Magnesium and adaptogens like Ashwaganda

written by Marjolein Brugman

Marjolein Brugman is the founder of lighterliving and Aeropilates. “lighterliving is a movement and lifestyle choice we can all make. Let’s make it simple – make one decision a day to be better and watch the small steps lead to big changes. Eat smart, stay active, and you’ll live to feel a lighter life."