Is It “Adrenal Fatigue” or Are You Just Stressed Out?
Why some people are self-diagnosing this condition—and what they may have instead
In a subreddit dedicated to adrenal fatigue recovery, contributors post about their fatigue-related symptoms, ask for advice, and recommend supplements. One Redditor, who identifies himself as a 39-year-old male, describes his symptoms: “For many years now, I have felt that something just isn’t right with my body,” he writes, going on to describe his tiredness, fatigue, and persistent anxiety and depression.
There’s plenty of evidence that long-term exposure to stress can cause myriad health issues, from an increased risk of anxiety and depression to digestive problems, headaches, disrupted sleep, a reduced immune response, and even heart disease — in part thanks to stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.
During the stress response, the brain’s hypothalamus triggers the adrenal glands above the kidneys to release cortisol, which is a lot like a car throttle: Cortisol activates the body to fend off threats when the brain perceives mental or physical danger. For the body, that means pedal to the metal, which is why the heart races during a moment of panic. Cortisol also shuts down functions the body won’t need during a so-called fight-or-flight situation, which is…
