What People Mean When They Say “Adrenal Fatigue”
Most women using the term aren’t talking about their adrenal glands “giving out.”
They’re talking about feeling:
• drained
• overwhelmed
• foggy
• easily stressed
• tired all day but wired at night
• needing caffeine to function
• crashing hard mid-afternoon
• craving sugar or salt
• feeling like their stress response is broken
And this is where the confusion comes in…
because the experience is valid.
But it’s not that the adrenals “stop working.”
The real issue?
The HPA axis — your brain–adrenal communication system — gets dysregulated.
Let’s break it down in normal human language.
What’s Actually Happening: HPA-Axis Dysregulation
Your stress system is not just your adrenals.
It’s a three-part communication loop:
Hypothalamus → Pituitary → Adrenals
(HPA axis)
When life is stressful for too long — physically, emotionally, or mentally — this system adapts.
But not always in a way that feels good.
Chronic stress can cause:
✔ exaggerated cortisol spikes
✔ flattened cortisol curves
✔ reversed AM/PM rhythms
✔ sluggish or delayed cortisol response
✔ disrupted communication between brain + adrenals
This means your cortisol levels may not be “low” — they might be mismatched with your body’s needs.
This is why the term “adrenal fatigue” doesn’t quite hit the mark.
Your adrenals don’t get tired.
Your system gets dysregulated.
And dysregulation feels exactly like burnout in your body.
Myth vs Truth: Clearing Up the Confusion
MYTH #1: The adrenals “run out” of cortisol.
Nope. They don’t empty like a gas tank.
TRUTH: Cortisol output becomes dysregulated, not “depleted.”
You can have normal levels at the wrong times.
High levels when you should be calm.
Low levels when you need energy.
MYTH #2: You can fix adrenal fatigue with supplements alone.
If only.
TRUTH: Lifestyle and nervous system support are the foundation.
Supplements help — after you support sleep, stress patterns, blood sugar, and recovery.
MYTH #3: You can diagnose adrenal fatigue with a single test.
Nope.
TRUTH: Patterns matter more than single values.
A cortisol curve tells a much more accurate story.
What the Symptoms Can Look Like
These are the signs I see most often when the HPA axis is crying for help:
• waking up exhausted
• needing caffeine immediately
• mid-day crash
• nighttime second wind
• poor sleep quality
• increased anxiety
• irritability
• cravings (especially sugar + salt)
• low motivation
• low libido
• dizziness when standing
• feeling like PMS is worse
If this sounds like you, I promise you’re not imagining it.
What Labs Can Tell Us (and What They Can’t)
Here’s where we shift from internet myths to actual data.
These labs help you understand your stress system:
✔ 4-point salivary cortisol test
Shows your daily cortisol rhythm — morning peak, afternoon drop, nighttime low.
✔ DHEA-S
Gives insight into long-term stress load + adrenal androgen function.
✔ Cortisol awakening response (CAR)
Shows how your body responds to the transition from sleep → wake.
✔ C-reactive protein (CRP)
Inflammation influences cortisol output.
✔ Blood sugar labs (fasting glucose, insulin, A1c)
Blood sugar swings directly affect cortisol patterns.
✔ Thyroid panel
Because hypothyroidism + cortisol dysregulation often travel together.
What these labs CANNOT do:
❌ diagnose “adrenal fatigue” (because it’s not a recognized condition)
✔ reveal underlying dysregulation patterns that explain your symptoms
This is the difference between myth and reality — the symptoms are real, the explanation needed updating.
Understanding Your Cortisol Curve (Normal vs Dysregulated)
A healthy cortisol pattern looks like:
• High in the morning
• Gradually dropping throughout the day
• Very low at night
A dysregulated pattern might look like:
🔥 High all day
😴 Low all day
🔁 Low in the morning, high at night
⚡ Erratic spikes + crashes
Each one feels different in your body.
Each one needs different support.
And this is why a holistic picture matters.
Lifestyle That Supports HPA-Axis Balance
This is where I see women get the fastest improvement — not perfection, just tiny shifts.
1. Regulate blood sugar
This stabilizes cortisol more than almost anything else.
Protein + fiber + healthy fat at meals.
2. Morning sunlight
Turns your cortisol rhythm back “on track.”
3. Stop skipping meals
Fasting while stressed is gasoline on the fire.
4. Keep caffeine to mornings
And never on an empty stomach.
5. Prioritize real sleep hygiene
Screens, stress, and late-night multitasking? Not helping.
6. Downshift your nervous system daily
Deep breaths
Grounding
Slow walks
Journaling
Micro-breaks
Not fancy — just consistent.
7. Move your body — but not too hard
HIIT while burned out = crash
Strength + walking = stabilizing
These are the habits I teach my clients because they work. Consistently.
