Are you someone who keeps on going even when you’re exhausted? Are you getting messages to slow down but are not listening to them? Are you addicted to stress? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you could be heading for adrenal exhaustion — if you’re not experiencing it already.

It’s important to start paying attention to the signals your body may be giving you. These can include a change in sleep habits, energy blockages, digestive difficulties, hormonal changes, chronic fatigue, illness, changes in attitude, lack of motivation, loss of patience, anxiety, irritation, changes in eating habits, depression and so on. Other signs may be reduced concentration levels, memory loss and a feeling of disconnection spiritually.

So the question is: What can you do to make sure you don’t end up with adrenal exhaustion, and what can you do if you’re already at that stage? Having experienced adrenal exhaustion firsthand, I’d like to share some of the self-help techniques that have helped me, and others, to regain good health and to maintain it.

For me, adrenal exhaustion had been coming on for many years. As a healer I knew my body quite well, but I refused to stop and make the changes that would help support my nervous system, adrenal glands and organs. Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to alleviate other people’s pain and help them feel better, and so I focused on giving healing energy and love out to others and didn’t make myself a priority; in turn, my energy became depleted. My mind had been programmed to think I could do it all and I could handle it just fine. I guess deep down I was addicted to stress and to pushing myself beyond my limits.

At 47 years old, I find myself newly married and going through many hormonal, emotional and bodily changes, and I certainly feel that the prolonged periods of stress have affected me on every level. On top of that, I’ve started menopause, although it’s difficult to say if this has had anything to do with the stress on my adrenal and thyroid glands, as some people would say that 47 is not too early for menopause. However, I know that I pushed myself past exhaustion too many times and this may be one of the results.

The adrenals, which are two endocrine glands covering the superior surface of each kidney, produce and secrete the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is important for carbohydrate metabolism and for regulating the body’s response to stress. When you experience prolonged periods of stress, the adrenals are overstimulated to produce cortisol and eventually become exhausted to the point where they cannot produce enough in response to the ongoing hyperstimulation. This can lead to illness, chronic fatigue, depression and extreme changes in the body.

In my case, it has affected my body’s metabolism and energy levels, and I believe it has caused my body to react in such a way that the health of my thyroid and parathyroid glands has become a source of concern. A positive outcome of experiencing adrenal exhaustion is that it has forced me to change my stress patterns. I am also learning how to make myself a priority. Old patterns can sometimes be hard to break, but with practice and awareness they can be changed.

For me, the warning signs of adrenal exhaustion began emotionally, with feelings of depression, disrupted sleep patterns and mood swings. I did everything I knew to move through the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. I then began to experience frequent urination, especially during the night, and heaviness after urinating. The adrenal exhaustion had also led to headaches, a sluggish digestive system and low energy levels. I didn’t realise that my endocrine system was out of balance until I had some blood work done and it was all there in black and white. This was an eye-opener for me, and the following 10 strategies have helped me feel more balanced and cope better on all levels. They can also help you change your stress habits, prevent adrenal exhaustion or help if you are experiencing any type of imbalance.