We were designed to deal with extreme stress for short periods. This is our fight or flight response. It is a healthy response to stress and helps one deal with stress. The problem arises when we are stressed for long periods of time.

Our adrenals are responsible for our fight or flight response, survival and for our basic needs such as digestion, elimination, repair, sleep and energy production. Chronic stress can wear them down. When we experience long-term stress, the adrenals are over-worked and eventually get “tired”. Preventing this from occurring is the best way to avoid this. Getting a good night’s sleep, a nutritious, clean diet, exercise, limiting stress and staying hydrated are all ways to help support the adrenals.

There are simple tests available, such as the Dutch Adrenal test, that measures adrenal output over a 24-hour period to see if the adrenals are stressed (too high) or if they are tired (too low). Because cortisol levels vary throughout the day, doctors suggest that it is important to administer comprehensive tests, as well as to understand a patient’s daily energy patterns, to better assess the way cortisol production cycles over the course of a day.

Sometimes, the adrenal glands need some support to get recharged and back to a healthy state after months or years of being overworked. There are many blends of herbs and nutrients that can be helpful, including Truadapt Plus by Orthomolecular, and working with a practitioner to determine what blend is right is a good way to approach adrenal support.

HolyBasil is an adaptogenic herb that enhances the body’s stress and immune response. It can help with cognition, immunity and metabolism.

Ashwagandha is a strong adaptogen that can help with extreme stress exposure. It can help improve stress resilience, support immune response, help regulate sleep cycle, support healthy thyroid function and protect against exhaustion of the nervous system.

Rhodiola Rosea can increase resistance to a variety of stressors. It has been studied extensively and been shown to support the nervous system, mood regulation, mental clarity, work performance and sleep.

Schisandra Berry is another adaptogen that helps support mental clarity, stress response and emotional wellness.

Licorice Root taken in small amounts has been shown to help maintain cortisol levels, an important factor for individuals that need to support adrenal hormone production.

Adrenal glandular has been used to supply key nutrients to support the adrenals. It can help rejuvenate the adrenal stress system in a balanced and efficient manner.

Our mitochondria are another area that is affected when suffering from chronic stress and burnout. Long-term, unexplained fatigue can be a sign that mitochondrial support could be beneficial. Our mitochondria are responsible for production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—the primary carrier of energy—throughout our body, and they need to be healthy for us to have physical energy, mental clarity and good quality restorative sleep.

To improve mitochondrial function, the number of mitochondria and the function of mitochondria need to be supported. There are clinically researched blends of nutrients that have been proven to help with mitochondrial health and function. One is ATP 360 by Researched Nutritionals.

Addressing the causes of stress, eating healthy food and having a healthy lifestyle are essential for good health and the ability to deal with stress. Working with a practitioner to identify lifestyle changes that would be beneficial, identify the state of one’s adrenals and mitochondria and to determine what supplementation would be beneficial is a good way to rebuild and restore after stress and burnout.