Did you know that two of the main health complaints doctors receive from patients are fatigue and anxiety? Either of these sound familiar? Perhaps both?
Fact is, many of the diet and lifestyle factors that cause fatigue also contribute to depression and anxiety. More often than not, people who feel chronically tired also have difficulty relaxing and sleeping well, but being ‘wired’ is a physical state that can be addressed and supported by proper nutrition and lifestyle practices.
One thing is for certain, we were not designed to feel tired throughout the day, nor were we designed to feel depressed and anxious. While genetics do play a certain role in these factors, the majority of people reach a state of tired and wired after periods of prolonged stress, years of bad eating and sleep habits, and lack of exercise. Given that fact, symptoms of being tired and wired and be greatly improved through changes in diet and lifestyle.
In order to address fatigue and anxiety, it’s important to understand what causes it in the first place. Prolonged stress can have a negative effect on our hormonal system, thus causing imbalances in thyroid, adrenals and sex hormones. These imbalances, over time, can cause us to be tired, have brain fog, lose our memory, and eventually a nervous, excitable brain that just won’t calm down. That hyper brain over-drive is usually the result of neurotransmitters trying to compensate for the hormonal imbalance that is making us so fatigued. This “tired but wired” condition is becoming more increasingly common as the various stressors of our toxic, busy world today take their toll on us.
What to do about it? Well, here is my list of top 10 recommendations for improving a “tired but wired” physical state:
1) You guessed it, sleep more, and sleep better. Reduce caffeine and sugar in your diet and exercise more to get better quality sleep.
2) Reduce caffeine. If you are tired, you need to rest. If you are wired, you don’t need other stimulants. Two reasons to cut the caffeine!
3) Exercise in nature. Hike, power walk, canoe or kayak. Whatever will get you moving where the air is clear and the greenery is abundant. Nature, and plants have a calming affect on us. Exercise does as well, when done in moderation.
4) Cut the sugar. Sugar is a known depressant. It’s also addictive, so may increase anxiety. Fake sugars are anxiety producing, so avoid them, as well.
5) Do yoga. Stretching and breathing has a very calming, and even healing effect on the bodies hormonal system.
6) Lift weights. As heavy as possible. The helps balance hormones, as well.
7) Eat whole, real foods, and avoid packaged, processed foods.
8) Eat good quality, organic, grass fed meats. Meat provides the building blocks for neurotransmitter balance.
9) Reduce stress. I know, easier said than done. I suggest keeping a journal for a week of what you do daily and work on reducing and simplifying your life while prioritizing your health and basic needs first.
10) Supplement. There are great supplements specifically formulated to support hormones and neurotransmitters involved in this condition.
Remember, chronic stress takes down your health, usually beginning with the hormones, and chain reacting to many other body systems. There are many reasons why you should put your health first. There is nothing more important for you to do than what is involved in taking care of yourself.
Yours in healthy living,
Heather Morgan
Contact Heather at hmorgansonoma@gmail.com or Facebook.com/bodytalksonoma