"Adrenal Fatigue"

Your adrenal glands are small but powerful organs that sit on top of your kidneys. They produce several important hormones:

• Aldosterone, which helps regulate blood pressure

• DHEA, which can be converted into sex hormones

• Epinephrine and norepinephrine, your “fight-or-flight” hormones

• Cortisol—the stress hormone most often mentioned when people talk about “adrenal fatigue”

A colorful array of bubbling and steaming test tubes filled with vibrant chemicals, set in a lively laboratory environment representing the hormone chemicals present in the adrenal gland.

So, what is cortisol?

Cortisol is a steroid hormone that helps your body use fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. It reduces inflammation, regulates blood pressure, raises blood sugar when needed, and helps control the sleep–wake cycle. During stressful moments, your body releases extra cortisol to give you an energy boost.

Now, let’s talk about the phrase “adrenal fatigue.”

I’ll be direct: “Adrenal fatigue” is NOT a recognized medical diagnosis.

Exhausted woman rests, capturing a moment of much-needed reprieve from the day's demands.

BUT — that doesn’t mean your symptoms aren’t real. It simply means that when researchers studied cortisol levels in people labeled with “adrenal fatigue” and compared them to healthy individuals, they didn’t find meaningful differences.

Many patients — often women — report fatigue, brain fog, low motivation, or just feeling “off.” These symptoms are real and can come from many causes. A good history, physical exam, and sometimes labs help narrow things down. Could it be anemia? Sleep apnea? Perimenopause? Stress? Something else entirely?

And what if everything comes back normal? That’s often where frustration begins. Patients want a clear explanation, and when they don’t get one, they often feel dismissed or unheard.

Here’s the important part:

Normal labs do NOT negate your experience.

Your symptoms are valid — they just may not point to a single, obvious diagnosis. For example:

• Perimenopause can cause all of the above symptoms, even when hormones look “normal” on paper.

• Significant stress can increase cortisol, but the resulting exhaustion often comes from the stress itself, not adrenal “failure.”

• A physical exam or lab test may not reveal the cause, even though the symptoms are very real.

We (as physicians AND women) have to trust and validate what we are experiencing.

One woman offering comfort and assurance to another, highlighting the power of empathy and understanding.

So what actually helps?

Many people are sold on the idea that hormone replacements or supplements will “fix” adrenal fatigue. But research shows that hormone levels rarely match how people feel. Instead, the things that truly help are:

• Stress management

• Sleep quality

• Movement

• Nutrition

• Overall well-being

Vitamins can be fine if you enjoy them, but they haven’t been shown to treat the cluster of symptoms often labeled as adrenal fatigue. And supplements aren’t regulated or rigorously studied, so it’s best to approach them cautiously.

Rest, nourishment, movement, and stress support are not “soft” interventions — they are evidence-based and powerful.

And finally…

You don’t need a dramatic diagnosis to justify how you feel. Your body is speaking to you, and those signals deserve attention, compassion, and care. Instead of chasing a label, focus on understanding what your body is trying to tell you.

Healing often comes not from fixing a “broken” gland, but from giving yourself permission to slow down, recalibrate, and prioritize your own well-being.

A vibrant illustration depicts a woman with blue hair and closed eyes, a star bandage on her forehead symbolizing healing, surrounded by dynamic rays and clouds, embodying an aura of peace and transformation.