Stress, Lack of Sleep, Adrenal Glands and Cycles I Create

I have learned through my ND that I often stress my adrenal glands, and when I do that I crave sugar and caffeine, am in a constant state of anxiety and cannot sleep. To "deal with this" I tend to eat less food and more sugar and to drink coffee at all hours of the day. This in turn increases my anxiety and makes it harder to sleep.

The first time this happened was after I moved with my 11-month-old daughter. Our second move since her birth. Shortly after the move I became so ill my vision was seriously affected. Doctors could not diagnose what was wrong although they could see swelling in my eye tissue around the optic nerve and to this day there is scar tissue. I went to an ND who first treated my eyes and then began to treat what she believed was an underlying stress problem.

Since then I've had two more pregnancies and adopted two children. While I love kids and adore babies, the change in routine really throws me for a loop. I had mild issues with my second baby and suffered PAD with my third. With my fourth my CNM and I noticed signs of stress and PPD in my third trimester and I went on medication. With number five I have not been medicated but have been very careful.

I notice a few things help a lot:

One, making sure I get sleep. Really. I cannot parent well exhausted, and since my PAD experience my need for sleep is quite high on my priority list. Everybody has a bedtime set in stone. I use Arbonne's "Unwind lotion" on the kids as well as on myself to help our bodies relax, release tension, and sleep well.

I eat protein in the morning. Protein evens out my sugar levels so I tend to crave sugar less and experience fewer highs and lows.

I only drink caffeine in the morning so that I can sleep at bedtime.

I am a firm believer in Vitamin B.

Once I'm done nursing I use hormone therapy; plant based progesterone (I purchase mine through Arbonne but there are other options. Check health stores but be sure to purchase plant based. Chemically produced Progesterone is closer in molecular structure to Testosterone.)

I exercise every chance I get. My husband travels and it can be hard to get a regular babysitter. When we can afford it I pay someone to come two to three times a week at a regular time so I can exercise (take a walk, take a class whatever works). W hen I can't afford a sitter I try to come up with something in the house. Getting out of the house is better but beggars can't be choosers.