The Aftermath
Note: The following information is from my own experience and research. I’m not a doctor. Do not self-diagnose based upon this post. If you’re concerned about your own mind and body, please see a healthcare professional (a medical doctor, naturopathic doctor, psychologist or therapist of your choice). This past weekend, I had an incredible opportunity to attend a (new to me) writer’s conference in Provo, UT, called Storymakers. It. Was. Amazing! The Convention Center was packed full of creative geniuses, and it was empowering, validating, and inspiring to rub shoulders with them. We networked and socialized, attended classes, workshops, and keynote speeches, stuffed ourselves with fantastic food, and made lifelong memories. There was live music, a massive book signing, contests, opportunities to meet with agents, editors, and publishers, a bookstore, vendor booths for bookish trinkets, and the piece de resistance: The Whitney Awards Gala.
Fellow neurodivergents will understand when I say I walked away each evening like a deer in the headlights. I was overstimulated, overwhelmed, and overtired. Can I just say I’m glad I decided to have my own hotel room? I unabashedly relished the peace, quiet, and solidarity each night and early morning.
Now that I’m home and Mother’s Day and my Birthday are over, I feel like I’ve run a marathon, my mind is useless, and I’m emotionally depleted. I used to think I was a weirdo for having such depression and fatigue after stressful or high energy events. Whether it’s something negative like a particularly difficult weekend with cranky children, an illness or medical procedure in the family, or something positive like giving a talk/lesson in church, hosting a family reunion, or planning a special party, it doesn’t matter. Once I come down off the adrenaline high, I find myself exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally. TKO!
When I was younger, I could take a nap and bounce right back fairly quickly. (Anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, and I was good to go.) Nowadays, depending on what it is, it takes a few days (sometimes even a week) to fully recover from the bigger things. This morning, as I’ve been slothing around the house and failing miserably to muster the motivation to do some yard work before it rains, I found my curiosity peaked. How common IS this? I can’t possibly be the only one that struggles, right?
A quick Google search (I know, I know, Dr Google has horrible malpractice insurance. So do your own research and talk to your doctor if you’re concerned, K?) told me it’s not an actual medical diagnosis so there’s no way to know how common it is. So that wasn’t very helpful.
Are you as parched for more info as I am?
I desperately wanted to know why this happens. Why can’t I bounce back like I used to? And how can I more effectively recharge my battery so I can get back to Real Life? What is this thing called? I’ve been to several doctors and every one of them have basically said the same thing. “Whelp. I guess your immune system just sucks.” Or “Keep track of your symptoms and see if you can find any correlations or food allergies.” After many years of paying close attention to my symptoms, the only consistent variable has been stress. The doctors’ response? Better manage your stress.
Gee, thanks.
My therapist says this is absolutely a thing, and it’s quite common. Normal, even. Combine a high anxiety and/or high energy event with ADHD sensory overload, extreme anxiety and chronic depression, and you have the perfect storm for adrenal fatigue. Have you ever experienced this? No fun, is it?
I used three websites for my research today:
Source 1: 7 Common Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms (And How To Treat Them) by Fawn Hansen
Fawn, the author of the website, blog, and book, is a lifelong sufferer of this condition and went to countless MDs to no avail. (Sound familiar?) She finally found her naturopath doctor, Eric Wood. Together they wrote a book and created a program to help people like you and me. I don’t plan to participate in their program, but it’s nice to know it exists if we need to. If you decide to do it, let me know what you think, k?
Source 2: Post Performance Crash by Krystine Railing
Krystine is a lifelong performer (thespian, dancer, circus performer) and a renowned circus instructor. I would say she qualifies as an individual who has sufficient experience in, as she calls it, “Post Performance Crash.” Don’t you?
Source 3: Adrenal Fatigue: What Causes It? by Ann Kearns, MD PhD Mayo Clinic
My doctors and therapists have always said Mayo Clinic is a reliable source of information. Enough said.
Whether you call it Post Adrenalin Crash. Adrenal Fatigue, Post Performance Crash. Adrenal Letdown. Post High Blues, or any other clever nickname, it all means the same thing. According to Fawne Hansen from the The Adrenal Fatigue Solution website, the following 7 symptoms are incredibly common:
I created a chart for us so we can see which source lists what symptom. It’s interesting to see where they overlap, isn’t it?
So. . .now what?
I’m curious to know how you get yourself to “snap out of it,” so-to-speak. Here are some dried and true ideas.
MELISSA’S SELF CARE PROTOCOL
Know that adrenal fatigue is indeed my reality. Fight off burnout by scheduling in a few days to recoup after high stress or high energy events. I know this will keep me from completely crashing into the burnout swamp of no return.
Get my hands dirty. Connecting with the earth by weeding the garden (without gloves) or if you don’t have sensitive feet like I do, walking in the grass barefoot, is a natural battery boost. So force yourself to go outside, become one with your inner Pocahontas, and get down and dirty with God’s green (and brown) earth.
Spend time in nature with a running body of water. I know this sounds hippy-ish, but it’s true. The ocean, rivers, streams have higher vibrations. When we spend time near them, our bodies connect with that and automatically raise our own vibration to match. This will boost your energy level, improve your mood, and ease anxiety.
Sleep. Taking a nap when you’re overtired, overstressed, and overwhelmed, is not laziness. It’s how our bodies heal and rejuvenate. Kick that guilt to the curb and go hide in a blanket fort for a bit. I promise, you’ll be grateful you did.
Service. Getting out of my own head and helping others in need is one of the quickest ways for me to get out of my funk. It’s amazing how much our soul blooms in the Light of Christ. What better way to soak it in than by helping His children?
Create. The urge to create something is a gift from God. Embrace your inner Betsy Ross, Betty Crocker, or Martha Stewart (no, I don’t condone insider trading) and use the incredible gifts our Father has given you. What medium do you enjoy? Paints, paper, wood, chalk, words, music, drama, etc?
I, for one, am relieved I’m not losing my mind or imagining things. I personally frequently battle 24 of the 31 collective symptoms; some of which plague me on a daily basis. Not fun! I’m so grateful for my therapist and her guidance in recognizing these six easy ways I can care for myself when I’m spiraling. I hope they help you, as well!
Choose light, my friends.
Love, MJ
