The adrenal system is responsible for processing stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can be severely affected after significant trauma leading to PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. A variety of symptoms can occur, such as fatigue, exhaustion and stress overload. According to the Mayo Clinic, the medical community does not recognize adrenal fatigue as an accepted medical diagnosis, although the symptoms are significant enough to impair a person's life following the experience of trauma.
Fatigue and Exhaustion Symptoms
Insufficient production of hormones over time leads to fatigue and exhaustion. Additionally, a person can experience a lowered tolerance for stress, body aches and pains, anxiety, depression and vulnerability to illness. The decreased energy from poor hormone production also can affect cravings for simple energy sources such as salt, sugar and caffeine. The prolonged stress exhausts the body of the ability to produce the hormones needed in order to maintain daily functioning. This then affects the functioning of other body systems.
HPA Axis Symptoms
The role of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, or HPA axis, is to regulate how the body responds to stress. When symptoms of malfunction are present, the HPA axis can lead to impairment in the digestive system, immune system, fluctuations in mood and energy storage. An essential overload of the fight-or-flight response occurs and depletes the secretion of important chemicals such as vasopressin, a hormone that helps regulate water, salt and glucose in the blood, and corticotropin releasing hormone, which is involved in the stress response. When vasopressin and corticotropin releasing hormone are impaired or overloaded due to constant stress, the normal function of maintaining balance for the body is impaired. This affects the relay of important information to the brain, affecting other chemicals involved in stress that would allow for a normal response to dangerous situations.
Less Common Symptoms
Less common symptoms known to occur due to adrenal insufficiency include diarrhea, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, low blood pressure and low blood sugar. The symptoms that can occur as a result of PTSD are affected by the adrenal system not producing the hormones required for body homeostasis or balance. Essentially as a means for protecting or defending against the psychological damage of trauma, the body works overtime to protect the emotions. This ultimately wears down the significant hormones of vasopressin, norepinephrine and corticotropin releasing hormone, as they have to remain in a constant fight-or-flight state. Eventually, this constancy affects additional parts of the body, often leading to these less common symptoms if medical and psychological intervention are not started.
