Medicine Garden

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)/High Cortisol and How To Heal From It
by Eileen Nauman, DHM (UK)
Copyright 2010 Eileen Nauman
All Rights Reserved

Update on Cortisol treatment with Seriphos

In January of 2010, I called Dr. Maya Brownsberger and asked if I could take a second saliva test (Diagnos-Tech) to see where my cortisol levels were at from the first test I’d taken back in September 7, 2009.

Dr. Brownsberger is part of a new branch of medicine known as “Functional Medicine.”  If you go to their website: http://www.functionalmedicine.org/findfmphysician/index.asp, you can not only learn more about this  important new branch, but also to locate the nearest FM specialist near where you live.

I received the test results back on January 28, 2010.  And, I wanted to share them with you.  Also, to make a comparison to the first test I’d taken in September, 2009, I’m putting up both test results in this blog so you can compare them for yourself.

Maya told me that the second test showed wonderful improvement from before.  Keeping in mind that I was on two months of Seriphos, an adaptogen.  I was prescribed to take at the times of the day my first test indicated (the stress/elevated or low/depressed peaks).  And here is that first test.  You can see that that 3 out of the 4 test times, I was “out” of the normal cortisol levels.  Maya prescribed one capsule of Seriphos for me at 11 am, 3 pm and at bedtime.  This, I took for two months and then stopped taking it.

It took about two weeks of being off from it to see the results.  I felt completely calm with no anxiety, no sense of danger or threat throughout the day.  I was handling all kinds of situations that would normally spike me into the “danger/anger” that I’d felt all my life.  But not now.

The only thing I felt hadn’t been addressed was my sleep–I was back to the same old stuff of waking two to three times a night, no dreams, and being chronically sleep deprived.    Considering how bad my first test was and that Maya had rarely seen anyone as ‘bad’ as my test results, I felt pretty good about it.  At least during the day I was a function, normal human being with no anxiety or feeling in danger or in a threatening situation. For me, that was like getting out of prison.  An amazing and wonderful experience

When January 2010 rolled around, I felt I wanted to see the results of the two months of Seriphos in lab results. The first two examples are my results from September 2009.

Test results from Diagnos-Tech on September 7, 2009

Test results from Diagnos-Tech on September 7, 2009

Let’s now look at the second test results.  The first box are the values and then below it will  be the lab box.  Compare them to the first set above. Quite a change, but look for yourself and make that determination.

Test results from Diagnos-Tech on January, 2010

Test results from Diagnos-Tech on January, 2010

When I got the second lab test results back, I was wowed, to say the least.  My  8 a.m. peak was brought down from a “8” depressed to a “5” depressed.

My 11:00 a.m. peak was 18 and elevated.  I the second test, it was 4 depressed.  This one was the greatest change of all and I could certainly feel the difference between them–like night and day.  Whereas before I was tense and anxious, I was now mellow and calm.

My 4 pm in the first test was 4 normal.  Now, in the second test it was 11 elevated.  This one went from normal to high.

The 10 p.m. on the first test was 7 elevated.  In the second test it was 2 normal.

On the first test, my “Cortisol Burden” (this test is an indicator of over all cortisol exposure, where high values favor a catabolic state, the low values are a sign of adrenal deterioration) was 37 and the “normal” were between 23 – 42.

Now, after taking the Seriphos the second test shows:   22 (with the reference values of 23-42) .  So, the Seriphos has created a remarkable change in my cortisol output by my adrenal glands.

Maya emailed me and told me to go back on the Seriphos and take one capsule at 3 pm and the other at bedtime.  I could certainly, within two days, feel the difference in my sleep pattern.  I’m sleeping normally and even dreaming and remembering my dreams now.  Plus, I’m waking up less (once instead of three times), and I’m only two weeks into a four week cycle of Seriphos.

She also put me on an adrenal supplement, ADHS by Biotics Research Corporation.  I am to take 2 tablets at noon meal and 2 tablets at my dinner.

I was also on Bio-Glycozyme Forte by Biotics Research Corporation three times a day.  This particular product is there to help lower blood sugar levels.  Now, I’m taking one at noon and one in the evening, a reduction for three a day.

And, other things happened along the way.  The amount of thyroid I was taking before the Seriphos has been REDUCED.  Maya said that once the adrenals get back into balance, the other endocrine glands can also start more normal functioning too.  Now, I’m no a lower dose of thyroid the last two months and doing fine on it.

My fasting insulin was >50 (Normal is 3-12 ulU/ml) and I was hyper insulin on the first test.

The second test my fasting insulin was >40 and had dropped!  This is very good news indeed because the Adrenals play a part in the carbohydrate processes within the body.

Two other endocrine glands besides my adrenals, were showing positive progress as a result of lowering my cortisol levels.

It’s fascinating to me how the cortisol is responding to the Seriphos that’s designed to get it all into the normal daily values.  Before, on the first test my highest abnormal peak was 11 am to noon.  Now, after taking the Seriphos, the highest is my 4 pm with an 11 elevation.

I was on Hydro-zyme, two tablets with each major meal of the day.  This is an HCL (hydrochloric acid) supplement.  Why?  Because as we get older, our stomach acid isn’t like it used to be.  The results of weakened stomach acid is heart burn, esophageal ulcer, acute gastritis and full blown stomach ulcers.  I had one bout of heartburn about six months ago and Maya felt that even one episode was a red flag.  Since taking them, my swelling has reduced considerably and I can now really feel the difference if I forget to take them.   I’ve had no bouts of heartburn after taking them.

I went to three tablets with each major meal and there is no more swelling after I eat and I’ve been at this level for about a month. Again, no swelling and no heartburn.

The bottom line since taking Seriphos the first time in September 2009 is:  I felt calm and centered inside.  I didn’t realize how anxious I was until it was GONE.  Completely gone.  I marveled at how quiet and balanced I felt.  Even more astounding and heart rending was I was myself for the first time in my life.  And it continues now (and I’m blogging on March 3, 2010 about this).  There has no “slide” back to the way I used to be.

I felt intense peace, calmness, extra patience and no irritability.  My fear was gone.  I could think of things that would make me fearful, and I had no emotional reaction to them.  It was simply amazing and life-changing for me.  I am, once again, feeling happiness.  The only feelings I felt were fear, anger and threat.  I did not know what it felt like to feel joy and happiness until just now.  And now, my heart stirs and swells with these wonderful ‘other’ emotions.  The positive ones.

I also feel an incredible detachment from everything that I used to fear or have anxiety about.  Now, my mind can clearly see what is going on without the ‘haze’ of the cortisol kicked up emotions to cloud my perspective.  I haven’t felt one bit of fear, irritability or anger in the first month since being on the Seriphos. I have been living in a wonderfully centered, grounded, peaceful and quiet inner radiance that simply did not exist for me until now.

This is what one hormone can do to a person’s entire emotional systems.  It’s tragic.  And yet, it shows everyone how much of our emotions can be skewed and distorted by that high level of cortisol.  I used to have what I termed a mental gray attitude toward life.  Before Seriphos, I would see nothing but problems and possible outcomes and then never feel hope that something different could occur.  My emotions were so on guard, so waiting for something bad to happen that hope had been erased from my life. Now, it’s back!  I no longer look at a problematic situation and try to figure out all the ways it might occur.  Now, I just shrug and understand I don’t have any need to waste precious energy and time on such things.  I have hope that things will turn out just as they are meant to be without my mental meddling.

My memory is slowing improving too.  Now, words that had hidden in the fog, are returning.  And as a writer, this loss was terrible for me.  Cortisol will steal your memory.  Now, it’s coming back.

FINDING A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN

There are two places to go. First is the FM web page. You can find an FM specialist nearest you at: http://www.functionalmedicine.org/findfmphysician/index.asp

Secondly, Diagnos-Techs. Inc., the creator of saliva tests for hormones, has a directory at http://www.diagnostechs.com/gibby/PROVIDER_wrap.html

These providers utilize the all-important ASI, Adrenal Stress Index saliva test by Diagnos-Techs, Inc. See more below about this test.

SALIVA TEST FOR HIGH CORTISOL

Since 1987, saliva has been found to be a good indicator of a number of our hormone functions. Diagnos-Techs, Inc., led the way in this discovery. If you’d like to know more about how our saliva can be utilized, go to their website and read up on: Saliva is a Valuable Diagnostic Tool for Hormone Assessment, 9.19.2009. It can be found at: http://www.diagnostechs.com/gibby/index.html#EVENTS

Dr. Brownsberger likes the ASI (adrenal stress index) saliva test that is put out by Diagnos-Techs, Inc. http://www.diagnostechs.com/gibby/index.html. This test is $99.00 and opens up the world via saliva, on a number of hormones, among them cortisol. You cannot buy this test without a physician’s prescription. It may be sent in by a physician’s assistant, Naturopath, or other health care providers as well as MD’s. There are other test kits out there, but this is the BEST one.

My advice is if your physician (who may not be Functional Medicine oriented), ask them to call this company to order this particular kit: 1-800-878-3787.

Below is the info onThe Adrenal Stress Index (ASI).

The ASI Index evaluates several markers of stress on the body, which include:

4 Cortisol tests help assess stress response

2 Insulin tests help examine blood sugar control

DHEA – Helps determine stress adaptation Secretory IgA – Helps evaluate possibility of strain on immunity

17-OH Progesterone – Helps determine adrenal reserve

Gluten Antibodies – Help identify grain intolerance

Abnormal adrenal rhythm can influence:

Energy production

Bone health

Immune system health

Sleep quality

Skin regeneration

Thyroid function

Muscle and joint function With only four saliva samples, your health care provider can use the findings in this panel to recommend customized treatment and preventive measures that may include diet and lifestyle changes, hormones, botanicals and vitamins.

The advantages of the ASI are:

1. The test is non-invasive & can be performed wherever you are. Only four saliva samples are needed.

2. Saliva is collected under real life conditions. There are no stressful blood draws and no gallon-sized urine containers to carry around for 24 hours.

3. With typical blood and urine testing, a number of borderline adrenal conditions are missed due to lack of sensitivity. ASI samples are taken within one circadian cycle (24 hours) and are able to provide more definitive measurements of adrenal health.

4. The ASI is an in-depth test, such that options for treatment are expanded by 400-500% over serum and urine test results.

Note: The ASI was invented and introduced by Diagnos-Techs, Inc. in 1989. All other panels offered on the market today are reproductions.

Do you need the ASI Test?

Request a stress questionnaire from your physician to determine if the ASI is the appropriate test for assessing your health condition. The score can help your doctor determine a course of action. The ASI is typically ordered for individuals that suffer from:

Chronic stress and related health problems

Lack of vitality and energy

Muscle and joint pain

Hypoglycemia

Migraine headaches

Osteoporosis

Sleep disturbances

Poor memory

Alcohol intolerance

Stress maladaptation

Low sex drive

Low body temperature

SERIPHOS

Dr. Brownsberger likes Seriphos, which is manufactured by InterPlexus. In order to reduce high cortisol Seriphos is what is known as an ACTH-dampening Phosphorylated serine supplement. I am going to be on 2 bottles (there is 100 capsules in each) because of my extreme PTSD high cortisol test results. Seriphos will basically plug the cortisol receptors and not allow them to fire off and keep the cortisol high in my bloodstream. Instead, by taking it daily, based upon the lab test results, I take it at 11 am, 3 pm and 10 pm, when my cortisol is outside the ‘normal’ limits. Over time, the cortisol resides and comes back within normal boundaries. At the same time, the Pituitary gland, which is supposed to be the “brake” that stops cortisol from being poured into the bloodstream, wakes up and starts to take over this function once more. Seriphos, in other words, retrains the brain/Pituitary hormones, to get involved once more in monitoring the amount of cortisol in my bloodstream and when the ‘threatening’ event is over, orders the adrenal glands to stop pouring cortisol into my bloodstream. The result of this retraining is that the cortisol is controlled, as it once had been before the trauma experienced, and goes back to normal limits.

Seriphos should be administered by your health care provider after you’ve gotten the saliva ASI test. Why? Because where the points of your cortisol lab test our out of normal range, you take a capsule at that time. This shouldn’t be guessed at or assumed by you. If you use it at the wrong times, you’re actually messing up the cortisol process. That’s why it’s so important to enlist the help of a health care provider who knows when you need this product.

Seriphos can be ordered online at http://www.vitacost.com. Just put “seriphos” in the Search box and it will turn up.

There are many other products out there that are ACTH dampening like Seriphos, but I’m going with what I have been on because it worked for me. Your health care provider may have another brand label that does the same thing.

WHAT IF I CAN’T FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN WHERE I LIVE?

After going to the FM website and you find that the closest physcian is hundreds of miles away from you, I would suggest you go to your primary care physician and discuss this ASI test with her or him. And give the health care provider the name/phone number of the nearest FM physician. In this way, they can talk with one another on your behalf and your primary care health provider will be guided on what to do, and how to do it for you.

Or, if your primary health care provider refuses to work in this way, call and make an appointment with the nearest FM phyiscian and drive there. To me, after experiencing the miraculous changes in myself, no amount of driving would be too much. Even if it’s 200-500 miles, it would be worth it, in my opinion. But, that is something you must decide for yourself.

Also, check with Naturopaths in your area–frequently they may be aware of the ASI test. That’s another lead.

NORTHERN ARIZONA REFERRALS

If you are lucky enough to live in Northern Arizona where I live, there are two people I recommend. First, my primary care physcian, Linda Haggard, PA. You can call her for an appointment at (928) 284-0166 at their Sedona Integrative Medical Clinic, Oak Creek, Arizona. She and her husband, Eric Haggard, PT, have a website at: www.celebrationsoflight.com. They take care of the entire Verde Valley area and will be your connection for further cortisol testing. Linda has been a PA for twenty years and knows about high cortisol and its deadly affects on a person.

Secondly, if you live in the Flagstaff, Az area, there is Dr. Maya Brownsberger, Functional Medicine specialist. Her office is at: 1 (928) 214-7005 and her website is: www.optimalhealthandaesthetics.com.

I hope you find this helpful. You can always email me privately at docbones224@earthlink.net, if you have questions. I’d like to see everyone with high cortisol get the benefits I’ve been given. No one realizes the change in their life until they’ve had their cortisol corrected and the brain retrained. I wish freedom for all of you who have this condition. Please pass this series of blogs on to your family and friends who you suspect may have the same condition. You can be giving them a gift that lasts a lifetime.

REFERENCES:

Schmookler, E., Ph.D., Trauma Treatment Manual, 1996, Revised 2001, http://www.trauma-pages.com/s/schmookler-manual.php

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, American Psychiatric Assn., Washington, D.C., January, 1995

The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 16th Edition, edited by Robert Berkow, MD, Merck Research Labs, Rahway,NJ, 1992.

Butler, K., The Biology of Fear, July/Aug., 1996, The Family Therapy Networker, Washington, D.C.

Diagnos-Techs, Inc., ASI test

http://www.diagnostechs.com/gibby/index.html

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)/High Cortisol and How To Heal From It
by Eileen Nauman, DHM (UK)
Copyright 2009 Eileen Nauman
All Rights Reserved

How to Normalize Cortisol and Say Good-bye to PTSD Symptoms

My good friend, Rosemarie Brown, MSW, suggested I see Dr. Maya Brownsberger, MD, Functional Medicine specialist. She knew my violent dysfunctional family background and felt that this might be an important step in my healing process to take. I had my doubts, but I drove up to Flagstaff to see Dr. Brownsberger.

Dr. Brownsberger is part of a new branch of medicine known as “Functional Medicine.” If you go to their website: http://www.functionalmedicine.org/findfmphysician/index.asp, you can not only learn more about this important new branch, but also to locate the nearest FM specialist near where you live.

She spent an hour and a half with me and missed nothing. She was especially interested in my childhood, the dysfunction and gave me a thorough physical examination as well. She missed NOTHING. I was impressed with that alone. She then told me that I needed a saliva test to determine my cortisol levels. She gave me a box of goodies from Diagnos-Techs, Inc. from Tukwila, Washington. There were four vials with four pieces of rolled cotton in each one. According to the directions I was to place one under my tongue at a specific time of day for about ten minutes. Then, I was to place it back in the tube and mark the day/time it was collected. After I was done with that, I was to send it off over night, to the Washington lab.

I did that and had to leave for Europe for three weeks. I set a second appointment with her to see the results of my tests. In early October I got up to see Maya. In her office, she showed me the first of many pages of reports on me. My cortisol levels were so high and off the map, Maya wasn’t sure if her protocols to bring them back into normal alignment,would work or not.

I looked at the report and saw, yes indeed, my cortisol was literally, all over the place and nowhere near ‘normal.’ Maya said that she believed me when I told her I was hyper vigilant, but this test was so ‘bad’ (my word not hers), she really “got” how alert I really was. I laughed at that. I know I have eyes in the back of my head! Thanks to PTSD and high cortisol.

Maya explained that all my symptoms were the result of the high cortisol. It was no wonder I slept lightly at night; my cortisol was high. I never dreamed. Nor did I remember many dreams. And that was why, she said. And during the day I had told her at the intake session, that I was always anxious and super alert, my highest cortisol was at noon. And in the morning when it was supposed to be high, it was low. I woke up groggy and unable to ‘wake up’ like I should.

Of the four points, I had one barely inside ‘normal’–by one point. Everything else was like a yo-yo and nowhere near the normal flow of what cortisol should be like in one’s bloodstream.

I felt pretty vindicated as I looked at this test result. And given my dysfunctional family background that I survived (barely) for eighteen years, I realized the enormity of this test. I then asked Maya what could be done to bring the cortisol levels down to normal levels.

Here is part of my ASI saliva test to find out where my cortisol levels were at. As you can see, 3 out of 4 are ‘out of bounds’ of normal cortisol operating limits. Based upon these three times, Dr. Brownsberger authorized Seriphos, an adaptogen supplement, to be taken at 11 am, 3 pm and 10 pm by me. WHEN you take Seriphos is strictly based upon the results of this test. You don’t want to take it at times when your cortisol is in bounds and normal. That’s why the ASI saliva test is so important. More on this test down below in my blog.

She put me on Seriphos, an adaptogen that was to “plug” the cortisol receptors, thereby forcing the cortisol back down to within normal levels. It also would “wake up” and retrain the Pituitary gland and get it back online to do its job, which is to police how much cortisol should be in my bloodstream at any given time. So, there is a twofold action to Seriphos. And she had me take it at 11 am, 3 pm and when I went to bed. These times corresponded with my lab profile you see above:

This is the Seriphos bottle. It is the adaptogen that Dr. Brownsberger prefers, although there are other labels out there on the market.

I was also put on Hydro-zyme, two tablets with each major meal of the day. This is an HCL (hydrochloric acid) supplement. Why? Because as we get older, our stomach acid isn’t like it used to be. The results of weakened stomach acid is heart burn, esophageal ulcer, acute gastritis and full blown stomach ulcers. I had one bout of heartburn about six months ago and Maya felt that even one episode was a red flag. And so, I am on them, too.

I was very excited and hopeful about the Seriphos even though Maya had initial doubts because I was such an extreme cortisol case. Within three days, I began to note a huge difference in myself. At first, I couldn’t believe it. What happened was the cortisol went down to normal and I felt normal for the first time that I could ever remember in 63 years of living! I felt calm and centered inside. I didn’t realize how anxious I was until it was GONE. Completely gone. I marveled at how quiet and balanced I felt. Even more astounding and heart rending was I was myself for the first time in my life.

A person who has high cortisol is ALWAYS in a constant state of anxiety. It can fluctuate, but it’s always there. To have Seriphos stop this completely just shocked me. I had no idea how much anxiety I was feeling until that seminal moment. What was even better was usual situations that would trigger my adrenaline flooding through me, my heart beating hard and feeling frightened or angry, simply did not occur. My mind, which was trained for the situation saw it–but my emotions did NOT ENGAGE. And when my emotions, which were level and calm, did not jump to the scenario, the mind was left with a “huh?” kind of moment.

I found in the first month that I had relief from anxiety I’d had all my life. I felt intense peace, calmness, extra patience and no irritability. My fear was gone. I could think of things that would make me fearful, and I had no emotional reaction to them. It was simply amazing and life-changing for me. I found after a month, that I could, once again, feel happiness. The only feelings I felt were fear, anger and threat. I did not know what it felt like to feel joy and happiness until just now. And now, my heart stirs and swells with these wonderful ‘other’ emotions. The positive ones.

I also feel an incredible detachment from everything that I used to fear or have anxiety about. Now, my mind can clearly see what is going on without the ‘haze’ of the cortisol kicked up emotions to cloud my perspective. I haven’t felt one bit of fear, irritability or anger in the first month since being on the Seriphos.

I have been living in a wonderfully centered, grounded, peaceful and quiet inner radiance that simply did not exist for me until now.

This is what one hormone can do to a person’s entire emotional systems. It’s tragic. And yet, it shows everyone how much of our emotions can be skewed and distorted by that high level of cortisol. I used to have what I termed a mental gray attitude toward life. Before Seriphos, I would see nothing but problems and possible outcomes and then never feel hope that something different could occur. My emotions were so on guard, so waiting for something bad to happen that hope had been erased from my life. Now, it’s back! I no longer look at a problematic situation and try to figure out all the ways it might occur. Now, I just shrug and understand I don’t have any need to waste precious energy and time on such things. I have hope that things will turn out just as they are meant to be without my mental meddling.

By the third day on Seriphos, my sleep changed. I slept deeply. I slept longer. I didn’t wake up three times a night. Now, after being on it nearly two months, I might wake up once, for about five minutes and then go back to sleep–a huge change.

Maya had mentioned that another sign of high cortisol in a woman was hot flashes–a lot of them, very intense and ongoing for much longer than they should. I had that symptom. Now, I have maybe three or four hot flashes in a day compared to the thirty or so I had before. What a relief. And my “night flashes” have pretty much gone away–at least ninety percent. And they were responsible for me waking up three times a night.

I can dream again! I’ve had several powerful, life-changing symbolic dreams and its so wonderful to remember them after I wake up. I remember dreaming when very young–in Technicolor and vivid and wonderful. Now, they are coming back.

My weight has slowly been lowering. I was at 183 and I’m at 164. But I stay on a 900 calorie a day diet with 2 miles of brutal uphill/downhill walking. I haven’t seen any change there, yet, but I’m hopeful. If I had high cortisol since I was so young I don’t remember that age, I’m sure it’s going to take more than two months to straighten out all the rest of my systems. I’m a patient person now (and with high cortisol, I was terribly impatient). I can wait. I know there’s a multitude of changes going on within me.

My memory is coming back too. It was awful. Now, words that had hidden in the fog, are returning. And as a writer, this loss was terrible for me. Cortisol will steal your memory. Now, it’s coming back.

FINDING A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN

There are two places to go. First is the FM web page. You can find an FM specialist nearest you at: http://www.functionalmedicine.org/findfmphysician/index.asp

Secondly, Diagnos-Techs. Inc., the creator of saliva tests for hormones, has a directory at http://www.diagnostechs.com/gibby/PROVIDER_wrap.html

These providers utilize the all-important ASI, Adrenal Stress Index saliva test by Diagnos-Techs, Inc. See more below about this test.

SALIVA TEST FOR HIGH CORTISOL

Since 1987, saliva has been found to be a good indicator of a number of our hormone functions. Diagnos-Techs, Inc., led the way in this discovery. If you’d like to know more about how our saliva can be utilized, go to their website and read up on: Saliva is a Valuable Diagnostic Tool for Hormone Assessment, 9.19.2009. It can be found at: http://www.diagnostechs.com/gibby/index.html#EVENTS

Dr. Brownsberger likes the ASI (adrenal stress index) saliva test that is put out by Diagnos-Techs, Inc. http://www.diagnostechs.com/gibby/index.html. This test is $99.00 and opens up the world via saliva, on a number of hormones, among them cortisol. You cannot buy this test without a physician’s prescription. It may be sent in by a physician’s assistant, Naturopath, or other health care providers as well as MD’s. There are other test kits out there, but this is the BEST one.

My advice is if your physician (who may not be Functional Medicine oriented), ask them to call this company to order this particular kit: 1-800-878-3787.

Here is the info on that test:

The Adrenal Stress Index (ASI)

The ASI Index evaluates several markers of stress on the body, which include:

4 Cortisol tests help assess stress response

2 Insulin tests help examine blood sugar control

DHEA – Helps determine stress adaptation Secretory IgA – Helps evaluate possibility of strain on immunity

17-OH Progesterone – Helps determine adrenal reserve

Gluten Antibodies – Help identify grain intolerance

Abnormal adrenal rhythm can influence:

Energy production

Bone health

Immune system health

Sleep quality

Skin regeneration

Thyroid function

Muscle and joint function With only four saliva samples, your health care provider can use the findings in this panel to recommend customized treatment and preventive measures that may include diet and lifestyle changes, hormones, botanicals and vitamins.

Advantages of the ASI

1. The test is non-invasive & can be performed wherever you are. Only four saliva samples are needed.

2. Saliva is collected under real life conditions. There are no stressful blood draws and no gallon-sized urine containers to carry around for 24 hours.

3. With typical blood and urine testing, a number of borderline adrenal conditions are missed due to lack of sensitivity. ASI samples are taken within one circadian cycle (24 hours) and are able to provide more definitive measurements of adrenal health.

4. The ASI is an in-depth test, such that options for treatment are expanded by 400-500% over serum and urine test results.

Note: The ASI was invented and introduced by Diagnos-Techs, Inc. in 1989. All other panels offered on the market today are reproductions.

Do you need the ASI Test?

Request a stress questionnaire from your physician to determine if the ASI is the appropriate test for assessing your health condition. The score can help your doctor determine a course of action. The ASI is typically ordered for individuals that suffer from:

Chronic stress and related health problems

Lack of vitality and energy

Muscle and joint pain

Hypoglycemia

Migraine headaches

Osteoporosis

Sleep disturbances

Poor memory

Alcohol intolerance

Stress maladaptation

Low sex drive

Low body temperature

SERIPHOS

Dr. Brownsberger likes Seriphos, which is manufactured by InterPlexus. In order to reduce high cortisol Seriphos is what is known as an ACTH-dampening Phosphorylated serine supplement. I am going to be on 2 bottles (there is 100 capsules in each) because of my extreme PTSD high cortisol test results. Seriphos will basically plug the cortisol receptors and not allow them to fire off and keep the cortisol high in my bloodstream. Instead, by taking it daily, based upon the lab test results, I take it at 11 am, 3 pm and 10 pm, when my cortisol is outside the ‘normal’ limits. Over time, the cortisol resides and comes back within normal boundaries. At the same time, the Pituitary gland, which is supposed to be the “brake” that stops cortisol from being poured into the bloodstream,wakes up and starts to take over this function once more. Seriphos, in other words, retrains the brain/Pituitary hormones, to get involved once more in monitoring the amount of cortisol in my bloodstream and when the ‘threatening’ event is over, orders the adrenal glands to stop pouring cortisol into my bloodstream. The result of this retraining is that the cortisol is controlled, as it once had been before the trauma experienced, and goes back to normal limits.

Seriphos should be administered by your health care provider after you’ve gotten the saliva ASI test. Why? Because where the points of your cortisol lab test our out of normal range, you take a capsule at that time. This shouldn’t be guessed at or assumed by you. If you use it at the wrong times, you’re actually messing up the cortisol process. That’s why it’s so important to enlist the help of a health care provider who knows when you need this product.

Seriphos can be ordered online at http://www.vitacost.com. Just put “seriphos” in the Search box and it will turn up.

There are many other products out there that are ACTH dampening like Seriphos, but I’m going with what I have been on because it worked for me. Your health care provider may have another brand label that does the same thing.

WHAT IF I CAN’T FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN WHERE I LIVE?

After going to the FM website and you find that the closest physcian is hundreds of miles away from you, I would suggest you go to your primary care physician and discuss this ASI test with her or him. And give the health care provider the name/phone number of the nearest FM physician. In this way, they can talk with one another on your behalf and your primary care health provider will be guided on what to do, and how to do it for you.

Or, if your primary health care provider refuses to work in this way, call and make an appointment with the nearest FM phyiscian and drive there. To me, after experiencing the miraculous changes in myself, no amount of driving would be too much. Even if it’s 200-500 miles, it would be worth it, in my opinion. But, that is something you must decide for yourself.

Also, check with Naturopaths in your area–frequently they may be aware of the ASI test. That’s another lead.

NORTHERN ARIZONA REFERRALS

If you are lucky enough to live in Northern Arizona where I live, there are two people I recommend. First, my primary care physcian, Linda Haggard, PA. You can call her for an appointment at (928) 284-0166 at their Sedona Integrative Medical Clinic, Oak Creek, Arizona. She and her husband, Eric Haggard, PT, have a website at: www.celebrationsoflight.com. They take care of the entire Verde Valley area and will be your connection for further cortisol testing. Linda has been a PA for twenty years and knows about high cortisol and its deadly affects on a person.

Secondly, if you live in the Flagstaff, Az area, there is Dr. Maya Brownsberger, Functional Medicine specialist. Her office is at: 1 (928) 214-7005 and her website is: www.optimalhealthandaesthetics.com.

I hope you find this helpful. You can always email me privately at docbones224@earthlink.net, if you have questions. I’d like to see everyone with high cortisol get the benefits I’ve been given. No one realizes the change in their life until they’ve had their cortisol corrected and the brain retrained. I wish freedom for all of you who have this condition. Please pass this series of blogs on to your family and friends who you suspect may have the same condition. You can be giving them a gift that lasts a lifetime.

REFERENCES:

Schmookler, E., Ph.D., Trauma Treatment Manual, 1996, Revised 2001, http://www.trauma-pages.com/s/schmookler-manual.php

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, American Psychiatric Assn., Washington, D.C., January, 1995

The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 16th Edition, edited by Robert Berkow, MD, Merck Research Labs, Rahway,NJ, 1992.

Butler, K., The Biology of Fear, July/Aug., 1996, The Family Therapy Networker, Washington, D.C.

Diagnos-Techs, Inc., ASI test

http://www.diagnostechs.com/gibby/index.html

PTSD and High Cortisol Level and How it Affects Us

PTSD — High Cortisol and How To Heal From It – PART 2
by Eileen Nauman, DHM (UK)
Copyright 2009 Eileen Nauman
All Rights Reserved

HOW DO YOU GET PTSD?

1. It can be a sudden, unexpected stress. For example, you see or survive an automobile or a train wreck, you live through an earthquake, you see a plane crash (or you survive one), you live through a flood, or some other kind of natural disaster, such as a tornado or hurricane. An explosion can cause it. Being involved in a fire, or seeing one wreak havoc, can also trigger this cascade of symptoms. The attack on the Pentagon and World Trade Centers is ripe for PTSD symptoms, as was the destruction of the Twin Trade towers on 9.11– for not only those caught in this horrible holocaust, but those who viewed it on television or heard it on radio not only in the USA–but around the world. So, you don’t need to have been there to “get” PTSD symptoms. We are all vulnerable to such global trauma. The death of a loved one (parent, child, grandparent, uncle, aunt, good friend, ect) can also trigger PTSD.

2. Men or women who have ‘gone to war’–whether in armed combat, or the ‘war’ on the streets as a police person, firefighter, paramedic, ambulance attendant, gang-banging, or the war in a dysfunctional family, all qualify. The Gulf War vets, the Iraq and Afghanistan vets as well as the Vietnam vets, have earned their PTSD symptoms from encountering the gory, super-stressful, bloody horror of war–up front and close. Their lives may have been threatened. Maybe not. Just living in a war zone is enough to trigger PTSD in some people. Terrorist attacks can create it. Living in a ‘war-zone’ neighborhood, or the inner city, will trigger these symptoms. Places such as Yugoslavia, now carved up into fiefdom, is another good example–all people of that area have suffered some form and exposure to PTSD. Israel is under constant threat of attack and I’m sure many of them suffer from these symptoms.

3. If the person is exposed to inhumane treatment–and this includes verbal or physical abuse (spousal), incest or rape or actually being a POW, prisoner-of-war, PTSD symptoms will manifest. Torture comes in many forms. If one lives eighteen years in a dysfunctional family, that is a special hell and torture in its own right. One doesn’t need to be put in a cage somewhere in Vietnam to garner the same PTSD symptoms. The cage for the trapped child is just as real because their is no escape for eighteen years. Either environment will create them. If an individual views atrocity, that can trigger symptoms.

Again, it doesn’t have to be in a war zone or in combat–it can be at a train wreck, an airplane disaster, a terrorist attack. As an example, the Oklahoma City bombing has, quite literally, created a city of PTSD survivors. Many police and firefighters view human remains at accident sites all the time–and never received help for what they view. Some did, fortunately–but others did not. Human or animal atrocity affects all of us. The question is just how much. At some point, we all have an inner boundary where inhumane treatment, torture or atrocity, will affect all of us.

Now, the latest trauma, the terrorist attacks on our Pentagon and the destruction of the World Trade Centers in New York City have, once again, created a massive PTSD epidemic in the wake of these assaults on our collective, USA psyche. Bosnia has been traumatized. Right now, it is Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention, Iran and Pakistan. Violence against anyone breeds PTSD.

4. The psychological and constitutional elements of ourselves, which is known collectively to the homeopath as the “vital force” will create more or less susceptibility to PTSD symptoms. Ten people can view a plane crash. There will be ten different, varying levels of reaction to it. Those whose vital forces are more susceptible to this type of trauma, will be more profoundly affected and they will be the ones coming away with PTSD symptoms and high cortisol levels. Others may be less affected or not at all. Four children in an abusive household will have four different coping mechanisms and reactions to the war-zone environment and each vital force will respond a little differently to it–but they will all walk away wounded with PTSD. It’s just a question of how much damage has been done and where. Some people’s psyche/vital force, are more resilient than others. However, the more long-term the ‘war zone’ that is encountered, the more sure you are that they will all be effected. It’s just a question of how much, at that point.

5. Any of the above situations combined with physical abuse or bodily injury will cause PTSD. Injury, particularly to the head region, will guarantee it. Homes where children are slapped, beaten, thrown around, will have a high degree of PTSD symptoms unless they have a very tough, strong vital force. And even then, they will still be wounded; but perhaps not as deeply as some other individuals who are more susceptible to such a combative environment.

6. PTSD symptoms can worsen especially if there is no social net or fabric in which to seek help or protection from this warlike environment or warlike person. Without an abuse shelter being available, without the means to talk to someone who recognizes the bottom line of the problem, survivors, if left in such an environment, simply become worse over time. A military vet who cannot seek help, is left to suffer in his or her personal hell that only deepens and stains their entire life, year by year. PTSD symptoms, if not caught and reversed, only become worse with time. It ruins marriages, children, and stains the PTSD survivor irrevocably. In a sense a PTSD survivor is still in their POW cage–it just isn’t visible, but it’s there in the guise of high cortisol symptoms.

Here is an illustration of where our Adrenals sit on top of our kidneys. When everything is normal, there is ‘talk’ and communication hormonally between the adrenals and the pituitary. But when there is high cortisol, this connection is broken.

THE THYROID IMPLICATION

There is synergy between cortisol and thyroid hormones. Both have to be in our cells, bound to their respective receptors at normal levels in order to work efficiently. If cortisol levels are low, caused by Adrenal exhaustion, our thyroid is less efficient at doing its job of increasing our energy and metabolic activity. The person may end up with hypothyroid symptoms and unwanted weight gain.
When your cortisol is too high, it interferes with the thyroid hormone signal. In essence, it creates what is known as ‘thyroid resistance.’ This means the thyroid hormones levels can be ‘normal’ in a test, but our cell tissues fail to respond as efficiently to the thyroid signal. This too can be misdiagnosed as hypothyroidism. Throwing thyroid supplements at it won’t fix it, either. Why? Because the foundational problem is the high cortisol. You bring the cortisol within normal operation and the hypothyroid symptoms go away and your thyroid is able to function fully and normally once more.
Signs of hypothyroid symptoms are:
* Fatigue
* Weakness
* Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight
* Coarse, dry hair
* Dry, rough pale skin
* Hair loss
* Cold intolerance (you can’t tolerate cold temperatures like those around you)
* Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
* Constipation
* Depression
* Irritability
* Memory loss
* Abnormal menstrual cycles
* Decreased libido, low or no sex drive

INSULIN RESISTANCE

High cortisol also causes insulin resistance as well. It takes more insulin to drive glucose into the cells when coritsol is high. And so you have a high coritsol and insulin and this creates the ‘insulin resistance.’ You are going to gain weight around the waist because our body stores fat there, rather than burning it off like it should. This is the “apple” body shape.

PERI-MENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE

When cortisol is high, our brain is less sensitive to estrogens. This can throw women into “early” menopause. It can also amp up hot flashes and night flashes….which are not only bothersome but at night, when we’re trying to sleep–we are constantly be awakened. The sleep deprivation from this one symptom alone will put any woman into a tailspin over time. In peri-menopausal women cortisol should drop at night. Progesterone plays an important role here because it actually competes with cortisol for the glucocorticoid receptors. It can counter the stimulating (wide awake vs sleeping) effects of cortisol at night when you need to be sleeping deeply and soundly. With high cortisol, the progesterone is shoved aside and loses out. The result is insomnia for the woman.

You can have post menopausal women with reasonable amounts of estrogen but when the cortisol rises, she will get hot flashes–which are seen by the medical establishment as an estrogen deficiency. In this case, it’s not a deficiency. It’s the cortisol interfering in the process. If the cortisol levels are brought down to normal, the hot flashes end once and for all. And if your doctor misdiagnosis your hot flash symptoms, he or she will give you other hormones to compensate–and they won’t work. Be sure, if you are past menopause, and continue to have hot flashes, to get your cortisol levels checked first (Part 3 will have information on who to contact and what tests to get) before taking any other hormones.

BONE LOSS

There’s real problems with bone loss (spinal shrinkage among them) when cortisol is high. It activates many of the biochemical pathways that are involved with bone resorption. It specifically inhibits osteoblast activity which is responsible for bone building. It suppresses production of androgens (male hormones) in the gonads and adrogens help build bone in men. It activates osteoclasts which causes bone to be resorbed faster than normal. It decreases mineral absorption in the gut (and that is why a good mineral supplement is vital). You won’t be able to absorb calcium and magnesium–both of which are needed to build bone and keep our bones strong. It also increases kidney spilling of calcium. So that’s another loss of calcium for us.

REFERENCES:

Schmookler, E., Ph.D., Trauma Treatment Manual, 1996, Revised 2001, http://www.trauma-pages.com/s/schmookler-manual.php

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, American Psychiatric Assn., Washington, D.C., January, 1995

The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 16th Edition, edited by Robert Berkow, MD, Merck Research Labs, Rahway,NJ, 1992.

Butler, K., The Biology of Fear, July/Aug., 1996, The Family Therapy Networker, Washington, D.C.

Hypothyroid symptoms
http://www.endocrineweb.com/hypo1.html

High Cortisol, Thyroid, Bones, Menopause
HOW CORTISOL LEVELS AFFECT THYROID FUNCTION AND AGING
Interview with David Zava, Ph.D.
http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/cortisolzava.html

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD )– High Cortisol and How To Heal From It
by Eileen Nauman, DHM (UK)
Copyright 2009 Eileen Nauman
All Rights Reserved

SYMPTOMS OF HIGH CORTISOL

Do you have PTSD? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. No? You don’t think so? Think again. You don’t have to go to Iraq or Afghanistan to get PTSD. You can get it in your childhood–from a trauma of any kind. And why should we care about high cortisol level in our bloodstream that is caused by PTSD? The adrenals manufacture adrenaline and cortisol. Anyone who has gone to war (where it was a family war for eighteen years or being in the military or coming from a ghetto neighborhood, or anything you define as unsafe or threatening….) the final outcome is the SAME: High cortisol levels.

Here is a good illustration of the adrenals, which sit atop our kidneys. The Cortisol and adrenaline are shot into our blood stream and once the threat is over, the Pituitary gland sends out other hormones to stop these adrenal hormones from being poured into our bloodstream. In normal people, this happens. But for those of us who have PTSD, we have high cortisol levels and they aren’t shut “off” by the Pituitary gland. The good news is: this can be fixed and I’ll blog on the ways in later parts of this series on High Cortisol.

With this ‘haze’ of hormone that is always high and active in your bloodstream (and you won’t know it until you test for it….), it creates a nightmare existence for you. It is an emotional haze, too. It’s not in your head, it’s zeroed in and targets our entire emotional structure. And unless the person is on top of this uncontrollable anxiety emotional state, they live a life in Hell. And so do the people who are associated with this person. Fortunately, it can be corrected and cured. That’s the good news.

Mars rules the Adrenal glands. It is our “fight or flight” glands that sit atop our kidneys. When we feel threatened and unsafe, our cortisol is the first thing to shoot into our blood stream. Then, if we feel violence is going to happen to us, here comes the adrenaline. When the threat or sense of unsafeness is no longer there, the adrenals stop putting these hormones out into our bloodstream and your sense of safety returns to normal. You now feel safe and unthreatened. You are at peace. The anxiety is gone.

That works for some of the population. But there are many of us “out there” where this does not occur. And before I go into all the reasons why this is so, I feel it’s more important to share the symptoms of high cortisol levels that does not recede and turn off after an incident/trauma that we experience.

WHAT IS CORTISOL?

Cortisol is a hormone that is supposed to help us meet the daily stress in our lives. It converts protein into energy. It releases glycogen (sugar) and counteracts inflammation. For a short time, Cortisol is our stress protector. BUT, if the cortisol does not subside and return to normal levels within us, then it throws us into a nightmare world where we may feel like there is this angry, anxious, threatened and feeling unsafe stranger living within us.

And all the while this emotional storm is going on inside us, we struggle mightily to maintain a societal face to the outside world that is acceptable. Quite literally, we lead two lives. The inner life is one of always feeling threatened in large and small ways, feeling unprotected, vulnerable, unable to defend ourselves, feeling anxious, tense and always ‘on guard.’

The outer ‘mask’ we wear is trying to react normally to people and our environment regardless of how we feel internally. This is a terrible way to live, but it is the inner life of a person is struggling with high cortisol levels. It’s a terrible curse that has fall out on every level of ourselves: mentally, emotionally and physically.

HIGH CORTISOL STAGES

Our first stage occurs when we feel threatened in some way (trauma, heat, cold, chemical irritation, infection, stress, violence, feeling unsafe, threatened, security (money, emotional) is not there, unprotected, ect. ) the endocrine system kicks in and cortisol is released. Our heart beats faster, our blood pressure arises and our pupils dilate. This is the reaction stage to threat.

Our second stage is Adaptation. This is the stage were we are living beneath CHRONIC, unrelieved stress. The stress trigger might be your job, your spouse, caregiving, or a hundred other stresses defined by you. The worst case scenario is that you had a dysfunctional childhood where this sense of no protection, feeling vulnerable and in danger, created the continuous high cortisol levels in your bloodstream. What happens is the adrenal glands have enlarged and released large quantities of adrenal cortical hormones, the symptoms MAY disappear and we feel okay. We have energy, and are able to function in the presence of the stress that we’re under. We may go years or decades in this stage. Eventually, our chronic stress catches up with us and then we “cascade” and go into the last stage.

The last stage is Exhaustion and this is where the ‘cascade effect’ of symptoms occur. The body’s reserves have been under attack for years or decades. There may be lost nutrition as a result. Our resilience to deal with this chronic stress depletes our minerals and nutrition. There may be physical collapse, you may suffer from an emotional breakdown, become dysfunctional and/or experience an organ or body system failure, such as a heart attack or stroke. The emotional nightmare world that the high cortisol person is trapped within can bring them to a psychiatrist and mood altering or controlling drugs are used to ‘fix it,’ which of course all it does is suppress the real problem and fixes nothing in the long term. This is not the answer. The good news is that all of this can be stopped. And we can return to being a ‘normal’ human being.

WHAT DOES HIGH CORTISOL DO TO US?

First of all chronic stress or one, sudden trauma, can create the high cortisol levels situation. What is high stress for me won’t be for you, so you can’t say that “this” or “that” will trigger the cortisol. Cortisol has a role in regulating blood sugar, energy production, inflammation, supporting the immune system and in healing. Every human responds to stress differently.

Let’s look at some triggers and see if you find yourself in here: lack of sleep, a demanding boss, threat of losing your job, lost your job, relationship strains, divorce, conflicts with neighbors, death or illness in your family, being a caregiver, yo-yo dieting, having to move from your home, losing your home, foreclosure worries, child worries, child illness, fighting for a parking space, caught in slow moving traffic, unable to make an appointment on time, are but a few examples. You should define what stresses you by writing down a list of them.

Add to this Pandora’s box of possibilities are people who come from a dysfunctional childhood. Women who are raped, men or women who are sexually incested as children, experiencing a violent event (being robbed, beaten, nearly dying from a violent act, going to war in a foreign country, reaction to 9/11, deep subconscious wound(s) from the past that are all unresolved wounds and it sends our cortisol into high levels and it never return to normal levels.

Lastly, don’t forget about the stress of our environment upon all of us: air pollution, heat/cold/noise, psychological stress (worry, fear, feeling threatened, feeling unsafe, feeling attacked, ect.), biochemical stress (nutritional deficiencies, sugar and salt consumption), all play a part in this too.

If we experience continuous high cortisol levels, then our healing ability is halted and slowed done. The immune system becomes suppressed. Glycogen (sugar) stores in the liver and muscle tissue are initiated and raise the blood sugar level (hypoglycemia or diabetes). Digestion and assimilation, then, are inhibited. The stomach lining becomes thin and ulcerated. Our Thymus gland and lymphatic tissue shrinks.

With all these cascade of symptoms due to high cortisol levels in our bloodstream that do not recede and return to normal, let’s look at the symptoms that it causes. Do you find yourself among these symptoms? If you do, in another blog I’ll tell you how to prove it by specific lab testing and then how to fix it to bring your cortisol levels down to normal function.

SYMPTOMS OF HIGH CORTISOL

ABDOMEN: people with high cortisol have weight gain and it bulges in the abdominal area. The abdominal fat is thickest and hardest to get rid of (nearly impossible) when you diet. This is the “apple” type of body. The fat goes first to the abdomen and is the last to be dieted off (if ever).

ADDICTIONS: Drugs (over-the-counter), recreational drugs, alcohol–anything to escape the monster inside yourself that keeps you anxious and edgy/tense. Drugs helps to nullify this sense of being threatened, anxious, unsafe or unprotected. Drugs dull these feelings but then you’re caught in a wheel of addiction.

ALLERGIES TO CERTAIN FOODS: food intolerance’s (allergies to certain food groups, such as wheat, et.) chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and other difficulties (for example, diarrhea after eating wheat products, ice cream, ect.).

ANXIETY: all the time. If you are from a dysfunctional home, you may have grown up with this emotional feeling and think this anxiousness is normal. It’s not. But you won’t know that until after you are diagnosed and on a regime to lower your cortisol level. Anxiety make people jumpy, nervous, it produces feelings of tension that never goes away. Tension can be felt in the neck, shoulders or anywhere else in our body where we ‘store it.’ Unable to relax, to feel calm, at peace and a deep sense of quiet inside ourselves, there is this sense of being ‘on edge’ is always in the background ‘noise’ of our lives. It never goes away.

BONE LOSS :  If your adrenals are compromised, they make insufficient DHEA. This contributes to bone loss, shrinking of spinal column and loss of height.

BOWELS: constipation or diarrhea is a constant; especially under stress people either have a day of going to bathroom 5-10 times a day or they constipate for 2-3 days after the stress. Bowel movements only return to normal (3 BM’s a day), after stress is relieved from the person. If not, then they cascade into other diagnoses, such as irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, divertisculosis or Crohn’s Disease.

CRITICAL: of yourself, blaming yourself for not doing the right thing all the time, critical of self for making mistakes, putting yourself down, never feeling good about yourself, feeling ashamed or not “good enough.” Low self-esteem. This little voice was started in early childhood when your parent(s) told you that you were not good enough, did not measure up or in some way, disappointed them. Bad on them.

DEPRESSION: comes and goes or is there all the time. When under stress, the depression will occur. When the stress is lightened or removed, the depression will lift somewhat or go away completely; depending upon the person and circumstance.

DIGESTION: impaired. Gut can’t absorb nutrition and we become nutritionally deficient in minerals and some vitamins. “Leaky gut” syndrome. Can be diagnosed as acute gastritis, heartburn, ulcers, ect. If you eat certain food groups (see Allergies, Food) there can be digestive upset, uneasiness or even nausea and in worst case scenario, vomiting. Get tested for food allergies. And, if having heartburn or ulcers, think about Biotics Research “Hydro-Zyme” with each meal.

DREAMING: You no longer dream. Or if you dream, you don’t remember them. Or, you dreamed at one time but don’t know. Often, we are cut off from our dream world, which is tragic. We lose this connection. High cortisol levels at night prevent our dreaming. Or if you dream, they are always dreams that contain anxiety, violence, a sense of vulnerability and being unable to protect yourself adequately.

ENERGY LAG: About 2 pm to 4 pm every day. Those who have this may use caffeine drinks (coffee, tea, soda) as a “pick-me-up”–all red flags.

EXTREME EXERCISING: In order to take the ‘edge’ we feel inwardly in the form of restlessness or anxiety, we turn to exercise as a way to ‘tame’ these feelings. We do it as an unconscious attempt to lower our anxiety (cortisol) levels. Anyone who must do five miles a day, or must jog “or else,” falls into this category. Exercise actually takes off the “edge” that we constantly feel when cortisol remains high. And we feel if we don’t exercise, something awful will happen to us. There’s an obsessive “drive” to exercise. Unconsciously, we’re lowering our cortisol levels for those few hours a day…to give ourselves internal and emotional relief from it.

FATIGUE: always feeling tired. Even if you got twelve hours of sleep, you still wake up feeling tired. You will “hit the wall” between 2 pm to 4 pm daily.

HEALING :  Slowed down and slow regeneration or slow recuperation. If your cold or flu lasts longer and your recuperation time is abnormally slow, you are affected.

HYPERINSULISM: Plainly put, your insulin levels are too high. Chronic stress/high cortisol antagonizes insulin and will cause functional insulin resistance. And, the moment you eat a carbohydrate (pasta, bread, ect.) this causes hyperinsulism response. This is chronic insulin resistance and will lead, eventually, to pancreatic exhaustion. Further, the body makes FAT CELLS instantly out of ANY carbohydrate being consumed. You get FAT and the carbohydrate, which is really to be broken down and used for sugar and energy for the body, does not occur. All you get is fat cells and weight gain.

HYPOGLYCEMIA: Low blood sugar. You can experience it either during the night hours or during the day time. Try Biotics Research “Bio-Glycozyme Forte” with each meal.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: compromised a little or a lot. This can mean you catch a lot of colds or flu. Or, you don’t recover quickly from them…it takes weeks instead of days to rebound. It can mean arthritis, too. Or any other immune-compromising acute or chronic disease falls into this category as well.

IRRITABILITY: over things you shouldn’t get irate about in the first place — but you do. Irritability is always in the background with anxiety with high cortisol. You ‘trigger’ too fast with anger, rage or irritability to the situation. Your anger emotion clouds your judgment and mental ability to look beyond the moment. You find yourself wrestling with anger and irritability all the time. And when you fall victim to it, you will see it’s almost always the inappropriate emotion to have.

JOINTS: aching. As the cortisol cascade continues, our joints will take a hammering. Arthritis is usually the cascade outcome.

MENTAL: forgetful, and you may think you have Alzheimer’s, but you don’t. This gets worse with age. Other mental “voices” inside your head is the CRITIC.

METABOLISM: The adrenals and thyroid are directly affected. Only salvia testing and blood testing will confirm they are in a cascade due to high cortisol levels. Adrenals may be in one of the seven levels of exhaustion . The thyroid usually goes “hypo” and is slower than normal. This gives you an array of hypothryoid symptoms. The real culprit, however, is high cortisol. Get that fixed and your thyroid should usually return to normal function by itself.

MUSCLES: they will be destroyed over time. Loss of muscle mass. If you’re exercising, lifting weights and muscle mass is hard to create OR if you don’t exercise for 2-3 days, it is lost, then you have high cortisol levels.

NEGATIVE OUTLOOK ON LIFE: No matter what happens to you, even good things, you always fear something bad will happen next. You cannot take joy in your triumphs. You can’t absorb the confidence that comes with these triumphs. This leaves you with low self esteem. You are always looking for something bad to occur. There is little joy or happiness in your life. You see it as one slogging day after another. The only emotions you really feel are fear, anger and threat. You can’t feel joy or happiness or any of the other positive emotions others do. “The sky is falling,” was invented by a high cortisol level person. Depression. Hopelessness. Gray. Darkness. Loss of trust in people as well as yourself. Also, you tend to extrapolate what will happen in any event, with any person, place or thing. And you always will see the many possibilities and yet, at the same time, trying to protect yourself from the ‘worst case scenario’ that you believe will happen.

NEGATIVE VOICE: this emotional sense of failure is always with you. It tells you that you’re worthless, you should be ashamed of yourself, that you’re no good, that you’ll amount to nothing is always there whispering 24/7 in your ear. I call this the INNER CRITIC. This is associated with low self esteem.

NOISE: Can’t tolerate loud noises of any kind. This sets the person into irritability or anger. Sometimes, uncontrolled rage at the worst and irritability at the best.

ODORS: As an example, perfume will send you into orbit. You can’t stand strong smells of any kind and will avoid a perfume counter at all cost. Many can’t go into a hospital because of the sanitizing odors. Or at the as pump, the gas smell creates a terrific headache within minutes of inhaling the odor. Headaches are a common response to any odor that emotionally upsets you. Every day household supplies also create the same response. Migraines.

SELF-EDITING: Because you feel threatened, unsafe and potentially in danger at every turn, this is how you feel inside due to high level of cortisol in your bloodstream 24/7. Those who are conscious and doing inner work on themselves, they realize their inner self isn’t appropriate to live in Society, wear a ‘mask’ of a different personality in order to protect others from how they REALLY feel inside. This self-editing is a constant 24/7. Your first emotional response is to want to knee jerk and become irritable, scream and get angry, but you know that’s not the right response, so you self-edit yourself. WIth the mask in place, you speak calmly and work through the haze of your powerful emotions that want to do the opposite and act in a way that is societally acceptable. This is a tremendous struggle. It takes energy, time and some days you will feel like Don Quixote tilting at windmills. There is a tiredness (emotional) that can set in because of the energy expenditure you must keep in place.

For people who are not conscious of the inner/outer personality due to high cortisol levels, they will ACT OUT how they feel inside in the OUTSIDE world, and it is completely inappropriate in every way, but they can’t help themselves at this stage. These people are the rage-o-holics, the ‘going postal’ types, the road-ragers, the ones who kill people or attack them verbally or physically. They are the addicts with a drug problem. They are the abusers on every level: mental, emotional and physical.

SEX DRIVE: decreased to nonexistent.

WEIGHT GAIN: Always. Hard to lose it. Craving for comfort foods. Craving for sugar and salt. And, you gain weight even as you diet! It’s nearly impossible to lose your weight no matter how much exercise and diet you throw into the mix. Unless you go on a severe 600 calorie a day diet (women), you can lose the weight but as soon as you try to eat more than that, the weight comes right back on. No matter the diet, you cannot ever lose weight and keep it off. Obesity is the result unless you have the iron fist strength to maintain a 600 to 900 calorie a day diet for the rest of your life. It’s a miserable way to live. Pasta and bread products are your biggest weight gain choices. Usually an allergy to wheat is present. See: Hyperinsulism. Allergies, Food.

RELATED DIAGNOSIS: If you have Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Arthritis, Premature Menopause, these can all be tied into high cortisol levels and/or adrenal exhaustion.

REFERENCES:

Schmookler, E., Ph.D., Trauma Treatment Manual, 1996, Revised 2001, http://www.trauma-pages.com/s/schmookler-manual.php

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, American Psychiatric Assn., Washington, D.C., January, 1995

The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 16th Edition, edited by Robert Berkow, MD, Merck Research Labs, Rahway,NJ, 1992.

Butler, K., The Biology of Fear, July/Aug., 1996, The Family Therapy Networker, Washington, D.C.