Burnout & Chronic Conditions
Chronic fatigue and long-standing conditions rarely behave like acute illness!
They are layered, adaptive, and often driven by subtle physiological changes that don’t announce themselves loudly on standard bloodwork- I often refer to them as having ‘many factors which are pouring into the same melting pot’, and the end product is a complex one.
Where many people are told that their tests are “normal,” they still live with profound fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, brain fog, immune ‘hysteria’ , digestive issues, hormonal irregularities, or post-exertional crashes… When the conventional lens doesn’t reveal an obvious pathology, the lived reality of the person is too often minimized, with a common scenario of people being told “its in your head’, or ‘maybe you should consider antidepressants’.
In truth, nothing about chronic depletion is
“in your head”
Welcome to the Root- Cause approach of Naturopathic and Functional Medicine. This is where a systems-based approach becomes essential- Rather than searching for a single broken piece, the focus shifts to patterns, compensations, nutrient signalling, stress physiology, circadian timing, mitochondrial function, and the interplay between inflammation and the nervous system. These are the places where chronic fatigue hides. When we expand the investigative lens — beyond routine screening- and into how the body is actually regulating, recovering, and adapting — the picture becomes much clearer, and people finally begin to see why they feel the way they do.
"Once there is understanding of the BIG picture,
there is a path forward "
Potential drivers for burnout
Go straight to the source and test your Adrenal Function! The Adrenocortex hormone profile is a non-invasive saliva test that serves as a reliable marker of stress response and a critical tool for revealing adrenal imbalances. It measure the level of both DHEA and Cortisol which are ‘free and active’ at four different points of the day.
Deficiencies in iron, B vitamins, magnesium, and trace minerals can impair oxygen delivery and reduce metabolic resilience, resulting in persistent fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, and diminished cognitive performance. Identifying and correcting these is an important step toward better energy.
Often overlooked, this is a very common driver of mood disorders and poor nutrient absorption. The IgG system is different to the usual IgE “allergy system”, and the foods that cause these delayed reactions are often hard to diagnose because of the time between consumption and the physical reaction.
In a world that is becoming increasingly overburdened by heavy metals and chemicals, there are literally thousands which can directly impact our energy levels and mental health. From food additives to cleaning products, ,many of which have the capacity to cross the blood/brain barrier or throw out our hormonal balance.
Identifying and correcting any of these drivers can have a huge impact on your mental health and wellbeing.
Our hormones are commonly blamed for the state of our mental health, and rightly so. An imbalance in our thyroid, testosterone or progesterone levels can reap havoc on our moods. Regaining a happy hormonal system is one key to stable and happy emotions.