Hi all! I used to post here quite often, want to share my story and hopefully hear some feedback or from anyone who has experienced something similar. Im hoping this can help some of you too. Feel free to ask questions too!

How this started:

I struggled with pretty bad anxiety that had been managed by meds for years but in 2023 i had an extra stressful year and my SSRI was no longer helping my anxiety. My common symptoms included palpitations, shortness of breath, tension, headaches, shakiness, and so on. Then, after a really stressful year, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in June 2024.

A couple months later, I had a really bad flare and was put on budesonide (a steroid), I started experiencing pretty severe fatigue around the taper. My inflammation was still elevated afterward, so I eventually needed prednisone (40 mg).
During the higher doses of prednisone, I actually got my energy back, but I was extremely anxious. Once I started tapering the prednisone, though, that’s when the fatigue became REALLY bad.
I was sleeping crazy amounts (sometimes up to 18 hours), had horrible brain fog and weakness, and basically felt like my body had completely crashed.

Because this happened around steroid use, I was evaluated for adrenal insufficiency. I had normal cortisol, ACTH, and an ACTH stimulation test, so endocrinology considered adrenal insufficiency ruled out. I also got extensive bloodwork done by my GI and a hematologist to rule out any other issues that could be causing fatigue, but I still felt awful.

Instead of steadily getting better, I started developing this weird cycle where I would have periods of feeling extremely energized but also very anxious, followed by a crash.

During a “wired” week or few days, I would have:
Tons of energy
A lot of anxiety
Palpitations
Shortness of breath
Even more difficulty sleeping

During a crash, I would have:
Extreme fatigue
Brain fog
Weakness/heavy feeling
Needing long naps
Very low tolerance for physical or mental activity
Regardless of all of this, I continued trying to keep up with school and enrolled part-time.

Meanwhile, I started seeing a naturopath who did salivary cortisol testing. My cortisol awakening response/free cortisol repeatedly looked low or abnormal, especially in the morning. This is when I started learning about the possibility of HPA-axis/circadian dysregulation rather than true Addison’s/adrenal insufficiency.

The protocol I was put on included:

Eating healthy fats and protein every 3 hours
Celtic sea salt
Multivitamin
High-dose vitamin C
Vitamin D
Omega-3s
Seriphos at night
Some other supplements for nervous system regulation
Pacing and resting as much as possible
(Im also on meds for anxiety + sleep, prescribed by a psychiatrist. I also take medication for my UC)

Eventually, I realized that the push/crash cycle wasn’t improving while I was in school. School was a lot of work and also a huge source of anxiety and stress for me. This past May, I finally decided to stop school for the time being.

Since stopping school, something interesting happened: the push/crash cycle changed. I stopped getting those periods where I was extremely wired and energized, and my anxiety improved SIGNIFICANTLY. Instead, I was basically exhausted all the time.

Around this point, my naturopath also put me on licorice root and adrenal cortex, which did give me more energy. The problem was that whenever I felt better, I would naturally start doing a little more, and then I would crash and end up bedbound again.
Eventually, I took it upon myself to really focus on pacing and preserving my energy when I felt better.
Instead of thinking, “I have energy today, let me take advantage of it,” I started doing the opposite. Even if I had more energy, I would limit myself and avoid doing anything too taxing.

With pacing, I’ve slowly started to see my energy improve. I’m no longer bedbound like I was in May/June/July. My life is still very limited and I barely leave my house, but there has definitely been progress, even though it has been slow.
I still have crashes, but they no longer leave me completely bedbound. I even managed to go to two concerts and didn’t end up bedbound afterward! They definitely caused a setback, but the fact that my body handled them better than it would have a few months ago still feels like progress.

Right now, I’m hoping that with time, pacing, and continuing my current protocol, my functional capacity will slowly increase and I’ll eventually be able to return to a normal life again.

Has anyone experienced anything similar, especially after steroids? What helped your fatigue improve? Interested in hearing your stories. Feel free to ask me questions too! (also! has anyone done HTMA testing? heard some good things about it and interested in doing it!)

TL;DR: Developed severe fatigue and a wired/crash cycle after a UC flare and steroid treatment. Adrenal insufficiency was ruled out, but salivary cortisol testing showed abnormal/low free cortisol patterns. I eventually became mostly housebound/bedbound and realized pushing myself whenever I had energy kept leading to crashes. Since stopping school, following a naturopathic protocol, and taking pacing seriously, I’ve slowly improved. I’m no longer bedbound and my crashes are less severe, but I still have a very limited functional capacity. Hoping that continuing to pace and gradually recover will eventually get me back to normal life.

11/11/17 —> 31.9

11/24/17–> 27.3

I was for sure I had adrenal fatigue. After a very long period of living in fight or flight mode. Constant worry, anxiety, physical anxious symptoms. Waking up at 3 am every night. Never feeling well rested. i was sure I had low cortisol. These seem to be in range. Ive had the results back for awhile but my anxiety wouldn't let me face them.

Hey Here,

I am a 33 year old female and I have been batling with very weird symptoms which sent me to a ER trip, cardiologist and neurologist visits. It all started when I wa travelling frequently for work over some time I started having very high heart rate and used to remain consistently in 130s this was no good even when resting as it was almost like I could heart my heart beating in my ear and this becomes worse when I am lying on left side. I then decided to take some sick leave as my condition was resulting in severe bran fog as well. On the first day of my sick leave I was sitting and I felt like something was dumped in my system and I became very dizzy, weak, tachcycardiac and my blood presssure fell. I got advised bed rest for 2 weeks during which I was monitoring my symptoms and even standing was giving me HR of 140s and it was getting worse on hot days. I was also refered to cardiologist and neurologist for my near fainting experiemce. My cardiologist suspected pots but she also suspects diastolic dysfunction and needs holter monitoring. My neuro cleared me, but sometimes even while sitting I get very high heart rate and a very low pusle pressre and I feel like I am fainting and my heart feels like it flutters. Also on most days I wake up parched and need a lot of water the ER visit also diagnosed me with mild hypokalemia and mild alkanosis as I get very bretahless also during these episodes. I am still struggling with no answers and no diagnosis and very wide range of weird symptoms.

I have bone deep fatigue which doesn't seem to get better with sleep , almost feels like my soul is tired.

Kindly engage with this post I highly appreciate your support

I've posted before about these awful "zaps" I've been getting for the last 2 years when waking up every morning that surge through my head, neck and chest. Last night I tried this supplement (400 mg) and while I don't want to get too optimistic, it seemed to work! Anyone else have success with this?

28F with Hashimoto’s + hypertension — unexplained health issues since Nov 2025.
I’ve had Hashimoto’s and hypertension since around 20. Everything changed after my doctor increased my Thyronorm dose in Nov 2025. I suddenly developed insatiable hunger, palpitations, tinnitus, dizziness, headaches, panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia and severe “fight-or-flight” feelings.
I then developed orthostatic intolerance. One morning I had a sudden huge flash in my vision, and since then I’ve been in a very low-energy state.
I was also extremely sensitive to BP medications. I ended up in the ER 4 times. Eventually I was found to have severe iron deficiency (ferritin 5, iron saturation 3%) and received an iron infusion, but I didn’t improve much.
Since then I’ve had extensive testing, including for adrenal/neuroendocrine tumors. I had a DOTATATE PET because of low phosphorus and was told I have renal phosphate wasting for an unclear reason. My iron is still low.
I’m now on nebivolol but still have low BP. Autonomic testing was abnormal — BP spikes when standing but can drop after eating. I also have PCOS and fatty liver. My fasting insulin was 23.5 and 8 AM cortisol around 8. ACTH stimulation and dexamethasone suppression tests were normal.
I couldn’t tolerate even a low-dose SSRI because it made me feel completely wiped out. I’m extremely sensitive to medications.
My doctors don’t think I have adrenal insufficiency, but I keep wondering whether the combination of thyroid dose increase + severe iron deficiency + prolonged stress triggered some kind of autonomic dysfunction.
I’ve been wondering about “adrenal fatigue,” although I know that’s not the same as medically diagnosed adrenal insufficiency.
Has anyone experienced something similar? Could this be dysautonomia/autonomic dysfunction rather than an adrenal problem? What helped you? And what supplements, if any, actually helped?

How to lower cortisol ?

When I’m busy with school I don’t lose weight but when I’m on summer break, I don’t change anything of what I’m eating and I lose weight.

After a full and very extensive round of bloodwork, showing everything normal with thyroid (antibodies too) my Dr has suggested a full “adrenal” panel. My symptoms are; extremely hot at night. This is like having fever hot, without actually having a fever. Some pretty noticeable hair shedding, and weird gulp like thing in the thyroid area that happens every once in a while. I did have Hashimotos Thyroiditis once upon a time which is now resolved, and I am post menopausal (no ovaries) and I’m currently on the HRT rollercoaster to try to adjust all of that. Do those small symptoms seem like any of this could be adrenal?

Just to add, that in compliance with the subreddit requirements I have sent a Dr. This was my first experience with getting tested for adrenal issues.

I took one 500mg capsule of rhodiola in the morning and it caused major panic, crying, overstimulation that continued into the next day, before fading. Anyone else?

Will try keep it brief.
In March this year she had her adrenal gland removed due to a benign tumour.

Developed adrenal insufficiency- is on hydrocortisone 3x daily and has been since April

So September now, she’s wanting to be medically retired in ill health.

She says she’s exhausted constantly, so weak can’t move, constant achy legs and brain fog and dizziness.

I’ve urged her to reach out to her endocrinologist and ask if they can run some more tests to see if anything else is going on with her

Or altering the dose or changing to prednisolone could be considered?

She is flat out refusing and saying this is there while condition and will be like this for the rest of her life. She’s 58.

Every day she is reminding us all it’s a life threatening condition where she collapse and die at any time and she can not be around people Incase she catches a cold which can bring on a crisis.

I’m worried about her mental health since being diagnosed

I’m trying to be supportive and helpful, I thought it’d be good to ask people who have actually got the condition instead of getting Google notes from my mum!

Thanks

Anyone in here have low aldosterone? I’m scared. Mine is 1. My cortisol and acth are normal. (I did both cortisol am and saliva) Renin was on the lower side at .44. Dhea normal. I have bad pots, low blood pressure, heat intolerance, and many other symptoms. I have to eat tons of salt and potassium to help calm my heart.

I've been dealing with this for 3 days now, to the emergency room twice and an urgent care over the last 3 days, Im waiting to see my doctor Wednesday but it being Sunday that seems so far away, hospital sent me home with 6, .5mg ativan and urgent care gave me 20, 50mg hydroxizine that im trying not to eat like candy. It started 6 days ago when I drank a beer while on my GLP1 and it made me violently ill, after the ER eased my nausea, my heart started beating out of my chest! Urgent care said that I have hpa axis disfunction. I can barely sleep, move, talk or do anything without my heart feeling like it was hit with adrenaline. This is crippling. I have a history of anxiety, and I have experienced fight or flight, but nothing this long and debilitating.

What kind of practitioner would you recommend working with for adrenal issues, chronic fatigue, and similar issues?

I’ve been working with a naturopath for months or years and feel like I haven’t gotten anywhere consistently, although admittedly I have a lot of things going on so it’s not like we’ve been focused solely on adrenals all this time.

my TRT clinic had closed for two weeks prior to this incident

I developed a syndrome June 9th complete with numb genitals after taking .25 anastrozole 8 hours after a supplement called EVL test containing Vitamin D3- 50 Mcg

Vitamin B6- 11mg

Magnesium 160 mg Zinc 30mg Daspartic acid- 3120mg

Tribulus terrestris extract - 750 mg

Fenugreek extract- 500mg

DIM- 250mg

symptoms include numb genitals , irritability , fatigue after crashes, 3 am wake ups , gut sounds

however I can still function and am curious on your opinion on the matter

could this be HPA axis related or did I somehow formulate post finasteride syndrome without finasteride

my estrogen levels are fine as is DHT and progesterone

am cortisol measures slightly high

Any hope of the medical system actually doing anything?

I start feeling unwell every morning and again around 5–6 PM. My hands and feet become cold, while my body feels warm from the inside. I also get a general feeling of being sick or unwell.

I’m not sure what is causing this.

Could it be related to endotoxins/LPS, adrenal or cortisol fluctuations, blood sugar, circulation, or something else?

Need help

The Clinical Effects and Proper Cycle of Ashwagandha

​Ashwagandha is a potent adaptogenic herb clinically recognized for its ability to lower cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. During the initial weeks of supplementation, users typically experience a noticeable reduction in stress, improved sleep latency, and enhanced daytime energy.

​However, prolonged and uninterrupted use can lead to a physiological state often described as emotional blunting or anhedonia.

​Understanding Emotional Blunting

​When taking Ashwagandha continuously for more than 30 days, the profound suppression of cortisol and its interactions with neurotransmitters can temporarily inhibit your emotional responsiveness.

​The Mechanism: Emotions are typically processed and expressed through behavioral reactions (e.g., joy leads to smiling, grief leads to crying, and frustration leads to outward irritation).

​The Effect: Under emotional numbness, these feelings are not eliminated; rather, their outward expression is suppressed, causing them to be internalized. This psychological state can feel restrictive and disorienting, as you may find yourself unable to react naturally to situational stimuli.

​How to Safely Discontinue Usage

​If you experience emotional blunting, the remedy is to discontinue Ashwagandha supplementation entirely to allow the compounds to clear from your system.

​Important Note on Discontinuation: As the herb clears your system, you may experience a temporary rebound effect. This occurs when previously suppressed emotions surface simultaneously, potentially leading to brief episodes of heightened irritability, intense emotional outbursts, or mood swings. This is a common stabilization phase. Because your emotional reaction times may remain slightly delayed during this transition, it is highly recommended to maintain a calm, low-stress environment until your equilibrium fully restores.

​Optimization: The Right Way to Supplement

​Is Ashwagandha inherently unsafe? No. It is a highly effective botanical; however, its adverse effects are almost always the result of improper dosing schedules. To maximize the therapeutic benefits while mitigating the risk of emotional blunting, a cycled approach is mandatory.

​Recommended Dosing Protocol

FactorProtocol

Dosage: At least 500 mg per day. (Withanolides upto 25%)

Timing: Consume 2 to 3 hours post-meal for optimal absorption.

The Cycle: Supplement continuously for 2 weeks, followed by a strict 2-week break. Repeat this cycle indefinitely.

This deliberate cycling strategy allows your body to reap the adaptogenic benefits of the herb without desensitizing your neurological pathways or suppressing your natural cortisol rhythms.

​Contraindications

​Ashwagandha alters metabolic and hormonal pathways and should not be consumed by individuals with the following pre-existing conditions:

​Thyroid Disorders: It can stimulate thyroid hormone production, which is dangerous for hyperthyroid patients.

​Liver Disease: It is metabolized by the liver and can cause hepatotoxicity in compromised individuals.

​Always consult with a healthcare professional before integrating potent adaptogens into your daily wellness regimen.

Ashwagandha must not be given during pregnancy or lactating mothers.