Why am I SOOOO tired? (This simple and sensory-specific answer may surprise you!)
Do the holidays dim your light so much that you’d rather be asleep?
Don’t have any motivation?
Feels like you’ll never really be fully living your life?
Well, I have good news for you (and some help).
My name is Malia. I am a natural empath, intuitive, practitioner of energy healing and trusted personal and business consultant.
Have you heard of adrenal fatigue? If your answer is yes OR no, keep reading…
Adrenal fatigue is not a widely-recognized condition, but then neither is the conscious understanding that the emotional body and the physical body are connected and interacting as one body.
What we know scientifically speaking: The adrenals are responsible for processing our stress response, and when operating properly, we are able to discern what “should” provoke a fear response versus fear/anxiety being a constant.
My take: Adrenal fatigue is the overprocessing of emotional information.
It manifests symptomatically as chronic physical fatigue, chronic nervousness, chronic irritability, emotional lability, loss of interest in normal activities and more. As an empath, it feels like being stuck in “emotional purgatory” — can’t move forward and can’t go back, just stuck.
Defined by http://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-adrenal-glands: “The adrenal glands have a multi-functional role in the endocrine system. The two very different parts of these glands, the medulla and cortex, regulate and maintain many of your internal processes — from metabolism to the fight-or-flight response.”
Use this link to take a short quiz and get a better sense of whether what you are experiencing is adrenal fatigue. https://www.womenshealthnetwork.com/profiles/adrenalhealth/default.aspx?id=1&campaignno=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlPiJpOKY3wIVBMZkCh3dOw5BEAAYASAAEgJR__D_BwE
Now that we have a better sense of what adrenal fatigue is and how to recognize it, how then do we prevent it or bring ourselves back into balance after it is occurring? And specifically, why is this important “as empaths?” Well, as empaths, we feel the emotions of others “as if” they are our own.
And… so you don’t leave emptyhanded, here is an actionable breakdown of what to DO for you, the sensory-gifted ones :)
We ground, consistently and daily.
We take space. We honor our need for time and physical space away from other people.
We do the very things the FEEL soothing.
As conscious empaths, the understanding of grounding is fairly straightforward because the conscious empath does understand energy conceptually.
But let’s break it down anyway.
What does it mean to be grounded?
My take: Grounding is simply “staying put in your own body and your own experience” and the understanding that if you are experiencing joy and vibrancy or really any depth-filled or enlivened emotion, you are indeed in the moment and in your body.
This is experientially and even vibrationally understood through consistent grounding practices (like earthing, like paying attention to the physical world and your physical body) resulting in a more centered approach to enlivened emotion, where the emotions can be seen for what they are, moving through us — rather than who we are and controlling our reflected experience.
The logic that follows would indeed be that if we are always frustrated, fatigued and otherwise unhappy in our body, we are also not grounded or as grounded as we could be.
The very process of grounding actually serves us, as sensitives, so well that what follows is a strong and clear sense of empowerment.
Consistent, frequent grounding practices serve to assist the adrenals and heal the body and the emotional experience so that we are not, as empaths, hyper-vigilant and hyper-reactive to all that is felt emotionally — or living life like a raw, open nerve with no off switch.
Without regular grounding, empaths are often lacking boundaries, finding themselves constantly poking around in the emotional experience of those around them, becoming overly critical, fatigued, losing track of items, succumbing to the urge to leave clutter in their environment, indulging in sweets, alcohol, nicotine and other quick fixes to relieve anxiety and pain.
Which leads us to the final piece of the puzzle. How do we then ground and assist our adrenals so that we are functional and empowered empaths?
The answer is fairly simple, straightforward and most often free.
1. Breathe.
Better yet, learn to breathe correctly, deeply and deliberately.
2. Sleep and plenty of it.
I tend to require at least 9 hours, often 10 to 12, of sleep. As an empath, I am actually processing more emotional information than just my own, and the more Light that is held within the cells (the more an empath evolves and allows more energy to flow in and out) the more emotional information can move through. Thus, more rest and repair is needed for the physical body to function at its peak.
Allowing plenty of sleep can actually end up being the one change that is most needed for most empaths. This is often impaired by worry, which can be simply addressed by herbs or supplements (see #9 below) or weighted blanket.
3. Sunshine.
The power of the sun can be summed up by sayings like:
“You radiate good health.”
“You are simply glowing.”
These sayings speak to the power of Light as our fuel and source of vibrancy. The more I develop as an empath, and the more mature I become as a soul, the more drawn I find myself to the sun, and the more clear it is to me that I am brought back into balance every time I allow myself to bask in its glow.
4. Earthing.
One of the newer and also ancient ideas related to healing and balance is earthing. Earthing is simply putting one's bare feet to the earth.
Even concrete is a conduit for energy and can be used in your earthing practice. Earthing “is” allowing the energy of the earth to move through the body.
In modern days, we tend to wear insulating materials like shoes, keeping us “from” our very natural process of earthing, and thus, healing.
5. Clean, fresh water.
Water is one of the single best conduits of energy. I will often take a salt bath when I need to return to balance and find that I feel the frequencies of healing (energy work) much more clearly as a result.
6. Yoga.
I have found in my own self-development that the movements of yoga when practiced regularly bring about a state of ease that is unmatched in nearly any other physical exercise. This practice teaches the mind deliberate movement, focus and centeredness. Yoga is practiced worldwide in many variations that can accommodate nearly anyone, at any fitness level.
7. Hugs.
Physical affection is medicinal. There are many studies now showing the positive effects of regular physical contact, particularly with people you love.
8. Pleasure.
Any of life’s amazing pleasures enjoyed without self-criticism can be considered grounding. For example, amazing tastes, smells and sounds that sooth or enliven.
9. Herbs and other supplements.
Theanine Serene is a branded supplement that easily assists the adrenals, allowing a state of balance and relaxation. This supplement is one I use myself and can be used with coffee to assist in clear, centered focus.
There are many others that help alleviate anxiety and bring balance:
GABA, Eleutherococcus, Rhodiola, and Ashwagandha. I recommend visiting a local naturopathic doctor for recommendations that are best suited to your needs. Ask about adaptogens.
Most naturopaths or holistic healers are not only aware of adrenal fatigue but have valuable insight into its reversal. Furthermore, if getting to sleep is your biggest struggle, this may be the best place to begin, with supplementation.
A regular grounding practice is essential and foundational to the empowered and healthy, happy empath, and dare I say, will shift the conscious empath’s experience from one of feeling like a victim, or at the mercy of those around them, to that of the empowered empath, who is living through the eyes of magnetized energy, bringing to them that which is desired and holding a steady space of consistent centeredness.
Of course, this journey is not black and white and will bloom in greater and greater degrees to favor the empowered experience.
Until next time! Thank you for taking your power.
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Malia is a natural empath, intuitive, practitioner of energy medicine, as well as creator of Finding Your Yes! (your treasure map to uncovering your guidance and trusting it) and author of Malia’s Way (everyday magic for empaths) and Becoming Alive (6 daily habits for the bravely sensitive)
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