Not Weird At All! It's A Normal Part Of The Stress Response!

Hi Maverick ~

All the symptoms that you've listed are associated with the adrenal problems... the primary culprit being stress. I don't have the time to provide links for you... but the 'weird' symptoms that you describe are a natural part of the stress response and even serve an adaptive function... although not a good thing when the adrenals are chronically overburdened. Adrenaline causes the pupils to dilate in order to let more light into the eye and increase the capacity of the visual field. This is also an indication that you sympathetic nervous system is activated. In an acute life-threatening situation... this helps to increase the chance of visually identifying sources of danger. However... this same mechanism becomes problematic when the stress is chronic and more related to ongoing perceived threats that are more a function of what's going on in the mind (i.e. worry). By the way... this also accounts for the light sensitivity and accompanying pain that many people experience in more advanced stages of adrenals exhaustion as well as brain injury.

Likewise... the same holds true for increased sensitivity to sound. Once again... this is adaptive in acute situations as it increases your ability to hear oncoming sources of potential danger. However... when stress is chronic and damages the adrenal glands... this can result in hypersensitive hearing, an increased startle response and even pain such as tinnitus (internal nervous information or noises of the brain). Adrenaline activates the sensory receptors and also increases heart rate... hence increased blood flow and oxygen. ALL of the senses are subject to heightened sensitivity as a result of the stress response... especially when it is in overdrive!

I would suggest that you address your adrenal problem... including a focus on stress management and doing things to activate your parasympathetic nervous system... which is antagonistic to the sympathetic nervous system and will help to calm it down. Among other things... this includes plenty of R&R... as well as having a positive support system and human contact. You're family is going through a very difficult time and it sounds like you are shouldering a lot of it. Reach out to others for help in assisting with them in order to lighten your load... and take the time you need to care for yourself in order to restore your own health and wellbeing.

All the best ~ O Tweet