Beware of the post-covid adrenal fatigue

Monica shares her predictions of a post-covid adrenal fatigue and why she feels it’s inevitable that we’re all going to feel the effects of being a social butterfly for a while.

So life is starting to look upwards for the majority of us. The UK has opened a bit, the USA is pretty much fine and free (although everyone is getting jabbed and their bodies are getting fucked afterwards …. the period stories I’m witnessing are TERRIBLE, but that’s an article for another day), Australia is doing it’s own thing and Canada….well they’re being stupid.

For the vast majority of us, lockdowns are being lifted very soon (or have recently been lifted, or we’ve escaped). And what I’m predicting is about to happen is post-COVID adrenal fatigue.

You see, our bodies have become so accustomed to sweat pants, watching Netflix every night, going to bed at 10pm and our active levels have been reduced as we’ve not exactly been running around to bars all night, doing a pile of errands or fitting in brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks with an afterparty on the weekends.

So what’s going to happen when we all start doing this? You’re going to get adrenal fatigue from being a social butterfly all of a sudden. No joke.

Even coming to NYC and going crazy on the social scene was a lot for my body and I needed like 4 days OFF and be by myself because I was exhausted. BOY is it FUN!!!

“You’re going to get adrenal fatigue from being a social butterfly all of a sudden”.

And on the flip side, I’m so not used to it. I’m not used to drinking Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I’m not used to my Saturdays being full of social engagements from 11am-4am and I’m sure as SHIT not used to going out for dinner so many times in a week.

So I’m encouraging you to be prepared with what may happen next. The sudden desire to see all your friend without the balance of you also taking time out to yourself may result in you burning out because you are not used to it. It doesn’t mean that what you are doing is wrong or bad. It’s the opposite! OMG all the serotonin and dopamine that you’re getting is fantabulous, however your nervous system is not used to so much stimulation.

Some of you may have even noticed that during lockdown you have become more sensitive to loud sudden noises, crowded spaces, too much stimulation and too many people. Well this is just part of being so detached and alone for a long time. Many of us feel more sensitive when it comes to scary movies, a police siren driving past us and being in a crazy city right now.

And it’s because we stopped being used to that high level of stimulus. It’s just about your body needing to re-adjust to the new environment again. Just like we had to adjust to being inside so much, now we have to adjust to being so social LOL what a problem to have.

You know when you go from the snow to a super hot and humid climate and you can be EXHAUSTED for a few days? Like you have heat stroke on steroids? It’s the same thing, but for energy.

Here are some ideas that I want you to take a picture of on your phone or a screenshot and keep it somewhere safe for when you need it.

• Have you scheduled in relaxing time this week? Not to go and get a massage… but just sitting watching Netflix or lying outside in the sun? If you don’t have time in your cal, make it.
• What are you doing the next day or morning after a night out? Do you have to race to the next thing? Make sure that you can have a slow morning and not be rushing after a late night.
• Are you booking in sessions with your coach/ healer/ mentor/ therapist so that you can ensure that your mental health, emotional and spiritual health stays in check?
• Are you doing fun things for YOU? Like going and sitting in a cafe, enjoying a coffee and reading a book?
• Do you have at least 3–4 nights per week from 6pm-bedtime where you are NOT working and just get to chill and enjoy yourself?

How can social engagement cause adrenal fatigue?

Adrenal fatigue is the result of you being under a long period of mental, emotional or physical stress. Now, you may be thinking that being social isn’t stressful, but being SUPER social compared to not having been so in the last year can be stressful. This is because you will need to get use to getting out and socialising again. Whether your body is releasing cortisol because you’ve been stressed by work, or because you are dancing your ass off with your friends, you are still releasing cortisol and your body is stressed.

Often (myself included) we can forget that the things we enjoy doing, can and ARE still stressful for our physical bodies. So, it’s important to rest and rejuvenate yourself after having long periods of social time. Even if you are an extrovert (like me), you still benefit from having time to yourself to recharge and not get burnt out.

Monica Yates is a trauma healer, feminine/masculine embodiment coach and period whisperer. Monica is also the podcast host of Feminine As F*ck, editor of UNEDITED magazine and an influencer. At the age of only 25, she has built a name for herself as an expert within this realm, as well as a million dollar company. Her mission is to help women clear trauma so they can step into their magnetic feminine energy, as well as help men feel ecstasy and intimacy in the bedroom.