5 Stages of Fatigue

The 5 Stages of Fatigue
Discover which stage you are in,

what effect this has on your body
and what you can do to help yourself recover.
By Georgina Gower
www.meora.com.au
2 The 5 Stages of Fatigue
Table of Contents
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………...3
Stress and its Effects…………………………………………………………………….… 4
Fight or Flight Response………………………………………………………….…..4
Anatomy of the Persistent Stress Response...…………………….………….. 7
Alarm Phase …………………………………………………….………..…... 7
Resistance Phase …………………………………………………………… 7
Exhaustion Phase ………………………………………………………….….8
Warning Signs of Stress …………………………………………………………..….9
What Causes Stress ………………………………………………………………..... 9
The 5 Stages of Fatigue ……………………………………………………………….…11
Driven …………………………………………………………………………………….11
Decline …………………………………………………………………………………..12
Imbalance ……………………………………………………………………………….13
Exhausted ……………………………………………………………………………….14
Crisis ………………………………………………………………………………………15
The Fatigue Survey…………………………………………………………………………16
Reclaim Energy, Reclaim Life Program …………………………………………..17
Copyright © 2011 by Georgina Gower. All rights reserved. No part of this document may
be reproduced without written consent from the author.
www.meora.com.au © Georgina Gower 2011. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION
Fatigue is not just about being tired. It doesn’t improve after a good night’s
sleep nor will it subside with a good dose of exercise. Fatigue is insidious, it
creeps up on you over time so that when you realize things really aren’t right it
has already established itself.
Fatigue is both a physiological and a psychological experience. It can cause a

myriad of symptoms and can likewise have a myriad of causes.
My area of specialisation, and that which we will be most concerned with in

this book, is fatigue that is unexplained, i.e. fatigue that conventional medical
tests cannot find a cause for. This form of fatigue generally progresses over
time and the sufferer finds that it becomes increasingly difficult to continue
functioning as they used to. It starts out as a general lack of energy and need
for more sleep and gradually develops into an illness that, at its extreme, can
severely disable the sufferer.
Unfortunately due to limitations in the conventional medical system, all too

often sufferers are left out to dry. Sadly the mentality that, if limited medical
tests are normal then there is nothing wrong, still exists today and sufferers
are left to flounder on their own thinking that maybe they are crazy.
Let me say categorically that you are not crazy. What you are experiencing is
real. You don’t have to live with this and you don’t have to suffer alone.
I know exactly where you are because I have been there too. I suffered with
severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for 6 years so I know how frustrating it can
be to be told over and over that there is nothing medically wrong with you. It
can be soul destroying searching for someone to listen and believe in you.
This is why I now help people just like you to reclaim their energy and reclaim
their life. I have first-hand experience of what it is like to live with fatigue, in
all its stages, and most importantly how to recover from this disabling illness.
Whichever fatigue stage you are experiencing, my program, the “Reclaim

Energy, Reclaim Life” Program, can help to restore your energy and wellbeing
and get you back in control of your life.

“Visit my website to discover how the Reclaim Energy,

Reclaim Life Program can help you.”
www.meora.com.au
To explain the 5 Stages of Fatigue we first need to understand stress and what
effect stress has on us physiologically.
STRESS AND ITS EFFECTS
When a person is stressed, the body reacts by mounting a stress response

through the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. This is also called
the “fight or flight” response.
Fight or Flight Response:
We all have an inbuilt, automatic mechanism that switches on when there is a

perceived attack, harm or threat to our safety or survival. This mechanism sets
the body up so that it is ready to ‘fight’ or ‘flee’, thus it is called the ‘fight-or-
flight’ response. It is there to protect us from harm and occurs without us
having to think about it.
The response was originally discovered by Harvard physiologist Walter Cannon

in 1915 but we now know it would have been present in our caveman
ancestors to help them fight and run from predators and threats to their
survival. This response is hardwired into us, it is part of our genetic make-up.
It is also wired so that it bypasses our conscious mind to act instantly and this
is the key to its success. When confronted with danger every second is crucial
so you want any response you make to happen instantly to ensure you have
the best chance of reacting and surviving. If the response were to first pass
through our conscious minds for processing, valuable seconds would be lost
while the mind is determining what to do and in all likelihood a not so
favourable outcome would result.

The response stimulates a part of the brain called the hypothalamus which
secretes Adrenocorticotrophic releasing Hormone (ARH). ARH stimulates the
adjacent pituitary gland to secrete Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). This
in turn stimulates the adrenal glands which are situated on the kidneys to
secrete Adrenaline and Cortisol. These two hormones work together to ensure
that the body gets more energy by providing more oxygen and glucose. This
reaction occurs to ensure all the necessary bodily systems are in place and are
at the ready should fighting or running be required. Activation of this response
leads to dramatic changes within the body:
 The breathing rate increases and becomes shallow

 Blood is directed away from non-essential areas and into the muscles
and limbs
 The blood vessels dilate to enable more blood flow to the muscles and
limbs
 The heart rate increases to facilitate the increased blood flow
 Pupils dilate and our sight sharpens
 Impulses and reactions quicken
 Sexual function decreases
 Pain perception decreases
 Immune system activation is increased
All these reactions occur instantaneously to ensure the body is well prepared,
physically and psychologically, to run or fight.
In our prehistoric ancestors this response would have been essential to their
survival. It would have manifest as aggression and combative behaviour when
confronted by other humans and as fear and fleeing when confronted by
predators. In those days the fight or flight response would have been
activated in response to real threats to physical survival.
In today’s modern man this response is still very much a part of our make-up
but triggers for its activation have evolved to be larger in number and far less
life threatening. Todays “predators” consist of arguments with our boss or
spouse, getting stuck in traffic or missing a deadline. As we can see these are
far from being threats to our physical survival but nonetheless our innate fight-
or-flight response perceives them to be and activates the physical response.
Thus on a daily basis our bodies are being flooded with stress hormones in
response to situations and events that pose no real threat to our physical
survival.
Once the response has been activated it is then switched off once the
appropriate action has been taken by the body, i.e. fighting or running, and the
threat has been eliminated. The body and mind then returns to a state of
homeostasis and calm.
Today, man deals with situations where the fight-or-flight response is activated
but not brought to a conclusion. That is, in most cases, fleeing or fighting is not
appropriate and we have to put up with or deal with the perceived threat thus
leaving our fight or flight response in a state of prolonged activation. For
example, we can’t physically fight with our boss or spouse and we can’t do
anything when we are stuck in traffic or have missed a deadline. These are all
stresses that, to our systems, have not been resolved. The perceived threat is
still present so the body maintains its vigilance to be ready to fight or flee.
This prolonged and repeated activation of the fight-or-flight response can, in

the long-term, lead to physiological and psychological damage. The body is
unable to metabolise and clear the accumulating build-up of stress hormones
which then go on to contribute to a myriad of diseases and disorders, some of
which are:
 Autonomic nervous systems disorders e.g. Irritable bowel syndrome,

high blood pressure, headaches, migraines
 Autoimmune disorders e.g. Lupus, Arthritis, Hashimotos disease
 Chronic fatigue syndrome
 Fatigue disorders
 Hormonal disorders
 Immune disorders
 Diabetes
 Sleep disturbances
And the list goes on.
Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems. Chronic

stress disrupts nearly every system in your body. It can raise blood pressure,
suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke,
contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term stress can
even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

Anatomy of the Persistent Stress Response:
In response to persistent, chronic stress the body experiences three stages in

its attempt to maintain balance and functioning. These three stages are: an
initial alarm phase, followed by a resistance phase, followed finally by an
exhaustion phase.
1. Alarm Phase: The alarm phase is initially activated when a section of the
brain called the Hypothalamus detects stress. It does this by messages
that are received from our sensory systems (i.e. eyes, ears, skin etc.)
indicating that a stress is occurring. The Hypothalamus reacts by
releasing a protein called corticoprotein (meaning “cortex stimulating”)
releasing hormone or CRH. CRH then heads to the Pituitary Gland (a pea
sized gland located at the base of the skull) where it causes the gland to
release adrenocorticotropic (meaning “adrenal cortex stimulating”)
hormone or ACTH. This ACTH then travels on to the adrenal glands
(glands that lie on top of the kidneys) where it instructs the adrenals to
release adrenalin, noradrenalin, cortisol and other stress related
hormones into the blood.
This response is the fight or flight response, as we have discussed earlier,

which readies the body to run away or fight.
2. Resistance Phase: Next the body enters the resistance phase to try and
fix whatever has caused the stress. If the body has lost blood from an
injury then the kidneys help to minimise the loss. They do this via the
Hypothalamus and the adrenal glands releasing hormones which cause
the kidneys to secrete potassium into the urine and reabsorb sodium
and water into the blood. This helps to maintain blood volume.
As the stress persists the body uses up its stores of glucose. To continue
to be able to heal its damaged cells it needs to use its stores of
carbohydrates, fats and proteins for energy. Once again the
hypothalamus releases CRH which causes the pituitary gland to release
ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal glands to release even higher
amounts of cortisol to supply the body with the energy required for
repair.

If the stress continues the adrenal glands continue to produce cortisol.

In large quantities cortisol can depress your immune and inflammatory
systems and can increase the risk of significant disease (including high
blood pressure, diabetes and cancer). This is due to the high cortisol
levels over-stimulating individual cells which eventually begin to break
down.
Excess cortisol results in:
 Bone loss
 Decreased sex drive
 Emotional mood swings – depression
 Gastritis
 Menstrual disorders
 Muscle wasting
 Recurrent infections
 Slower wound healing
 Thinning of the skin and connective tissue
 Water retention
 Weight gain
In this phase your body continues to try and maintain itself under
increasing strain and pressure. This resistance phase can continue for
years and is dependent on the individuals’ physiology and life
experience. Eventually if this phase goes on for too long, your body
systems weaken and you enter the final stage....exhaustion.
3. Exhaustion Phase: In this phase the adrenals can no longer keep up with
the increased demand for cortisol and other hormones. As a result the
body weakens. Blood sugar levels drop resulting in hypoglycaemia
because the body cells are unable to obtain the glucose and other
nutrients they require. When energy isn’t available then all bodily
systems which rely on energy to function slow down dramatically.
Eventually the adrenals can no longer produce their hormones and the
body suffers adrenal exhaustion. The body runs out of its reserve of
energy and immunity. Mental, physical and emotional resources suffer
heavily leading to decreased stress tolerance, progressive mental and
physical exhaustion, illness and collapse.

Warning Signs of Stress:
Here are some signs to look out for that may indicate that you or someone you
know may be experiencing stress.
Physical Signs of Stress:

 Feelings of nausea
 Feeling faint or sweaty
 Headaches or migraine
 Indigestion, constipation
 Increased skin irritations e.g. eczema
 An increase in minor illnesses
 Feeling tired all the time – fatigue
Emotional Signs of Stress:

 Increased forgetfulness
 Difficulty making decisions
 A loss of sense of humour
 Increased irritability or moodiness
 Negative thinking
 Poor concentration
 Being constantly worried
What Causes Stress?
Stress can be physical, emotional, psychological, environmental, infectious or a

combination of these. Stress can appear as a single event, i.e. the death of a
loved one , the breakdown of a relationship etc., or it can appear in a less
obvious way such as unhappiness at work, poor diet, excess alcohol etc.
Smaller stresses can impact ones health if they occur simultaneously,
accumulate or become chronic. This is because the body works very hard to
maintain balance when confronted with stressors. If there are multiple
stressors, or they are chronic, then the body is overwhelmed and cannot
sustain the energy and physiological response required to be able to
compensate and recover from that stress or combined stressors. Once this
capacity to cope and recover is exceeded then some form of fatigue occurs.

Causes of stress can be wide and varied. Some examples are:
 Death of a loved one

 Infection – acute or chronic
 Allergies
 Smoking
 Lack of sleep
 Overconsumption of sugar
 Lack of exercise
 Marital/relationship stress
 Excess caffeine
 Fear
 Work stress
 Financial pressures
 Environmental toxins
 Poor diet
 Emotional stress
 Excess alcohol
Fatigue occurs when the body is no longer able to respond appropriately to the
stresses placed upon it. The body is effectively overloaded, its coping ability
declines and outward symptoms develop. The worse the overload, the worse
the fatigue. Each person has a different capacity to handle the total stress
load, and that capacity varies over time and events.
Repeated stressors, no matter what their cause, make a person more prone to
fatigue and illness. The effects of stress are cumulative, even when the
individual stressors are quite different. This is because the body has still had to
respond to each stress event, thus depleting its ability to recover.
With this in mind we can now explore the stages of fatigue. Each stage is
indicative of the level of stress the body is being exposed to and its ability to
respond and recover.

THE 5 STAGES OF FATIGUE
Through my own experience and research I have identified 5 stages of fatigue.

The stages are progressive and are indicative of the level of impairment that a
sufferer experiences.
The 5 Stages of Fatigue are:
1. Driven
2. Decline
3. Imbalance
4. Exhausted
5. Crisis
Stage 1: DRIVEN
This is the stage that is the most difficult for sufferers to identify. In this stage
there does not appear to be anything wrong. The individual has high energy, is
motivated and has an active life. Unfortunately this is the stage in which the
individual does not place much attention on their body and how it is
functioning. This is the crucial stage that, if not addressed, kickstarts the
downward spiral into subsequent stages.
Typical Characteristics of the Driven Person:
 Very active, always on the go.

 Burns the candle at both ends.
 Frequently stays up late for work, socializing or a new baby.
 Either doesn’t have time to exercise or is an over exerciser.
 Consumes coffee and sugar regularly.
 Might have started smoking in their late teens, early 20’s.
 Doesn’t allow colds or flu to keep them down for long.
 Has responsibility in life and thrives on challenges.

The Physiological Consequence of the Driven Person:
Whilst this person is active and energetic and always on the go their body is
struggling to keep up. With each high charged event that occurs in their life
their stress response activates, flooding their system with hormones. The life
this person leads is one that is filled with regular, high charged situations and
excitement, so the stress response is activating frequently. Each time this
person stays up late or has a deadline to meet their body works hard to
maintain system, pumping out cortisol and other hormones. If the body is not
allowed periods of rest during this stage then a prolonged resistance phase
may be established eventually leading to stage 2.
Stage 2: DECLINE
In this stage sufferers are starting to feel a little less energetic. They are
starting to turn to stimulants to increase their energy levels. Sleep is starting
to be affected and they may have difficulty getting to sleep. The body’s
metabolism is becoming sluggish and weight gain may be present.
Typical Characteristics of the Declining Person:
 Feel less energetic than they used to.

 Needs coffee in the morning to get them going.
 During the day they consume sugar and/or white flour products (bread,
cakes, biscuits).
 They drink coffee or diet coke in order to keep functioning.
 If they smoke, they are probably smoking more now.
 They have trouble falling asleep and frequently wake during the night.
 They are getting flabby and are developing love handles.
 They experience occasional bouts of anxiety and are becoming easily
irritated.
 May wake up feeling tired, even though they have had adequate sleep.

The Physiological Consequence of the Declining Person:
In this stage the body favours the production of cortisol whilst other hormones
are less favoured leading to a decline in their production. The body still
manages to keep cortisol at a normal level, though we do start to see
abnormally low levels in the morning when cortisol is needed the most. This is
why sufferers will feel tired when they wake up. Again, if health is not
addressed now, and rest and recovery time is not taken, then health will
continue to decline.
Stage 3: IMBALANCE
In this stage sufferers are really starting to feel that everything is an effort.
Insomnia is becoming a factor of life and caffeine and sugar seem to be daily
staples, giving enough of a boost to get them through the day. They realize
that something is not right but blood tests are normal.
Typical Characteristics of the Imbalanced Person:
 Weight gain or loss.

 Insomnia is common.
 They frequently lay awake at night worrying about things.
 They may need to lie down during the day.
 They don’t exercise as much, if at all.
 They consume coffee, sugar and other stimulants to keep them going
through the day.
 They may be experiencing anxiety more frequently.
 They feel depressed and have mood swings.
 They have been to the Doctor who can’t find anything wrong.
 They don’t understand why they feel so tired and achy all the time.
 They feel like they are on the verge of getting the flu.

The Physiological Consequence of the Imbalanced Person:
The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland are still secreting their hormones to
stimulate the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol but the adrenals are no
longer able to keep up with the increased demand. This leads to a reduction in
cortisol far below average and now night time cortisol levels also decrease
leaving the body unable to maintain homeostasis. The symptoms experienced
in stage 2 now continue to worsen and become persistent or chronic. The
body is in a constant state of mild to moderate fatigue.
Stage 4: EXHAUSTED
In this stage sufferers are exhausted. It takes every ounce of precious energy
to get through the day. A myriad of symptoms are now present in the person
and they have no energy for socializing or anything else other than daily needs.
They fall into bed at the end of the day, which is becoming earlier and earlier,
only to find that they lay there for hours trying to get to sleep.
Typical Characteristics of the Exhausted Person:
 They are exhausted.

 They can’t stand up for long periods.
 They think about sleeping a lot.
 There mind seems to be in a fog, they can’t concentrate and their
memory is impaired.
 They experience a whole range of symptoms including: insomnia, heart
palpitations, dizziness, anxiety, stomach upsets, allergies, headaches,
aches and pains, back pain, stiff neck, panic attacks.
 Medications are now a regular addition to daily life.
 They consume increasing amounts of coffee and stimulants but they
don’t help.
 They feel “tired but wired”.
 They wake frequently to go to the toilet.
 They are tense, worried and frightened.
 They have become increasingly isolated from people as they are too
exhausted to socialize.

The Physiological Consequence of the Exhausted Person:
The body now becomes severely compromised in trying to maintain

homeostasis. Normal equilibrium is lost. The body makes a last ditch effort by
activating the autonomic nervous system. This causes a flooding of adrenalin
and noradrenalin into the body. Unfortunately many components of this
system have already been damaged thus giving rise to the myriad of symptoms
the body is now experiencing.
Stage 5: CRISIS
In this stage sufferers cannot get out of bed. They have no energy left and
their body is wiped out. Getting around is a major effort and their ability to
attend to daily needs is diminished.
Typical Characteristics of the Crisis Person:
 Can’t get out of bed, bed-ridden most of the time.

 They are irritable and snappy.
 Their zest for life is gone and they have nothing left to give.
 Everything is a major effort.
 They ache all over.
 They feel like they have the flu but 10 times worse.
 They are weak.
 They may now have cancer, a heart attack or chronic fatigue syndrome.
 Autoimmune disease is more likely to occur or be exacerbated by their
depleted immune system.
 They are a shadow of their old self and their family and friends can no
longer relate to them.
 They need help to do normal daily chores.
 They have trouble remaining upright.
The Physiological Consequence of the Crisis Person:
In this stage the body’s key hormones fall below the minimum required
reserve for normal function and the body fails. This is a state of extreme low
energy as the body tries to conserve what little it does have for survival.

THE FATIGUE SURVEY
Take this short survey to discover which stage you are in.
Please select the responses that apply to you:
I drink coffee and/or caffeinated drinks regularly to give me

energy. □
I crave sugar and sugary foods.
□
I skip meals.
□
I have trouble falling asleep.
□
I wake up feeling tired even though I’ve had adequate sleep.
□
I feel depressed and moody.
□
I need to nap during the day.
□
I worry at night and have trouble sleeping.
□
I push myself past stress or fatigue to accomplish my goals.
□
I find I get tired in the afternoon and reach for stimulants
(coffee, sugar etc.) to give me energy. □
I work long hours and/or bring work home with me regularly.
□
I have trouble standing up for periods of time.
□
I have difficulties concentrating and remembering things.
□
I feel absolutely exhausted.

□
TOTAL SCORE:
How To Score:
Add up all the responses that you ticked to get your total score.
If your score was:
3 or less: You are in the Driven stage

4-6: You are in the Decline stage
7-10: You are in the Imbalance stage
11+: You are in the Exhausted stage and heading towards Crisis.
This survey is adapted from the questionnaire that I use in my “Reclaim

Energy, Reclaim Life Program”.
RECLAIM ENERGY, RECLAIM LIFE PROGRAM
Now that you have identified which stage you are in what is the next step for
you?
As I have mentioned before, I suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for 6

years so I have experienced each and every one of the fatigue stages. I have
first-hand experience of the challenges that a person in each of the stages
faces and I also have first-hand experience of how to recover from each stage.
As such, I have developed a program called the “Reclaim Energy, Reclaim Life”
program which gives fatigue sufferers the tools, assistance and knowledge they
need to regain their energy and restore their health and wellbeing.
The program incorporates the tips, techniques and tools that I used along my
journey to bring my body back to the healthy, vital state it is in today. It
worked for me and it can work for you too!
The program is not hard, though it does require change and commitment.

The Reclaim Energy, Reclaim Life Program is delivered in 5 easy steps:

Step 1: This is the initial step where you complete a comprehensive
questionnaire prior to coming to your first session. The questionnaire gathers
information on you, your health and your lifestyle. You then bring this with
you to your first session where we will look through it together and have a
general discussion about where you currently are with your health and we also
identify which stage of fatigue you are experiencing.
In this step we really start to nut out and identify which areas of your life may
be out of balance and could be contributing to your ill health, and we look at
ways that we can improve these areas to help kickstart your recovery.
Step 2: Next we move on to the therapy portion of the program where I work
with your body, utilising massage and energy techniques, to facilitate healing
and nurture and support your body as it returns to a state of balance and calm.
Step 3: This is the most important step in the whole program. This is where
we implement the "9 Keys to Fighting Fatigue". These 9 powerful keys contain
the techniques that I used to overcome my illness and they will leave you
feeling more energised and more like yourself.
At this point let me stress that at no stage during my program will you be
pushed to do things that you do not want to do, or that you are not physically
capable of doing. At all times we will be working within your capabilities. I
know through personal experience that pushing beyond your boundaries is
counterproductive so rest assured we will be working within your limits at all
times.

The "9 Keys to Fighting Fatigue":
1. Take Stock
2. Identify Fatigue Boosters
3. Wind Down
4. Nutrition
5. Sleep
6. Let Go
7. Exercise
8. Joy and Laughter
9. Reconnection
Step 4: In this step we schedule 6 regular sessions. It is important to be

committed and consistent with the program so you do need to commit to 6
sessions in the first instance so we can really work with establishing the 9 keys,
monitoring your progress and overcoming any obstacles should they arise.
As I have stressed before, you did not get this way over a couple of weeks, this
has been a gradual decline over months and in most cases years so you cannot
expect a 1 to 2 session miracle.
I am all about being realistic......you need to get real about where you are now
and that it is going to take some work to return to health.
You know as well as I do that your health is the most important thing in your
life, it's number 1. Without it you can't support and feed your family, you can't
enjoy all that life has to offer.
So often we relegate our health to the bottom of the checklist.......something

we'll get to after we've done this.....this.....and that!
Well now you are discovering that we can only get away with this for a finite
amount of time.
Your number 1 relationship now needs to be with you!!

Your body is crying out to you now. Taking the time to do the work required is
a small price to pay for a lifetime of good health that awaits you. Love your
body, respect your body and it will return to you 10 fold!
Step 5: Which brings me now to the final step in the program. Once the
program is well established we will then review the process and implement a
new treatment schedule as appropriate to ensure long lasting success.
When you have completed the 5 steps, I guarantee you will be well on your
way to getting back that old zing and drive. People will start to notice the
change and you will be starting to feel better than you have in a long time!!
So, please don’t delay,

join my program now and get started on
reclaiming your life!
Visit www.meora.com.au
and sign up for my life changing
program!!

5 Stages of Fatigue

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5 Stages of Fatigue

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The 5 Stages of Fatigue

Discover which stage you are in,

www.meora.com.au © Georgina Gower 2011. All rights reserved.

Fatigue is both a physiological and a psychological experience. It can cause a

My area of specialisation, and that which we will be most concerned with in

Unfortunately due to limitations in the conventional medical system, all too

Whichever fatigue stage you are experiencing, my program, the “Reclaim

www.meora.com.au © Georgina Gower 2011. All rights reserved.

“Visit my website to discover how the Reclaim Energy,

STRESS AND ITS EFFECTS

When a person is stressed, the body reacts by mounting a stress response

Fight or Flight Response:

We all have an inbuilt, automatic mechanism that switches on when there is a

The response was originally discovered by Harvard physiologist Walter Cannon

www.meora.com.au © Georgina Gower 2011. All rights reserved.

 The breathing rate increases and becomes shallow

This prolonged and repeated activation of the fight-or-flight response can, in

 Autonomic nervous systems disorders e.g. Irritable bowel syndrome,

And the list goes on.

Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems. Chronic

www.meora.com.au © Georgina Gower 2011. All rights reserved.

Anatomy of the Persistent Stress Response:

In response to persistent, chronic stress the body experiences three stages in

This response is the fight or flight response, as we have discussed earlier,

www.meora.com.au © Georgina Gower 2011. All rights reserved.

If the stress continues the adrenal glands continue to produce cortisol.

Excess cortisol results in:

www.meora.com.au © Georgina Gower 2011. All rights reserved.

Warning Signs of Stress:

Physical Signs of Stress:

Emotional Signs of Stress:

What Causes Stress?

Stress can be physical, emotional, psychological, environmental, infectious or a

www.meora.com.au © Georgina Gower 2011. All rights reserved.

Causes of stress can be wide and varied. Some examples are:

 Death of a loved one

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THE 5 STAGES OF FATIGUE

Through my own experience and research I have identified 5 stages of fatigue.

The 5 Stages of Fatigue are:

Typical Characteristics of the Driven Person:

 Very active, always on the go.

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The Physiological Consequence of the Driven Person:

Typical Characteristics of the Declining Person:

 Feel less energetic than they used to.

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The Physiological Consequence of the Declining Person:

Typical Characteristics of the Imbalanced Person:

 Weight gain or loss.

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The Physiological Consequence of the Imbalanced Person:

Typical Characteristics of the Exhausted Person:

 They are exhausted.

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The Physiological Consequence of the Exhausted Person:

The body now becomes severely compromised in trying to maintain

Typical Characteristics of the Crisis Person:

 Can’t get out of bed, bed-ridden most of the time.

The Physiological Consequence of the Crisis Person:

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THE FATIGUE SURVEY

Please select the responses that apply to you: