Cypress Successful Cases
Dr. Bryan Skinner, ND

“32 year old female with panic attacks, insomnia, dizziness, chronic fatigue, and chronic sore throat”

Presentation
This patient presented with a one year history of panic attacks, insomnia, dizziness, and chronic debilitating fatigue with a sore throat. She had moved to the area one year prior and had started an extremely stressful job which required long hours. Prior to this she has completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at a very competitive college. She would frequently have to go home early from work because of the dizziness and panic attacks. She found it difficult to keep her eyes open and keep her concentration while at work. This woman had a strong history of high ambition and the desire to “be the best”. It was very clear as the patient slumped in the patient chair that she had been under chronic, extreme mental strain from overwork and the pressure that she had put on herself. She had a very good diet which included adequate protein and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

On physical exam, this woman was found to have low blood pressure, sensitivity to light, and lightheadedness on rising from the exam table. I then began with laboratory testing in order to evaluate adrenal function, thyroid function, and to rule out anemia and mononucleosis. Both the adrenal and thyroid glands are intimately involved in chronic stress. Anemia can be a common cause of dizziness and chronic fatigue with shortness of breath. Mononucleosis is a condition that can cause dizziness, chronic fatigue, sore throat and other symptoms.

Laboratory results showed significantly decreased cortisol output. All other labs were normal. Cortisol is the hormone released in times of chronic stress. Initially, when stress occurs the body will release large amounts of this hormone in order to try and cope. After prolonged stress the body is unable to compensate with the demand for the hormone and cortisol levels will drop below, sometimes far below, normal levels. When cortisol levels become low symptoms usually include:
• Debilitating fatigue
• Exhausted in the morning; “Wired” at night
• Low blood pressure
• Strong craving for salt and/or sugar
• Sensitivity to light
• Lightheadedness or Dizziness on getting up from a chair or from lying
• Irritability, anxiety, depression
• Feeling “Overwhelmed” and “Unable to Cope”

Analysis
This patient had a strong history of external stress (college, workload, parental pressure, etc) and internal stress (the pressure she put on herself to perform or “be the best”) which was confirmed by the laboratory results. It was concluded that the underlying cause of this patient’s condition was primarily due to chronic stress and chronic mental strain which in turn created problems within the adrenal gland which then created most of the physical symptoms that she was experiencing. It is common in patients with low cortisol output to experience panic attacks or episodes of “hot flushes” or trembling and increased heart rate. This is mostly due to epinephrine. When cortisol is low the body will increase epinephrine levels in order to balance blood sugar levels and take care of some of the other duties of cortisol. This is how epinephrine surges can be intimately related to panic attacks in patients with low cortisol output.

Treatment
This patient was treated with the proper nutrient, herbal, and hormonal support in order to restore adrenal function and promote healthy cortisol levels in the body. This patient was also prescribed a homeopathic remedy in order to treat the underlying causes of her issues around performance, pressure, and the feeling that she always had to “go above and beyond in order to be the best”. Relaxation exercises were also prescribed in order to promote normalization of her nervous system. Within 1 month of initiating treatment, the patient was feeling a 50% improvement in her symptoms. Within 2 months of initiating treatment, the patient no longer experienced panic attacks, insomnia, dizziness, sore throat, or the chronic fatigue. She reported having “an even level of energy” throughout the day and that she was “sleeping like a baby”. The patient has also had began exercising again despite her long work hours because she felt like “it balanced her crazy life”. Further laboratory testing showed normal adrenal function at four months. The patient discontinued treatment at that time and has remained free of any of the her previous symptoms.

Cypress Successful Cases
Dr. Bryan Skinner, ND

“32 year old female with panic attacks, insomnia, dizziness, chronic fatigue, and chronic sore throat”

Presentation
This patient presented with a one year history of panic attacks, insomnia, dizziness, and chronic debilitating fatigue with a sore throat. She had moved to the area one year prior and had started an extremely stressful job which required long hours. Prior to this she has completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at a very competitive college. She would frequently have to go home early from work because of the dizziness and panic attacks. She found it difficult to keep her eyes open and keep her concentration while at work. This woman had a strong history of high ambition and the desire to “be the best”. It was very clear as the patient slumped in the patient chair that she had been under chronic, extreme mental strain from overwork and the pressure that she had put on herself. She had a very good diet which included adequate protein and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

On physical exam, this woman was found to have low blood pressure, sensitivity to light, and lightheadedness on rising from the exam table. I then began with laboratory testing in order to evaluate adrenal function, thyroid function, and to rule out anemia and mononucleosis. Both the adrenal and thyroid glands are intimately involved in chronic stress. Anemia can be a common cause of dizziness and chronic fatigue with shortness of breath. Mononucleosis is a condition that can cause dizziness, chronic fatigue, sore throat and other symptoms.

Laboratory results showed significantly decreased cortisol output. All other labs were normal. Cortisol is the hormone released in times of chronic stress. Initially, when stress occurs the body will release large amounts of this hormone in order to try and cope. After prolonged stress the body is unable to compensate with the demand for the hormone and cortisol levels will drop below, sometimes far below, normal levels. When cortisol levels become low symptoms usually include:
• Debilitating fatigue
• Exhausted in the morning; “Wired” at night
• Low blood pressure
• Strong craving for salt and/or sugar
• Sensitivity to light
• Lightheadedness or Dizziness on getting up from a chair or from lying
• Irritability, anxiety, depression
• Feeling “Overwhelmed” and “Unable to Cope”

Analysis
This patient had a strong history of external stress (college, workload, parental pressure, etc) and internal stress (the pressure she put on herself to perform or “be the best”) which was confirmed by the laboratory results. It was concluded that the underlying cause of this patient’s condition was primarily due to chronic stress and chronic mental strain which in turn created problems within the adrenal gland which then created most of the physical symptoms that she was experiencing. It is common in patients with low cortisol output to experience panic attacks or episodes of “hot flushes” or trembling and increased heart rate. This is mostly due to epinephrine. When cortisol is low the body will increase epinephrine levels in order to balance blood sugar levels and take care of some of the other duties of cortisol. This is how epinephrine surges can be intimately related to panic attacks in patients with low cortisol output.

Treatment
This patient was treated with the proper nutrient, herbal, and hormonal support in order to restore adrenal function and promote healthy cortisol levels in the body. This patient was also prescribed a homeopathic remedy in order to treat the underlying causes of her issues around performance, pressure, and the feeling that she always had to “go above and beyond in order to be the best”. Relaxation exercises were also prescribed in order to promote normalization of her nervous system. Within 1 month of initiating treatment, the patient was feeling a 50% improvement in her symptoms. Within 2 months of initiating treatment, the patient no longer experienced panic attacks, insomnia, dizziness, sore throat, or the chronic fatigue. She reported having “an even level of energy” throughout the day and that she was “sleeping like a baby”. The patient has also had began exercising again despite her long work hours because she felt like “it balanced her crazy life”. Further laboratory testing showed normal adrenal function at four months. The patient discontinued treatment at that time and has remained free of any of the her previous symptoms.