🌩️ How to Handle Adrenaline Surges During CFS or Long COVID Recovery
Adrenaline Surges in CFS and Long COVID: Why They Happen
If you’ve ever felt wired, buzzing, or full of jittery energy while your body is still completely exhausted—you’re not alone. This is a very common symptom for people with chronic fatigue syndrome or long COVID. These “adrenaline surges” can make your heart race, your skin feel like it’s crawling, or even make your mind spin with a thousand thoughts at once.
This might sound alarming, but adrenaline surges are simply your hypersensitive nervous system overreacting to small stimuli. It’s not a sign of damage. It’s your body trying to keep you alert—even when you don’t need it.
When the Body Feels Wired but the Brain Won’t Slow Down
What makes adrenaline surges so overwhelming is that they affect both the body and the mind.
-
Physically, you might feel trembling, buzzing, or a racing heart.
-
Mentally, you might feel wired, anxious, or have racing thoughts that won’t stop.
This mental component is especially tricky. It can feel like your brain is in overdrive, even if you’re exhausted. Some people describe it as “borderline manic” or like they’ve had ten cups of coffee. You’re not going crazy—your brain is stuck in survival mode.
How to Separate the Symptoms from the Fear
Here’s one of the most important lessons from recovery:
Just because your body feels intense symptoms doesn’t mean you are in danger.
Your nervous system is glitching, not failing. And the more you panic, the worse the adrenaline surge gets. It’s a feedback loop.
Instead of trying to stop the symptoms right away, practice mental separation:
-
Imagine your body is reacting on its own—but your mind can stay calm.
-
Tell yourself: “This is just adrenaline. It’s uncomfortable, but I’m safe.”
-
Focus on calming your response, not eliminating the symptom.
When you can stay mentally calm while your body feels chaotic, you take the teeth out of the monster.
What an Adjustment Period Looks Like
Adrenaline surges often show up during what’s called an adjustment period—a phase where you’ve done a little more activity and your body is reacting to it.
A typical pattern might look like this:
-
You do a little more than usual (e.g., longer walk, drive, visit).
-
Symptoms flare up. You feel wired, anxious, or overstimulated.
-
Your body crashes. You feel heavy, tired, or foggy.
-
Your system stabilizes. You return to your baseline or a new, better one.
Understanding this pattern can reduce fear when the adrenaline hits. It’s not a setback—it’s your body learning and adapting.
What to Do When Your Mind Is Racing
One of the hardest parts of adrenaline surges is the mental racing—especially if it leads to obsessive thoughts or intrusive worries.
Here are some tips to help slow it down:
-
Ground yourself physically. Try placing your hands on a cool surface or holding an object.
-
Do slow breathing. A simple 4-4-6 breath can help: Inhale 4 seconds, hold 4, exhale 6.
-
Name it. Say “This is just adrenaline” out loud or in your mind. Labeling the experience can reduce its power.
-
Let it pass. Remind yourself: “This is temporary. It will settle soon.”
You’re not trying to fix the feeling—you’re just letting the wave pass.
Confidence Is the Real Game-Changer
The more often you experience adrenaline surges without panicking, the more confident you become. Eventually, you’ll feel the surge and think, “Oh, it’s just that again.”
And that confidence becomes a safety net—one that keeps you from falling into fear when symptoms arise.
This is what true progress looks like. Not avoiding symptoms, but handling them differently.
Quick Recap: How to Handle Adrenaline Surges
✅ Acknowledge it’s part of a hypersensitive nervous system
✅ Separate your mind from your body’s reactions
✅ Don’t feed the panic—ride it out calmly
âś… Understand it’s temporary, part of an adjustment period
âś… Keep moving forward slowly and gently