While some folks think it's BS, the World Health Organization is officially recognizing a new stress disorder called "21st Century Syndrome" or Adrenal Fatigue. What are the symptoms, other than being alive in the 21st century? Fatigue, irritability, light-headedness, low libido, problems concentrating, digestion problems, excessive salt cravings, and increased susceptibility to coughs and colds. Sadly, this disorder is being called just another side effect of modern living. Womp womp.

    Adrenal Fatigue, which affects more women than men, is caused when our adrenal glands get way overworked. The adrenals are intended to release high levels of the hormone cortisol only during short-term periods of high stress. As in, "Help! I'm being chased by a bear!" But our modern lifestyles are necessitating more and more cortisol output just to keep up-as in, "My crazy boss wants this report done in ten minutes, my BF is being a jerk, and I'm late on the rent!"-causing the poor, little, walnut-sized glands to burn out.

    While sufferers may not have obvious signs of physical illness, they go through their days with chronic stress and fatigue. Predictably, sufferers tend to consume coffee or other stimulants to get them through the day. Ummm … sounds a little bit familiar, huh? We'll be hearing a lot more about "21st Century Syndrome" as reported cases have skyrocketed since the economy hit the skids. It is estimated that about one-third of people have some form of Adrenal Fatigue. Whoa! That's like one out of the three people sitting in your cubicle section. If I had any energy left, I would advocate work reform. Fridays off! Three months of vacation! But I'm too tired and irritable to care. I think it's time for another cup of coffee and some potato chips.

    人們并不認為"21世紀綜合癥"是一種病，而世界衛生組織正式認識了一種新的心理壓力障礙癥--腎上腺疲勞癥，稱為"二十一世紀綜合癥".除了生活在二十一世紀還有一些其他癥狀：疲勞，易怒，頭暈，性欲降低，注意力分散，消化不良，偏愛過咸食物，動輒感冒咳嗽等。可悲的是，這種癥狀被稱為現代生活的又一副作用。真令人感嘆！

    女性比男性更容易患這疲勞癥，腎上腺超負荷工作就會引發此癥。只有短期內高度緊張才會使腎上腺大量分泌皮質醇，如當一只熊追你的時候。但是現代生活方式迫使腎上腺分泌更多皮質醇，只是為了這些--你聽："我老板真是要瘋！要我10分鐘內寫完這份報告！" "我男朋友真是個棒槌！"或者"房租還沒交呢！".就這樣，使那桃核般小小的腺體可憐巴巴地失去活力。

    這腎上腺疲勞癥狀也許并沒有呈明顯病態，但是它這樣超負荷工作會帶來長期的壓力和疲勞。我可以推測，患者常常會利用咖啡等刺激性飲料來提神。嗯……聽起來很耳熟，對吧？關于"二十一世紀綜合癥"我們聽到的將會越來越多，正如報告中所說的那樣，自從經濟走了下坡路，患者人數就開始飆升。據估計有近三分之一的人患有不同程度的腎上腺疲勞癥。哇！那就是說你們辦公室每三個人里面就有一個是患者耶！如果有剩余精力的話，會倡導一場工作變革，周五也休息！假期三個月！但我太累了，也太暴躁，才懶得管呢！不行了，我得再來杯咖啡提提神……