Many of us lead fast-paced lives and live out of sync with natural rhythms by going to sleep late, waking early, working long hours, not taking enough rest and leisure time, and eating when we’re not hungry. But for the over 14 million Americans who suffer from anxiety, there is a pervading sense of unease and even fear that diminishes their quality of life.

Typically, people feel tension, worry, irritability, frustration, or hopelessness. The sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) is activated, causing symptoms such as poor concentration, fatigue, poor sleep, restless, irritable, feeling tense or on edge, and muscle tension. People may also notice changes in physical health such as headaches, jaw pain, dry mouth, chest tightness, poor digestion, irritable bowel, acne, sexual dysfunction, and heart palpitations. Other areas may be impaired.

The combination of chronic stress, poor sleep, poor diet, use of stimulants such as coffee, and long work hours can deplete the body and lead to condition holistic doctors call "adrenal fatigue". It is characterized by decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol, fatigue, dark undereye circles, weakness, frequent colds and flu, thin skin, and accelerated aging, and the feeling of being burned out. In traditional Chinese medicine, this condition is called kidney deficiency.