This book would not have been writ en without the help and encouragement of many people. My deepest gratitude goes out to all those who as patients, friends, colleagues, students and family showed me how much a book like this was needed. I would like to gratefully acknowledge the following people for their roles in making this book a reality.
Thanks to Dr. Ward Dean who first prompted me to write this book. His inspiration and encouragement provided the spark and the decision to write it.
I would also like to thank the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM), with a special thanks to ACAM’s Dr. Jack Young and Dr. Michael Hanson, for repeatedly inviting me back to speak on the diagnosis and treatment of adrenal fatigue. Through the continual gathering of material for these lectures, the book took much of its form.
Finding a publisher is often the most difficult task for an author. Fortunately for me Smart Publications was willing to take the risk of publishing this book based primarily on a tentative outline, an audio cassette of one of my lectures and my reputation.
Next, I would like to thank Neera Jain who helped compile many of the references used in this book and thousands that do not appear, but were researched in the preparation of its writing. Thanks also to the University of Arizona Medical Library staff, especially Na Nguyen, Hanna Fisher, Fred Heidenreich, Mary Riordan and Cathy Wolfson who were always more than willing to help.
I am grateful to Dr. Gary Gordon who provided many of the historical texts and research papers that added substance, filled in many of the historical gaps and answered many of the questions about the early research and clinical reports of adrenal fatigue.
My appreciation and thanks also goes out to Dr. Jonathan Wright whose keen interest in this area prompted him to offer to write the foreword to this book.
I would also like to thank my many, many patients who have shared personal information and been dedicated enough to their health to follow through with my suggestions. It has been so wonderful to see their lives turn around. Some of their stories appear in this book.
Susan Nickol had the onerous task of transcribing my writing into readable text. She worked tirelessly on the initial copy and various revisions without complaint. Her cheerful presence in my office while managing to expertly type the book around her other duties was greatly appreciated.
After eating, breathing and living a book, a writer becomes blind to the writing. I am very grateful to Florencia Patterson, Marie Wagner, Dr. Tim Lohman, Dr. Michael Stone and Deborah Mitchell who very generously agreed to review this book and to point out needed changes.
Every Thursday morning I meet with a group of 7 men. These men have given their continual support for me to write this book. Thanks to: Joe Breck, Michael, Kiropatkin; John Eisele, Tim Lohman, James Hamilton, Jack Halstead and Bill Mawhinney.
My wife Vivien’s constant encouragement and belief in the importance of bringing this information to light were essential. Over the past 2 years, she has been my staunchest supporter as well as my greatly valued editor who helped write and rewrite the entirety of the book. She also contributed her expertise as a hypnotherapist and meditation instructor to the meditation and reframing sections of the book.
Thanks also to my 4 children who have faithfully cheered me on and sacrificed many hours of our time together so that this book could be written. I was especially touched when my 13-year-old son told me that what he wanted for his birthday was for my book to be finished. This book was indeed a family affair.
The user friendliness of this book has been enormously enhanced by the wonderful cartoons and illustrations done by Richard Capener. Richard’s exceptional talents as an artist have perceptively and sympathetically captured the essence of adrenal fatigue.
I owe so much to people I have never met, especially the pioneering doctors of the 1920-40s who organized the various manifestations of adrenal fatigue into a recognizable syndrome. Their writings continue to inspire. I hope that this book will be true to their fine example and bring relief to the many who are suffering from this distressing but often hidden disorder.