Living on Stress Hormones: Understanding Cortisol and Mental Health

In our fast-paced, high-pressure world, many of us find ourselves constantly “on”—always thinking about the next task, the next challenge, or the next thing that could go wrong. While a little stress now and then is normal (and sometimes helpful), living in a constant state of stress can take a serious toll on your mind and body. At the center of this mind-body connection is a powerful hormone: cortisol.

What Is Cortisol?

Cortisol is often called the "stress hormone" because it's released by your adrenal glands in response to stress. It’s a key part of your body’s fight-or-flight response and helps regulate essential functions like blood pressure, metabolism, inflammation, and even your sleep-wake cycle (Juruena et al., 2020). In short bursts, cortisol helps your body adapt and respond to challenges. But when stress becomes chronic, cortisol levels can stay high—and that’s when problems begin.

What Does Cortisol Have to Do With Mental Health?

Research has shown that chronically elevated cortisol is linked to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, memory difficulties, and emotional dysregulation (Vogel et al., 2023). High cortisol levels can disrupt brain regions that regulate mood and cognition—especially the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. Over time, this disruption can make it harder to cope with everyday stress, increasing your vulnerability to burnout, trauma symptoms, and mental illness (Peters et al., 2021).

Signs You May Be Living on Stress Hormones

It’s not always easy to tell when your cortisol levels are high—but your body is usually trying to tell you. Here are some signs to watch for:

• Chronic fatigue, despite getting rest

• Irritability or emotional reactivity

• Racing thoughts or difficulty concentrating

• Insomnia or disrupted sleep

• Increased anxiety or panic symptoms

• Frequent headaches, muscle tension, or digestive issues

• Feeling constantly "on edge" or unable to relax

Living in a state of constant cortisol activation can also affect your immune system, blood sugar regulation, and even weight gain, especially around the abdomen (Stalder et al., 2022).

Cortisol, Trauma, and the Nervous System

People who have experienced trauma—especially early-life or chronic trauma—often show signs of a dysregulated stress response system, including abnormal cortisol patterns (Fries et al., 2019). For some, this may mean elevated cortisol throughout the day; for others, cortisol may be suppressed or irregular. Either way, it often leads to persistent anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or numbness.

How We Help at Well Mind Body

At Well Mind Body Integrative Psychotherapy & Wellness, we recognize that mental health is deeply connected to the body. That’s why we take an integrative approach, offering not only psychotherapy but also micronutrient testing, pharmacogenomic insights, and mind-body interventions designed to help you regulate stress hormones and support whole-person healing.

If you’re noticing signs of chronic stress, anxiety, or burnout, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Through trauma-informed care, personalized treatment plans, and nervous system support, we’re here to help you restore balance—inside and out.

Thank you for being here!

Dr. E

References

Fries, G. R., Vasconcelos-Moreno, M. P., & Berk, M. (2019). The role of the HPA axis in mood disorders: Focus on atypical depression. CNS Drugs, 33(6), 539–551. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-019-00632-z

Juruena, M. F., Cleare, A. J., Pariante, C. M., & Young, A. H. (2020). The role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the biology of major depression. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7(5), 411–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30410-1

Peters, A., McEwen, B. S., & Friston, K. (2021). Uncertainty and stress: Why it causes diseases and how it is mastered by the brain. Progress in Neurobiology, 201, 102082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.102082

Stalder, T., Kirschbaum, C., Kudielka, B. M., Adam, E. K., Pruessner, J. C., Wüst, S., ... & Clow, A. (2022). Assessment of the cortisol awakening response: Expert consensus guidelines. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 142, 105740. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105740

Vogel, S., Schwabe, L., & Hennemuth, B. (2023). Cortisol and cognition: A bidirectional relationship. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 17, 1012354. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1012354