The Dangers Of Cortisol
Have you ever felt so stressed that you just wanted to crawl into a hole and hide? And then, when you finally had a chance to relax, your mind wouldn’t stop racing about all the stress factors, and you couldn’t get any sleep? If so, congratulations—you’ve experienced the “joys” of cortisol.
Cortisol is often called the "stress hormone" because it’s secreted in large amounts during stressful situations. While cortisol does have essential functions in our bodies, too much of it can be dangerous. In this post, we’ll examine the effects of cortisol overload and explore what you can do to avoid it.
The Stress Response
When we experience stress, the body responds by releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones prepare our body to deal with stressful situations by increasing heart rate and blood pressure. The raised heart rate and blood pressure allow the body to pump more blood to the extremities, enabling you to run away if needed.
Why does it do that? Evolutionarily, stress usually signaled a threat in the environment—something trying to harm you. Thus, the body’s response, famously known as “fight or flight,” became its most ancient defense mechanism. It’s not merely anxiety; it’s a deep-rooted survival response.
The Megapolis Era
From what you’ve learned so far, the stress response developed when our ancestors were living in a raw, untamed environment—often running around in minimal clothing and picking berries. Naturally, in that setting, many threats were literally chasing them down.
In today’s era of huge cities, the risk of death by predation is slim to none. Nevertheless, our stress response is still activated, and even more frequently than before. Modern-day factors can lead to chronic stress, which significantly impacts our daily lives.
Recovery, Immunity & Growth
We’ve all experienced that moment when our boss says, “we need to talk,” or when a cashier seems to be having a bad day and takes it out on you. These everyday situations can leave us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed all the time.
It might seem that stress is purely mental, but the reality is far from it. Cortisol, by nature, shuts down the body’s recovery, immunity, and growth processes so that it can focus solely on survival. While stress would normally subside once the danger passes, constant stress in modern life means that these critical functions remain hindered. Consequently, your heart, brain, and entire system fall out of harmony, putting you on the highway to disease.
How To Deal With It
Constant stress and anxiety are not just mental issues—they predispose you to serious health problems. This naturally leads to the question: How can you effectively manage stress?
There are various methods and a multitude of calm-inducing supplements and products on the market. However, we want to emphasize one of the most important practices for stress management.
Respond, Rather Than React
One crucial aspect of managing stress is to acknowledge that we tend to react to stress factors automatically—and emotionally. For example, if someone close to you shouts, you might instinctively mirror their behavior, escalating the situation. This reaction is normal, as our brains are wired to act on memorized patterns.
The key is to recognize these moments and stay conscious of what triggers your stress. When you notice you’re starting to react, take control and choose to respond instead. It’s all about self-observation—take a moment to think everything through and decide how you want the situation to affect you.
Remember, stressing out only robs you of vital energy and health. Stay conscious, stay aware, control your reactions, and stay healthy!
