These types of problems are a major reason why many people turn to alcohol or drugs to self-medicate their symptoms, which can lead to substance use disorders and the need for treatment. In a state of constant stress, cortisol levels remain elevated and lead to problems with anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances among other symptoms. Abnormally high levels of cortisol in the body can be caused by some steroid medications or underlying health issues.Ĭhronic or toxic stress can also be a factor that causes unusually high levels of cortisol. The amount of cortisol in the body generally peaks in the early morning and decreases as the day goes on. In life or death situations, whether real or perceived, it can trigger the body’s “fight or flight” response, which helps people make decisions and act in times of crisis. In the brain, cortisol can affect mood, desire and worry. While cortisol affects nearly every organ in the body, it plays a big role in regulating the body’s response to stress.

Glucocorticoids are a type of steroid hormone that suppress inflammation in the body’s tissues, as well as play an important function in metabolism, such as blood sugar levels, controlling blood pressure, and getting proper sleep. What is Cortisol?Ĭortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone produced by the body’s adrenal glands and is often referred to as the “ stress hormone.” However, understanding how to reduce cortisol to minimize stress can be an effective way to lessen the impact that it has on our daily life. It can occur due to any number of situations, from professional or personal experiences, to psychological or traumatic ones.Įveryone deals with the angst and nagging pressure of stress from time to time and it’s an inevitable part of life. Learning how to lower cortisol levels to reduce stress can be beneficial for everyone, although most of us are not aware how easy this can be accomplished by following some simple techniques.

Adrenal hormones produced