Cortisol and Stress: A Personal Journey

I’ve come across quite the alarm about cortisol lately—it seems it could reshape my face, add inches to my waist, or even cause my hair to fall out. I’ve noticed a flood of posts on social media telling me all about cortisol—a stress hormone I’m not too familiar with. They suggest mixing a “cortisol cocktail” of orange juice, coconut water, and sea salt, trying various supplements, or rubbing lavender balm on my temples.

Honestly, it’s a bit confusing. I don’t even know what my cortisol levels are, which makes figuring out if I really need to lower them tricky. But now that I think about it, my cheeks have seemed a bit puffier than normal, and my jeans feel a bit snug. Maybe there’s something to all this.

Cortisol is one of those essential hormones that manage our stress response. It’s produced by the adrenal glands and is crucial for our day-to-day functioning—keeping us awake in the morning and helping us sleep at night. But too much of it can lead to all sorts of health issues. So, here I am, wondering how I can get things back in balance.

I picked up my phone and started scrolling, expecting to find some sound advice. One of the first posts I saw recommended turning my phone off—quite the stressor itself—along with a warning to stop that endless doomscrolling. Just ten minutes ago, I hadn’t even thought about my cortisol levels, and now I can almost feel them climbing.

John Wass, a Professor of Endocrinology at Oxford, chimed in, stating that we likely do live with heightened cortisol levels these days, primarily due to increased stress in our lives. “It’s hard to find peace,” he remarked, pointing out that smartphones keep us on high alert.

However, he cautioned against the quick connections often made on social media regarding cortisol and physical changes, describing them as somewhat misleading. “A myriad of factors can lead to changes—bad sleep, medications, excessive salt, or alcohol—not just cortisol.” It’s a tangled web, for sure.

Take Jasleen Kaur Carroll, for instance. Just in her late 20s, she was thriving as the managing director of a tech company, yet she found it hard to disconnect from work, leading to extreme burnout. “I felt like a zombie, as if everything around me was collapsing,” she described. Despite her struggles, she pushed through, constantly telling herself she could handle it.

Seeking guidance online, she tried everything—cortisol cocktails and a variety of supplements—but nothing seemed to help. Instead, her stress exacerbated an autoimmune condition called lupus, causing significant weight loss, severe joint pain, and breathing difficulties.

It was only while receiving treatment for lupus in the hospital that she realized she couldn’t fix her issues with hacks from social media. Instead, she needed to address the root cause of her stress. Therapy became a crucial part of her journey, helping her work through past trauma while practicing mindfulness.

Neil Shah, a therapist, explained that stress hormones are essential for our safety but become problematic when we interpret threats everywhere—often exacerbated by our 24/7 lifestyles. Encouraging her to try grounding techniques, he suggested something as simple as standing barefoot on grass. Jasleen wasn’t sold at first, but eventually decided to give it a shot.

A day later, I found myself on a video call with a mindfulness coach, participating in a group focused on managing stress through mindfulness techniques. Studies suggest techniques like these can positively impact cortisol levels by helping regulate our stress response.

The mindfulness coach guided me to hold a raisin, engaging my senses as I focused entirely on it while chewing. This simple exercise pulled me into the present moment. David Creswell, a psychology professor, explained that mindfulness and other techniques help us sit with discomfort, preparing us better for life’s bigger stressors.

Experts warn that many social media “quick fixes” often sidestep the real issues that might be at play. Professor Sir Cary Cooper emphasized that we typically see oversimplified solutions for more complex and serious problems. When I mentioned the ingredients of that cortisol cocktail, he reacted with mild surprise but noted it wouldn’t really help lower cortisol levels.

He advised that any unexpected body changes warrant a check-up with a healthcare provider. Elevated cortisol could indicate various issues, including Cushing’s Syndrome or hormone imbalance potentially caused by external factors like medications. Additionally, he pointed out that addressing the underlying causes—be it relationship stress or financial worries—is essential, as social media shortcuts won’t provide lasting solutions.

Jasleen has since embarked on a new journey in her career and welcomed a baby girl. Even after being advised about the challenges to her fertility, she managed to give birth eight months ago. Now, to avoid past burnout, she has established a consistent routine each morning, involving exercises aimed at stimulating her nervous system and helping her relax.

“I tap my body, grounding myself,” she shared. “I imagine holding a ball between my hands and dry brush my skin, visualizing energy flowing to my heart.” Sure, life keeps her busy, but she’s learned to respect her limits. Generally steering clear of social media, she feels her life is calmer now.

“Stress still affects me, but now I have a toolbox of strategies to manage it, and I can embrace the chaos!” Jasleen remarked, exuding a newfound resilience.