The Cortisol Connection

It took me years to realize that my stressful lifestyle resulted in a continuous production of cortisol - keeping me in the "fight and flight" mode. Long commutes to work, long days of high intensity, and then evenings filled with activities left little time for relaxation or down time. Constant stress means constant cortisol production. Think of cortisol as a wake up or excite hormone.

I am sure many of you are in the same boat and the never ending schedule is sabotaging your sleep as well. Unable to wind down at night I tried to "patch" my sleep problems by going for walks at lunch, cutting out caffeine, and eliminating sugar from my diet. Although these practices do help support healthy adrenals, it wasn't enough to restore balance to my life.

Constant Cortisol Production

Cortisol levels jump by 50 to 60 percent shortly after waking up in the morning. Levels should gradually decrease during the day with the lowest levels at bedtime. Constant stimulation during the day interferes with these normal cycles and causes continuous cortisol secretion into the evening and night time. It's like your body is stuck in overdrive. High cortisol levels at night interferes with sleep - it makes it difficult to relax and fall asleep, from getting a deep restful sleep and too much cortisol can wake you up in the middle of the night.

Find out if there is a cortisol connection to your sleep problems:

Symptoms of High Cortisol May be Interfering With Your Sleep

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