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7 Signs You’re Experiencing Too Much Stress
Posted by Morgan Fisher on
Stress is a normal part of life, but when it becomes chronic, it can take a toll on your body and mind. You might feel overwhelmed and think it's just the way life is, but there are signs your body gives you when it's experiencing too much stress. Recognizing these signs is the first step toward healing and finding balance. The Cycle of Stress: How It Shows Up in Your Body Excessive stress can manifest in a variety of ways, often mimicking other conditions. Some of the most common signs of too much...
High Cortisol and Perimenopause/Menopause: How They Overlap
Posted by Morgan Fisher on
Feeling like menopause and perimenopause have turned life into an emotional roller coaster? You’re not imagining things! These phases of life bring a range of symptoms that often overlap with those caused by high cortisol levels (that’s your stress hormone in action). So if you're experiencing fatigue, mood swings, sleep issues, weight gain, anxiety — it can feel like a never-ending cycle where stress from one makes the other worse. When estrogen and progesterone levels start to fluctuate or decline, your body’s ability to regulate cortisol takes a hit, making even minor stress feel overwhelming. The result is a loop of...
Cortisol Belly and Stress: Why You Can't Lose Weight From Your Stomach
Posted by Liz Tenuto on
If you're struggling with a stubborn midsection that seems resistant to diet and exercise, it might not be due to your workout plan or calorie intake — it could simply be from the amount of stress you experience. (And that's called a cortisol belly!) High stress levels and the consequent high cortisol can directly lead to accumulating fat around your midsection. And this isn't just a matter of aesthetics; it's a sign from your body that something deeper is amiss, particularly with your nervous system's ability to handle stress. So it's essential to understand how your constant stress contributes to your...
How High Cortisol and Stress Impact Your Sleep
Posted by Liz Tenuto on
If you find yourself doom-scrolling on social media until you physically can't keep your eyes open at night only to wake up with racing thoughts just 3 hours later, high cortisol levels could be the culprit. Cortisol, often dubbed the "stress hormone," plays a significant role in your body's response to stress. But when levels remain elevated, especially at night, it can lead to a host of sleep issues. This disruption is deeply connected to nervous system dysregulation, constant stress, and stored trauma, affecting not just your physical health but your mental well-being too. The Science Behind High Cortisol and...
The Connection Between Gut Issues and a Dysregulated Nervous System
Posted by Liz Tenuto on
Your body is an intricate system where every biological process and every organ is interconnected. This means that the health of one thing often influences the health of another — one example being the connection between your gut health and your nervous system. The Gut-Brain Axis To understand the link between gut issues and your nervous system, it's crucial to understand the concept of the gut-brain axis. This bidirectional communication system connects the gut and the brain, allowing them to influence each other's functions. The gut, often referred to as the "second brain," houses a complex network of neurons known as the enteric nervous system (ENS)....