

Even getting out of bed often feels like a challenge. If you’re able to fall asleep, you may wake up in the middle of the night fully alert. Your natural 24-cycle of energy and relaxation is off-balance. You can’t get up in the morning - but you can’t sleep at night.You’re always active and feel “wired.” Your system is constantly fueled by adrenaline and cortisol to create what feels like a continual state of hyper-energy.Imbalances in other important hormones such as DHEA, estrogen, progesterone, and testosteroneĪdrenal imbalance in women tends to peak between the ages of 35 and 55 and most often shows up in one of the following ways:.Disrupted digestion, mental function (brain fog) and metabolism.Yet when chronic stress leads to unnaturally high cortisol levels, it creates a state of adrenal imbalance that often triggers a cascade of adrenal-related symptoms: After the stressors have passed, cortisol and adrenaline levels return to normal. In response to danger, your body temporarily raises levels of cortisol and adrenaline to handle the stressful event. This daily rhythm is the norm - unless you encounter a stressful event. After 8:00 AM, cortisol declines incrementally throughout the day to gradually prepare you for sleep. Rising cortisol helps you to wake up and start the day. These patterns are tightly connected to your circadian rhythm sleep/wake cycle.Ĭortisol levels are usually lowest between midnight and 4:00 AM and then gradually increase until around 8:00 AM.

When cortisol production is balanced, levels of the hormone naturally rise and fall during the day. High Cortisol Signs and Symptoms in Women

Support the body’s natural sleep/wake cycles.

When you are under stress and your body’s fight or flight response kicks in, cortisol quickly comes to your rescue, mobilizing carbohydrates and fat for instant energy. But even when you’re not in danger, cortisol hums along in the background assisting your body with key everyday functions.
