How Stress affects your Hormones

Ever felt like stress just won't let go? I'm not talking about the everyday stress that shows up and disappears; I'm diving into that relentless, ongoing stress that overwhelms, drains, and hijacks your entire system. You know, the kind that turns your brain into a fog machine and makes you hyper-reactive, messing up your sleep and daily routines.

This constant stress wreaks havoc on our hormones, especially the ones that govern our sex drive and well-being—estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Let's unpack how this stress disrupts the delicate balance of these crucial hormones:

The Stress-Hormone Tango: Chronic stress throws off the dance of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, messing with cortisol and other stress hormones. This imbalance not only sparks inflammation but also throws sex hormone production out of whack.

Progesterone Plunge: Its production is impacted by stress as it is made in small amounts by our adrenal glands, where our stress hormones are also made. Stress can lead to decreased levels of progesterone and that drop can lead to a hormonal roller-coaster ride—think mood swings, weight gain, PMS.

Insulin Dysregulation: Meet insulin, the blood sugar boss. It's great at ushering glucose into cells but also acts as a fat storage hormone. When stress revs up, it triggers a glucose surge, signaling the body to store fuel for a showdown, potentially causing issues with blood sugar and fat storage especially in the mid-section (belly area)

Gut Feelings: Stress sidelines digestion. Your body's so focused on 'fight or flight' that digestion takes a backseat, causing bloating, erratic bathroom visits, and poor food absorption. A calm state is key to keep your digestive system humming along smoothly.

Remember, chronic stress isn't just a mental game—it's a hormonal hustle that affects your entire being.

Some potential signs and symptoms of chronic stress include:

    Low energy

    Sugar cravings

    Feeling irritable or anxious

    Bloating, tummy cramps and/or changes to bowel habits

    Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

    Waking up no refreshed, despite enough hours in bed

    Feeling tired but wired

    More frequent infections – frequent colds and flu

    Low libido

    Irregular periods or periods stopping altogether

    Premature ageing of the skin

So, how can we ease the strain stress puts on our hormones? Beyond the typical remedies like meditation, breathing exercises, adaptogens, and a nourishing diet rich in veggies and fruits, there's a critical element often overlooked—our perception of stress and the meanings we attach to situations. Much of our stress stems from how we interpret the world and our expectations of ourselves. Managing stress involves delving into how we perceive pressure, urgency, and our tendency to overload ourselves, fearing disappointing others or struggling to say no.

In my practice, we employ powerful tools like MER (Mental and Emotional Release) and NLP techniques, including anchors, parts integration, and releasing negative emotions, among others. These methods are designed to assist in stress management, heighten awareness of where we place our focus, and help craft a more balanced lifestyle.

Thanks for reading!