A severe stress response is a complex process, and cortisol is its fuel.

Severe stress creates chaos

in our bodies, causing insomnia, anxiety, headaches, increased heart rate and the list goes on.
Cortisol is a steroid hormone, released to fuel severe stress. The amount of cortisol produced,
depends on the intensity of a stress response. Under normal conditions, being stuck in traffic
doesnt trigger a severe stress response. However, getting a traffic citation triggers a severe
stress response, causing cortisol levels to increase.

Before a Severe Stress Response

The Central Nervous System (CNS) is the command center for all hormonal communications.
Various sensations (somatosensory neurons) are used to detect stressors. The process of
detection and differentiation is as follows:

The neurons of touch (tactile), smell (olfactory), and sight (retinal) detect stressors.
Sensory messages are sent to the CNS for processing.
The emotional (limbic) and memory (hippocampal) centers assess the stressor.
Stressor evaluation is based on the association, force and the frequency of the signals.

During a Severe Stress Response

During a severe stress response, cortisol levels rise from 10-23 nanograms/ milliliter (normal
values) to 35-50 nanograms/milliliter (severe stress). The change in cortisol levels causes a
series of reactions within our bodies. The most common changes are: elevated levels of blood
sugar, increase in blood pressure, pupil dilation, and increased breathing. Prolonged exposure to
severe stress weakens the body, increasing the chances of contracting viruses, bacterial infections
and developing serious illnesses.

*Cortisol Secretion Chart

Once a severe stress response has begun, the following takes place:

Hypothalamus produces a stimulant hormone (corticotropic-release) - CRH.

CRH ignites the production of a pituitary gland hormone (adrenocorticotropic) ACTH.
Specialized proteins (cytokines) notify the adrenal gland of the incoming ACTH.
ACTH acts as a spark (catalyst) in the production of cortisol.

*Cortisol Secretion Diagram

A- Adrenal Gland
H- Hypothalamus
P- Pituitary Gland
After a Severe Stress Response
The release of cortisol creates a state of arousal, helping us focus on dealing with severe stress.
During this phase, the cortisol levels remain high for several hours.

Health Risks of Elevated Cortisol

Cortisol plays an important role in the way we handle stress. However, chronically elevated
cortisol levels are associated with cognitive disorders, heart disease, and various cancers. Below
is a list of negative effects of elevated cortisol:

Fatigue
Diminished reserves
Immune suppression
Elevated blood sugar
Racing mind
Memory lapses
Hormonal imbalances

Though stress is a normal part of life, the way we approach it has a huge impact on our
emotional, physical and mental well-being. When in tough situations, its best to take a breath,
relax and evaluate the situation calmly