Cortisol Overdrive
and its substantial effects on the mind, body and behavior
After my brother completed suicide, 43 days after my beloved mother passed away, which was 2 weeks after my first miscarriage -
I felt caffeinated. Tired and wired - I felt hyped and posed and I couldn’t sleep or relax. I was on overdrive.
I didn’t know what was happening at the time -
But I now understand that my body was pumping out extremely elevated cortisol levels.
Cortisol is our stress hormone.
We were created / have evolved to produce this in order to help protect us, so we can survive.
I would imagine it’s rather useful when a lion or bear is running towards you.
But, when you’re living in the 21st century, and have just undergone loss and grief and tragedy, and are emotionally exhausted, so you just want to sleep -
It is incredibly frustrating.
It was amazing the lack of sleep - the significant insomnia - so I’m so exhausted, but also to feel so wired- I could barely keep my eyes open.
They stung and yet - I felt like I had drank espresso shots, my body felt so jolted and stimulated.
Such a strange feeling.
It really makes you feel crazy when you are that tired - physically, mentally, emotionally, and yet also can’t physically and mentally relax.
I was remembering this time period today because I was reading about the effects that cortisol may have on the body.
Here is what Chatgpt provided for me when I was trying to learn and read more about the substantial effects of too much cortisol on the body over a prolonged period of time -
1. Memory and Cognition
Shrinks the hippocampus (key for memory), leading to:
Forgetfulness
Impaired learning
Mental fatigue or “brain fog”
2. Mood Disorders
Increases risk of:
Anxiety
Depression
Irritability or emotional instability
Suppresses the prefrontal cortex, which reduces:
Impulse control
Decision-making ability
Emotional regulation
3. Sleep Disruption
Interferes with melatonin and circadian rhythms
Leads to insomnia, fragmented sleep, and night waking
Poor sleep worsens mental clarity and mood, creating a feedback loop
Effects on the Body
Immune System Suppression
Temporarily reduces inflammation, but long-term exposure:
Weakens immune response
Increases risk of infections and slower healing
Can worsen autoimmune conditions
Weight Gain and Metabolism
Promotes fat storage, especially visceral fat (around the belly)
Increases blood sugar and insulin resistance
Can lead to type 2 diabetes
Breaks down muscle tissue for energy, leading to muscle wasting
Heart and Circulation
Increases blood pressure
Elevates cholesterol and triglycerides
Raises risk of heart disease and stroke
Digestive Issues
Slows digestion
Can cause or worsen:
IBS
Heartburn
Ulcers
Hormonal Imbalance
Disrupts thyroid function
Interferes with sex hormones, leading to:
Irregular periods
Lower libido
Infertility
Effects on Behavior
Increased reactivity (short temper, snapping easily)
Avoidance behaviors (withdrawing, numbing)
Compulsive habits (overeating, overspending, substance use)
Burnout or shutdown (emotional numbness, apathy)
Heightened fight-flight-freeze responses, even to mild stressors
Long-Term Consequences of Chronically High Cortisol
Burnout and exhaustion
Accelerated aging (shortened telomeres)
Increased risk of Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline
Possible development of Cushing’s syndrome (in extreme cases)
There are a few things that I want to emphasize from above:
Again, take a look at how the brain shifts when the stress hormone is on over-drive. The brain and cortisol levels are desperately trying to help you survive, but really, they do have damaging, long-lasting impacts on the body, in the form of brain damage.
Brain damage areas:
1. ) —Your Hippocampus shrinks.
With that - A shrunken hippocampus—often caused by chronic stress, trauma, depression, or neurodegenerative disease—can have serious effects on your memory, emotions, and ability to cope with life. The hippocampus plays a central role in learning, memory, and emotional regulation, so when it shrinks or deteriorates, multiple systems are impacted.
2.) Your HPA axis also can become overactivated. This HPA axis (Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal axis) is activated by stress, it triggers a powerful neuroendocrine chain reaction in your body designed to help you survive immediate threats. But if it’s activated too often or for too long (chronic stress), it can wear down your brain, body, and emotional health.
Stress activates the HPA axis, flooding your body with inflammatory signals and oxidative stress—both of which accelerate telomere shortening and hippocampal atrophy.
I also find it fascinating that increased cortisol results in more rapidly aging - shortening of telemores - which are protective caps at the end of your chromosomes. They weaken, die, or get shorter with dysfunction or disruption.
I am not a neuroscientist- I look up all this stuff and try to understand it.
I get help from medical sources; though the above came from chatgpt.
But here’s my takeaway- and what I think is important -
________________________________________________________
***We often forget that any of these conditions can be and are often caused by trauma and/or cortisol overactivity - not as stand-alone conditions.
But - we should not regard them as such. We are whole bodies and integrated beings with systems working together, because -
They are all inter-connected.
We are at a much, much higher likelihood of developing any auto-immune disorder, any mental illness or mental health condition, cancer, heart disease, Alzheimers, or any other neurogenerative or cognitive deterioration disease, as a direct result of how trauma, major stress, or substantial and prolonged cortisol-overdrive in the body.
Cortisol, shrunken hippocampus, shortened telmores -
We bear the effects on trauma on the body and mind.
And it manifests in all sorts of a myriad of ways.
Stress and trauma have substantial effects on your mind’s neurochemistry and your body’s aging and other physiological conditions.
Don’t take it lightly -
Even if/when our modern western medicine doesn’t make a lot of room for these conversations and considerations in our regular doctor visits.
