I was speaking with a client yesterday morning, and was surprised by her misunderstanding of the stress hormone cortisol. Yes, cortisol is elevated when we are stressed; and, Yes, having chronically elevated cortisol is destructive to the brain and body. However, cortisol is also elevated when we are excited, happy, joyful, and surprised.

For example, think back on a memorable dinner you had a number of years ago. Why do you remember what you ate during this distant meal, but probably don’t remember what you had for lunch two weeks ago? The reason, at least in part, is your cortisol was elevated during the memorable dinner in conjunction with your elevated – presumably positive – emotional state.

So what differentiates “bad” cortisol from “good” cortisol elevation?

Cortisol is part of a dynamic physiological system that evolved to help us remember, and learn from, important events. Elevated cortisol is particularly important when you experience negative events because it facilitates 1) emotional memory consolidation and 2) attention toward emotional information. This was important to our ancestors for dealing with threats in the environment, and for remembering rewarding events.

It is cortisol’s effects on neuropeptides like corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the amygdala that allows us to effectively encode memories. The digitized images above show that CRH messenger RNA (mRNA) is increased in the central amygdala (CeA) when corticosterone (the equivalent of cortisol in rats) is administered to rats. The cort-treated rats showed enhanced emoional memory in conjunction with the changes in the amygdala (Thompson, Erickson et al., 2004).

So the problem isn’t when cortisol is periodically elevated in response to emotional (negative or positive) situations; this is adaptive and healthy. Our cortisol levels are constantly in flux when we are healthy. The problem is when cortisol is chronically elevated. Chronic cortisol elevation is associated with a number of physical and mental health conditions, and when we are under constant stress our cortisol doesn’t necessarily follow the normal adaptive patterns.

Your cortisol levels may be chronically elevated due to stress if you experience weight gain, obesity, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, irritability, and a number of other symptoms. If you live in a constant state of stress, some relaxation techniques might be helpful, especially if you are experiencing some of these symptoms. Breathing techniques, meditation and muscle relaxation are options that are available to everyone. Listening to music, exercise, and making healthy adjustments to your diet also help reduce stress. Find what you love and make time for it. Make your wellness a priority.

Visit me on the web at Inspired-HealthWellness.com; on Facebook; on Instagram; or LinkedIn.