The Red-Alert Hormones - Adrenaline and Cortisol

By John Gray

When we think about stress, we think about traffic jams, unpaid bills, messy homes, tension in the workplace, too much to do, deadlines, no one to turn to, crying children-the list is endless.

These are certainly some of our daily causes of stress, but not what researchers refer to when they measure our bodies' stress levels. The production of adrenaline and cortisol, hormones secreted by the adrenal gland, is how our bodies respond to outside stress.

On a very physical level, these stress hormones can gradually deplete our supply of feel good hormones.

If we are in danger-let's say, chased by a bear-the adrenal gland releases adrenaline (also known as epinephrine), cortisol, and other hormones to give us a temporary burst of energy and mental clarity. For our ancient ancestors, these hormones were a survival mechanism in dangerous situations. Either we escaped, or we were eaten. When adrenaline and cortisol are released, extra energy is directed to the brain and muscles, sharpening our senses and increasing our strength and stamina. This sudden focus redirects energy temporarily from other systems, slowing digestion and other secondary functions. When a bear is chasing you, your body automatically protects itself from being digested rather than digesting your lunch.

Adrenaline and cortisol serve an important survival function in life-and-death situations, but the body is not designed to accommodate the continual release of stress hormones. When we are under unrelenting but not life-threatening stress, these hormones are still released, and over time they disrupt our digestive and immune systems, resulting in lower energy and susceptibility to illness.

With long-term stress, cortisol and adrenaline create unhealthy fluctuations in our blood sugar levels that can produce moodiness, mild depression, a sense of urgency, irritability, anxiety, and general distress.

And all these can affect our relationships, especially with those closest to us.