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Ways to Lower Your Cortisol Levels and Your Anxiety

June 17, 2015 Greg Weber

Ways to Lower Your Cortisol Levels and Your Anxiety

Most people with anxiety need to find ways to lower their cortisol levels to lower their anxiety. Cortisol is a chemical produced by your adrenal glands. It's an important part of overall, robust health, because cortisol gives you the energy to face challenges and move past them. But, too much cortisol in your bloodstream causes and/or exacerbates anxiety, and can also wreak havoc on your health in lots of other ways. As part of self-help stress management, it's important to find ways to lower your overall cortisol levels. Lowering cortisol also lessens anxiety disorder symptoms.

What is Cortisol And How Does It Relate to Anxiety?

Cortisol is a hormone that's secreted by your adrenal glands, which are located on top of your kidneys. Often called the fight or flight chemical, cortisol acts as an overall stimulant, causing your heart to beat faster, your blood vessels to constrict, and your muscles to tense in preparation to meet a real or imagined threat. Healthy cortisol levels are important for overall energy levels, and for dealing with healthy stressors, e.g., starting a new job, getting married, traveling, or becoming a parent.

However, the seemingly endless, amorphous stressors of modern life, coupled with our generally sedentary lifestyle, conspire to raise cortisol levels to unhealthy extremes, with little or no release. Increased cortisol levels gives us the energy to cope with life's problems, and that's generally a good thing, provided it's temporary. It's when our cortisol levels are permanently elevated that we run into trouble. High cortisol produces excess anxiety, among other negative health concerns. That's why it's very important to lower your level of cortisol.

The Negative Health Effects of High Cortisol Levels

  • Weight gain/obesity -- High cortisol is linked to increased fat storage, particularly in the abdominal area.
  • Increased risk of diabetes -- Cortisol plays a role in the regulation of blood sugar levels, and of how responsive your cells are to the insulin produced by your pancreas. Lots of coritsol for long periods of time makes your body more insulin-resistant, which can lead to diabetes.
  • Weakened immune system -- In the long run, high levels of cortisol suppress your immune response, which increases the risk of developing all sorts of diseases, including arthritis, cancer, and auto-immune disorders.
  • Increased risk of mental illness -- Too much cortisol may actually trigger the development of mental illness, especially in adolescents with a potential genetic predisposition toward mental illness.

Ways to Lower Your Cortisol Levels and Your Anxiety

  • Improve your diet -- Eating a healthy diet is an important part of managing cortisol. Avoid or cut down on sugar, alcohol, and caffeine. Eat more protein and whole grains. Increase your intake of fiber by eating lots of fruits and vegetables.
  • Engage in regular physical activity -- Moderate, regular physical exercise does wonders to relieve stress and lower your cortisol levels. Find something you love (I like yoga, hiking, and weightlifting) and do it at least three times per week.
  • Practice meditation -- Even a few minutes of meditation a day has a cumulative, positive effect on your stress levels. It doesn't have to be a big deal, or take a lot of time. You can try this easy one minute meditation as a place to start.
  • Develop a spiritual life -- Including some sort of spirituality in your healing process -- which I define as feeling connected to a benevolent force larger than I am -- is also a great way to manage your anxiety and your cortisol levels.
  • Reach out for social connection -- Isolation and loneliness increase stress, anxiety, aggression, and depression. It's important to find ways to connect socially with other people to manage your stress. Try these tips for decreasing anxiety and loneliness for some ideas.

Cortisol gives your body necessary energy, as long as elevated levels are temporary. Long-term levels of cortisol in your blood actually zaps your energy, and leaves you more susceptible to anxiety and other health concerns. Fortunately, there are ways you can lower your cortisol levels, along with your anxiety. I hope these tips prove helpful to you in that regard.

Sources:

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APA Reference
Weber, G. (2015, June 17). Ways to Lower Your Cortisol Levels and Your Anxiety, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 28 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/treatinganxiety/2015/06/ways-to-lower-your-cortisol-levels-and-your-anxiety



Author: Greg Weber

Jeff
September, 13 2018 at 8:22 am

Ginseng!

Dr Musli Ferati
June, 9 2016 at 8:37 pm

Otherwise, cortisol is named as stress hormone, which one is more important chemical of our body on regulating the homeostasis, as balanced statement of inner psycho-physiologic functioning. On the other side, cortisol is response reacted chemical that modify the response of organism to any inter or extern danger. So its place and role on overall psycho-physiolologic functioning of our organism is crucial. But, its inappropriate functioning and level might be serious problem for our global health. As far as is concerning to high level of cortisol, it ought to respect and accept your recommendations on non-medication ways to decrease cortisol in our blood. Moreover, when it is known the fact that we live and work in stressful social milieu, with unpredictable and threatening challenges. The five above mention suggestions are accessible, easily, free and practicable, that improve our global life functioning with many benefits to our personal, emotional, occupational and social welfare. In a word they indicate healthy lifestyle, that is imperative of up to date people. Quite the reverse, if we continue to lead unhealthy lifestyle, then we shall to face with many bad consequences for our psycho-physique condition. Therefore it is value to follow up your utilitarian recommendations along daily activities wherever and whenever.

: D
June, 24 2015 at 5:12 am

I have used reflexology for stress. I specifically requested work that will reduce stress. It made me feel calmer, relaxed and much better the next day yet with no side effects unlike what most drugs will produce.

shannon marie
June, 18 2015 at 1:09 pm

acupuncture: tried it two days ago after 16 years on pharmaceuticals. I wish someone had mentioned it. Good luck out there! Be your OWN advocate. xcoxxo

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Madeline
March, 29 2018 at 9:29 am

Shannon tell me more about how it has helped you

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