STRESS & ANXIETY

What exactly is the difference between stress and anxiety? While stress and anxiety are felt by people in a number of different ways and also felt by most people at one time or another, in general stress is a response to an external case, most times a work or family related cause and usually resolves once the deadline is met or the dispute has been resolved. On the other hand, anxiety is an internal response to stress and is typically characterised by a constant and persisting feeling of dread or apprehension. Anxiety will continue to be felt after the stress has been resolved and may lead to other conditions such as social anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, generalised anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Chronic stress and anxiety can impact overall health and wellbeing by depleting the body of essential nutrients. Managing stress and anxiety can have many more positive impacts than just on your mental health, nutritional medicine can help with the impacts of stress and anxiety by;

• balancing hormones

• managing weight

• improving sleep duration and quality

• increasing daytime energy levels

• improving mood and overall vitality

CORTISOL DYSREGULATION

Cortisol is a hormone that works alongside adrenaline to manage the “stress response” and it is for this reason that cortisol is often referred to as the stress hormone. Cortisol is manufactured in the adrenal glands, which are walnut nut sized and pyramid shaped, located just above your kidney’s. While mainly responsible for managing stress, cortisol is involved in many other important roles and functions including macronutrient metabolism, inflammation protection, regulation of blood glucose, regulating blood pressure and the regulation of sleep cycles,

In times of stress the adrenal glands secrete cortisol to prepare the body for the fight or flight response and increase energy. This is a normal and expected response of the human body, however, when this response is happening day in/day out and stress “too high” for “too long”, such as with the expectations of modern life vs our ancestors, the effects of these hormone surges may wreak havoc on our system. Cortisol dysfunction may effect your weight, sleep, libido, mood, digestion, thinking and ability to cope.

Eventually, persistently high levels of cortisol leads to an exhaustion of cortisol production and secretion by the adrenal glands results in low levels of cortisol. This exhaustion leaves your body unable to carry out many daily functions and may result in joint and back pain, food sensitivities, allergies, fatigue, dizziness, unstable blood glucose levels and chronic anxiety.

Fortunately, stress induced cortisol imbalances are not overly difficult to diagnose and in most cases are able to be managed with diet and lifestyle modifications. In rare cases high and low cortisol levels may indicate a more serious condition, if this is suspected it is recommended that you seek advice from your GP who may then refer you to a endocrinologist.