Cortisol
Cortisol is the body's primary stress hormone, produced by the adrenal cortex in response to stressors and regulated by the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis). In situations of danger, cortisol mobilizes energy, temporarily suppresses the immune system, sharpens attention, and prepares the body for action. At normal levels, it is essential for life.
In chronic anxiety, cortisol is produced in sustained excess — with wide-ranging consequences: cognitive impairment (especially memory and decision-making), chronic immune suppression, weight changes, cardiovascular problems, and, paradoxically, increased anxiety (creating a cycle of anxiety → cortisol → more anxiety).
Measuring salivary or urinary cortisol is part of chronic-stress assessments. Interventions that lower cortisol include regular exercise, adequate sleep, mindfulness, and positive social connection.
💡 Practical example
People with GAD often show elevated cortisol levels in the morning (when secretion is naturally highest) — which may explain the classic experience of 'waking up already anxious,' with worry-driven thoughts active from the moment of waking, before any real problem of the day has even occurred.
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