What happens when your cortisol is low?
We often hear about high cortisol — the stress hormone that gets blamed for everything from belly fat to burnout. But what happens when cortisol is low?
It turns out, too little cortisol can cause just as many problems — especially for women dealing with fatigue, hormone imbalances, or feeling “off” in ways they can’t quite explain.
Let’s explore what low cortisol really means, why it happens, and how it shows up in the body.
🧠 First, What Is Cortisol?
Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone. It’s made by your adrenal glands and helps you:
Wake up in the morning
Regulate blood sugar and energy
Respond to stress
Control inflammation
In a healthy rhythm, cortisol is highest in the morning to get you going and lowest at night so you can rest.
But when your body experiences chronic stress — physical, emotional, or environmental — it can eventually struggle to keep up. Over time, the adrenals may underproduce cortisol instead of overproducing it.
This is sometimes referred to as adrenal fatigue, or more accurately, HPA-axis dysfunction.
⚠️ Symptoms of Low Cortisol
When cortisol levels are too low, you might experience:
Morning fatigue (even after a full night’s sleep)
Dizziness or light-headedness when standing
Salt cravings
Low blood pressure
Feeling overwhelmed easily
Brain fog or poor concentration
Frequent infections or slow recovery
Low libido
Poor stress tolerance
These symptoms are often brushed off as “just tired” — but they may point to something deeper going on with your stress system.
🌀 Why Cortisol Might Be Low
Low cortisol usually isn’t the starting point. It’s often the result of long-term overactivation of your stress response — from years of pushing, overgiving, underresting, and coping with life without enough support.
Common causes include:
Chronic emotional stress or burnout
Poor sleep or irregular rhythms
Overexercising without enough recovery
Blood sugar swings or skipped meals
Long-standing inflammation or illness
It’s your body’s way of saying: “I’m tapped out. I need restoration — not more stimulation.”
🌿 What Can You Do About It?
If you suspect low cortisol, the answer isn’t coffee or another 30-day fix. It’s rebuilding from the ground up.
Here’s where to start:
🌞 Create a calm morning rhythm — light movement, sunlight, protein-rich breakfast
🧂 Improve your electrolyte intake
🧘♀️ Add daily stress-reducing rituals like breathwork or short meditations
🛏 Prioritise rest — not just sleep, but deep rest
🥦 Balance meals with protein, fat, and fibre to stabilise blood sugar
And if you’re unsure where to begin, work with a practitioner who understands. Book your free focus call today 🧡