Do high or low cortisol levels cause / aggravate panic/anxiety/stress attacks?

Question

I have a feeling my panic/anxiety and high levels of stress are caused by cortisol. However, I am unsure whether it is too much or too little cortisol that causes the anxiety/panic/stress problems.

Answer 1

too much cortisol produces Cushing syndrome too little results in  Cortisol Deficiency both lead to debilitating fatigue. However too much adrenalin can cause anxiety. The cure for that is to burn it off with exercise or movement.

Answer 2

The answer to your question is yes, but it is not that simple. I had Cushing's and my husband said he is much happier with me now, with no adrenals, as I am much much calmer now.

With high cortisol - your body feels like it is constantly under attack. Other hormones like thyroid can do that at well. Too little makes the blood pressure drop and makes a person not react well to stress. I have that now as I have no adrenals.

Many hormones can aggravate these feelings. Even my high prolactin did. Have all your hormones been checked? just to make sure others are not off balance as well?

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I encourage you to look into the benefits of adding Magnesium to your diet. I am speaking strictly from personal experience. I had horrible horrible anxiety attacks with my anxiety disorder. As a matter of fact, people in the ER know me by name-it is so embarrassing when you know that logically you are not having a heart attack but emotionally you know you are certainly going to die! :) Magnesium has helped me tremendously. I still have anxiety but the attacks are infrequent. Men should take at least 400 mg of Magnesium per day and women about half of that. The body expels excess so there is no chance of overload. An additional benefit of Magnesium is that it is great for your heart-particularly a benefit for anxiety sufferers-reassurance :)