What are stress hormones and how to reduce them

Stress is a feeling of physical and emotional tension that we live with every day. Humans have emotions, thoughts and behaviors that determine how we are and how to act at all times. We are mind and body, so we have the ability to reason and physiological processes determined by factors such as hormones, which have various functions that vary according to the needs of the body, depending on the context to which we let's face

When we experience stressful situations or situations that make us feel nervous, one of the body's natural responses is the activation of stress hormones. These types of hormones regulate our body against external events that pose a threat to our well-being. In the next Psychology-Online article, we will talk about the Stress hormones: what they are and their characteristics.

Index

1. Cortisol
2. Adrenalin
3. Testosterone and estrogen
4. Glucagon
5. Prolactin
6. Progesterone
7. Tips to reduce stress hormones

Cortisol is a stress hormone

• Greater contraction of the muscles of the body.
• Irritability.
• Sudden mood changes.
• Stomach ache.

If you want to know how to alleviate its effects, in this article, we will tell you how to lower cortisol.

Adrenaline is one of the stress hormones and is also produced by the adrenal glands. When adrenaline levels rise as a result of experiencing a stressful event, the body produces a large amount of lipids in the blood. This causes an increase in heart rate and prepares and activates the body to defend itself against harmful external factors.

Testosterone and estrogen, better known as sex hormones, are linked to the development of sexuality, both male and female. When a man or woman goes through a stress situationGenerally, testosterone and estrogen levels decrease.

In these circumstances, the consequences are the following:

• Sexual difficulties, such as impotence or premature ejaculation.
• Decreased sexual desire.
• Insomnia.
• Fatigue.
• Mood variations.

Glucagon is another stress hormone associated with the metabolization of carbohydrates, which are responsible for producing the energy that the body uses in situations that involve wear and tear physical. Faced with the appearance of events that cause a greater stress load, glucagon becomes deregulated and releases large amounts of carbohydrates.

As a consequence, this can cause an increase in blood sugar levels if the stressful situation is not processed within a reasonable time.

Prolactin is a stress hormone produced by the pituitary gland, located in the brain. However, this hormone is related to estrogen levels in women. In other words, the increase in prolactin levels can result in an inhibition of the release of female hormones.

For this reason, it is common for women who have gone through prolonged stressful periods to have sexual difficulties such as the following:

• Lack of ovulation.
• Changes in menstruation.
• Lack of sexual desire.

Finally, another of the stress hormones that affect the body is progesterone. It has a direct relationship with testosterone and estrogen, since it also belongs to the group of sex hormones. progesterone It is present only in women, since it is found in the ovaries.

Mainly, progesterone is responsible for regulating menstrual cycles and, when a woman suffers a lot of stress, its production declines considerably. The most important consequences of this decrease in progesterone are:

• Loss of sexual desire.
• Fatigue.
• Persistent headaches.
• Sudden mood changes.
• Weight gain.

Some of the most effective ways to reduce stress hormones, especially cortisol, are to practice relaxation techniques, improve your food, getting enough sleep, learning to manage conflicts, laughing or having good social support to turn to in situations complicated.

Likewise, dedicate your time to activities that promote happiness It will also help reduce stress. Some examples of these activities could be meeting your friends, spending time outdoors, trying to make someone laugh, or playing a sport.

It should be noted that stress is a factor that must be addressed from several angles, given that it can have very varied implications. For this reason, It is advisable to go to health professionals that evaluate the characteristics of each person in order to develop personalized treatments.

This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to What are stress hormones and how to reduce them, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical and health psychology.

• Duval, F., González, F., Rabia, H. (2010). Neurobiology of stress. Chilean Journal of Neuropsychiatry, 48 (4), 307-318.
• Romero, E., Young, J., Salado-Castillo, R. (2021). Physiology of stress and its integration into the nervous and endocrine system. Recovered from: https://doi.org/10.37416/rmc.v32i1.535
• Castagnetta, O., & Castagnetta, O. (2022). Coping strategies: what are they and how can they help us? Recovered from https://psicologiaymente.com/psicologia/estrategias-afrontamiento