Is It My Hormones or Just Stress? How to Tell the Difference
You’re exhausted but wired, anxious for no reason, snapping at people you love, and wondering,
“Is it my hormones… or am I just stressed out?” The real answer is that it maybe both.
And understanding how these two things relate to one another can help you to start feeling like yourself again.
Stress and Hormones: The Ultimate Entanglement
First of all, know that stress and hormones are deeply connected, intertwined at the roots so to speak. Chronic stress can cause hormonal imbalances, and hormonal shifts can amplify how you react to stress. So it’s no wonder the two often blur together. Think of it this way. Stress is the spark, and hormonal imbalance is the fuel that keeps the fire going.
Quick Clues: Stress, Hormones—or Both?
It’s not always easy to tell what’s driving your symptoms because stress and hormones speak a similar language. Still, certain patterns can give you a starting point.
When stress is leading the way, you might notice:
You feel wired but tired, especially at night,
You’re craving sugar, salt, or caffeine just to get through the day,
Sleep is light or disrupted, often around 2–4am,
You’re more anxious or reactive than usual,
You can’t seem to relax, even when you have time to.
When hormones are playing a bigger role, you might experience:
Worsening PMS or irregular cycles
Low libido that doesn’t rebound, even when you’re well-rested
New breakouts, mood swings, or mid-cycle spotting
Weight gain around the belly, even with clean eating
Feeling like a stranger in your body week to week
But here’s the truth. One can quickly snowball into the other, and most of us are dealing with both.
How Stress Disrupts Hormones (Without the Myths)
You may have heard of something called “cortisol steal, ” which is the idea that stress diverts hormone production away from sex hormones to make more cortisol. However, that theory has largely been debunked.
Here’s what really happens:
Stress alters the brain’s communication with the ovaries and adrenal glands.
It downregulates the signals that keep your cycle regular and your hormones in sync.
It slows thyroid function and interferes with metabolism.
It disrupts gut health, impacting how estrogen is broken down and cleared.
It makes the body prioritize survival over reproduction, which makes sense biologically, but not when you're just stuck in traffic or answering emails at 10pm. They’re frustrating and inconveniencing, yes, but hardly life-threatening. Sometimes, your body doesn’t differentiate between that and being chased by a lion.
What You Can Do to Untangle the Mess
Here’s the good news. You can support both systems—your stress response and your hormones—at the same time.
Start with your nervous system:
Take 10 minutes for breathwork or a guided meditation.
Go outside in the morning to reset your internal clock.
Block off time for real rest without a screen
Support your hormones gently:
Eat within an hour of waking, including protein and fat.
Avoid skipping meals. It puts extra strain on your system.
Consider magnesium glycinate, B vitamins, and gentle adaptogens for added support.
If the symptoms persist or you feel like you're constantly playing whack-a-mole, it might be time to explore root-cause testing.
You’re Not Overreacting
Whether it’s stress, hormones, or both, your body is not being dramatic. It’s responding to whatever it’s coming into contact with, whether that be internally like food, or externally, like an impossible work deadline. These signals are how it tells you something’s out of balance. And the beautiful part is that once you listen and respond with the right support, your body can recalibrate. You can feel clear, calm, and back in rhythm.
Where to Go From Here
If this resonates with you, you're not alone or overreacting. Many women walk around feeling “off” without realizing that chronic stress and subtle hormone shifts are quietly impacting everything from sleep to mood to metabolism. Start where you are. Sometimes small consistent shifts lead to big change.
Explore more on the blog, or learn how we work together through an integrative approach that supports your whole body—not just your symptoms.
Start where you are. Small shifts lead to big change.
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