Long-term stress (more than 15 minutes) increases the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol makes us hypervigilant, and mobilized to cope with stress and emergencies. This is different than the fight-or-flight response that adrenaline gives. Our hunter-gatherer forefathers most likely faced physical stressors like starvation, severe gastro-intestinal illness and critical injury. To cope with such emergencies, cortisol begins to break down non-essential organs and tissues to feed vital organs. When cortisol stays at high levels, it automatically digests bones, muscles and joints to obtain key nutrients to maintain the nervous system and vital internal organs. It also makes us hungry, causing us to reach for high calorie food. Today, our biggest long-term stressors are emotional and mental, not physical. As we face potential job loss, the pressure of commutuing in heavy traffic, the barrage of fear-producing media, relationship disharmony and more, our body has only one automatic response: cortisol.(1)

Recently, oxytocin has been found to be an anti-stress hormone that counters the effects of cortisol. Oxytocin induces emotional bonding, labor and lactation, and is produced during meditation, massage, yoga, caring for a pet, joining a support group, worshipping and exercise.

(1) - From “Love and Fear” by Marnia Robinson.
Prepared by Linda Marks.