A 100%, YES!

There is a complicated relationship between cortisol (AKA stress hormone) and estrogen and cortisol on its own can quite affect our hormonal balance. In case of hormonal imbalances, the root cause is often of the time is too much cortisol or stress hormone along with poor lifestyle.

When we are stressed, our body triggers a "flight or fight" response which leads to elevated levels of stress hormones - cortisol & adrenaline. Elevated levels of stress hormones can interfere with other hormones, including testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone which can lead to an imbalance in our hormone levels and functioning. Cortisol and estrogen are hormones in your body that affect how you feel. Sometimes, when cortisol levels are too high, it can make estrogen levels go down, which can cause you to have uncomfortable symptoms like irregular periods, vaginal atrophy, weight gain, night sweats and more.

Stress can also present itself in the form of our daily routine. Poor sleep, overexercising and excessive screen time are all guilty of adding to our stress levels. Hence, stress management is one of the most effective way to address hormonal imbalances.

So if you're experiencing any of these symptoms like sudden weight gain, poor sleep quality, hot flashes, irregular periods, sudden breakouts, or even extreme fatigue, look at finding the cause of stress in life and manage them with the right holistic lifestyle health changes !