Depression
While cortisol is necessary for good health, too much of it can be a bad thing. When chronically high, cortisol levels can lead to various health problems, including anxiety, weight gain, and depression. Conversely, low cortisol levels can also cause problems, one of which is depression.
Depression is more than just feeling sad or down in the dumps. It’s an actual medical condition that can profoundly affect every aspect of a person’s life. Symptoms of depression include hopelessness and helplessness, loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, and thoughts of death or suicide.
Depression is thought to be caused by biological, psychological, and social factors. It’s believed that an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain plays a role in causing depression. For example, low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood.
Another factor that has been linked to depression is stress. Chronic stress can increase the production of cortisol, leading to an imbalance in other brain chemicals involved in regulating mood, resulting in depression.
