Cortisol is a necessary hormone that affects a variety of bodily functions; waking, breathing, metabolism... Normally it works, but some of us have issues with the cortisol awakening response (CAR). For most people waking is just a part of the day.
For people with a non typical CAR, it can mean difficulty waking or jolting. I typically have the jolt. It can leave me anxious, jittery, angry or panicked. It doesn't usually last long, under an hour, but it ruins my morning & exhausts me. I can stay edgy until I get a decent night's sleep again without a bad waking.
These surges can make you feel like you're under a lot of stress. There are jitters, your heart races, concentration is shot, rapid breathing & blood pressure can rise, etc... Cortisol can impact a lot of the body. It can make you emotional, panicky & manic.
This article is about calming cortisol issues. Maybe some of them will work for you. I haven't had the best of luck, but I'm also dealing with SAD.
This piece started me down this rabbit hole. It's about an HIV+ woman who was prescribed a corticosteroid as part of her treatment. Steroids are common for treating breathing issues & pneumonia. That's where all the normal went out the window.
Shortly after, the patient was began having symptoms of manic episodes. Corticosteroids are a manufactured version of Cortisol. It has many of the hormone's benefits, but also the less desirable qualities. A person with no psychiatric history had to be further hospitalized for manic episodes due to these medications.
This graph is from the article. It shows the course of this experience from onset of the med, to removal from, to discharge. This woman lost nearly 2 weeks of her life to a psychiatric condition due to a reaction to standard medication.
Cortisol & its derivatives are powerful hormones/chemicals. They can alter your world in ways you wouldn't suspect. Mine is made worse due to SAD & thyroid issues. This is an article you should read if you have cortisol issues, use similar meds, have waking issues or are dealing unusually rough mornings.
Take care.
Cya...
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