
You know that feeling when your heart’s racing, your stomach’s doing somersaults, and your brain just won’t stop overthinking? That is cortisol in action. Nicknamed the “stress hormone,” cortisol is like that one bossy friend in your body who jumps in the moment there’s a crisis. But here’s the thing—when that friend refuses to leave, it causes major chaos. In small doses, cortisol is actually super helpful. It keeps you alert, focused, and ready to handle tough situations.