Cortisol relates to Erectile Dysfunction

Give yourself enough time
October 6, 2024
Give yourself enough time
October 6, 2024

Cortisol destroys your testosterone

Cortisol is a hormone your body releases when you're stressed. It helps with energy, focus, and handling tough situations, but too much for too long can harm your health, like causing weight gain, poor sleep, or anxiety. High cortisol levels can significantly affect both physical and mental health.

Physical Health Impacts:

  1. Weight Gain:

    • Increased fat deposition, particularly around the abdomen and face (leading to a "moon face" appearance).
    • Difficulty losing weight.

  2. Weakened Immune System:

    • Increased susceptibility to infections and slower wound healing.

  3. Cardiovascular Issues:

    • Elevated blood pressure (hypertension).
    • Increased risk of heart disease due to prolonged stress on the cardiovascular system.

  4. Bone Health Problems:

    • Reduced bone density, leading to osteoporosis or an increased risk of fractures.

  5. Muscle Weakness:

    • Muscle atrophy or weakness over time due to protein breakdown.

  6. Digestive Issues:

    • Stomach problems, including acid reflux or ulcers, due to prolonged stress.

  7. Skin Changes:

    • Skin thinning, easy bruising, and slower healing of cuts or wounds.

Mental Health Impacts:

  1. Anxiety and Depression:

    • High cortisol is strongly associated with increased feelings of anxiety and depressive symptoms.

  2. Memory and Cognition Problems:

    • Impaired memory and difficulty concentrating due to its effects on the hippocampus.

  3. Sleep Disruptions:

    • Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, leading to insomnia or poor-quality sleep.

  4. Mood Swings:

    • Heightened irritability or emotional instability.

Hormonal and Metabolic Impacts:

  1. Imbalanced Blood Sugar Levels:

    • Increased blood sugar, which can lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

  2. Reproductive Issues:

    • Disrupted menstrual cycles or reduced fertility in women.
    • Lower testosterone levels and reduced libido in men.

All this can greatly impact your sexual health and increase problems.

Lowering high cortisol is possible

Even if you struggle with daily stress - it is possible and in fact - not that hard - to start lowering your cortisol levels.

My personal experience is that there are 2 types of stress. I call them "inner cortisol" and "outer cortisol".

Inner cortisol - is something, that our body produce naturally to support other hormones and organs and help with our daily life. Keep in mind - there are no bad hormones, it's the balance of it, that can be bad. Inner cortisol is not that bad and usually does not spike too much. To keep it under control - take cold shower in the morning, walk regularly, lift weights in gym, make routine for your sleep, try to plan your day and follow it, give yourself grace.

Now outer cortisol is something more dangerous - that one is usually coming from emotions like shame, negative believes, negative talks and, as name suggests, often from people outside of you. Unfortunately quite often we refer to such people as friends or authorities, which makes it even worse. Feelings like "I not good enough" is a very powerful source for outer cortisol, which is harder to control and which impact is more destroying on us.

Usually it is not easy to separate these two types. Good news is that when you start regulating your cortisol with daily routines, balance, gym - you will start noticing how you feel and where your stress is coming from. You should pay attention to your inner feelings, that make you feel freezed. Usually that is the sign of something very powerful. If after that you loose energy and power and willingness to do things - probably that is something to think about and around. And especially, if this is something happening on a regular basis.

Self care, distance, silence and peace are best doctors.

You are worth much better things in life!

Remember to give yourself enough time and grace.
Two or three months to see first little improvement is absolutely normal timeframe.

 

You can do it!
I believe in you!