You’re Wired. You’re Tired. You Can’t Sleep.
And yet, your doctor says everything looks fine.
If you feel anxious, foggy, overwhelmed, and flat-out exhausted, there’s a good chance your cortisol levels your body’s main stress hormone is out of balance.
Cortisol is not the enemy. In fact, it’s essential for your survival. But when it’s too high for too long, or drops too low from chronic stress, everything in your system starts to struggle especially your mood, metabolism, sleep, and energy.
What Is Cortisol?
Cortisol is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands in response to stress. It helps:
Manage blood sugar and energy
Regulate blood pressure and inflammation
Keep your brain alert and focused
Control your sleep-wake cycle
In short? It helps you survive.
But survival mode isn’t meant to be permanent.
The Cortisol Curve: When the Fire Never Goes Out
Cortisol is like your internal fire department. When stress hits, traffic, deadlines, conflict, even blood sugar drops cortisol rushes in to save the day.
But what happens when the fire never stops?
Your body stays in fight-or-flight mode. That’s when symptoms begin to show often silently at first.
Common High Cortisol Symptoms
This stage is called “overdrive” — your body is still coping, but not for long.
Anxiety, restlessness
Insomnia or waking between 2–4am
Belly weight gain
Sugar cravings
Hair thinning
Mood swings or irritability
High blood pressure
Skin breakouts
Racing thoughts
Common Low Cortisol Symptoms
This stage is often called “adrenal fatigue” — your body is out of steam.
Deep fatigue, especially mornings and afternoons
Brain fog, poor focus
Low blood pressure
Salt cravings
Crashing after meals
Low motivation or depression
More frequent illness
Feeling like everything is “too much”
What Causes Cortisol Imbalance?
Chronic emotional stress
Blood sugar fluctuations
Infections or inflammation
Overtraining
Poor sleep hygiene
Nutrient deficiencies (B vitamins, magnesium, vitamin C)
Long-term survival mode (physical or emotional trauma)
How I Test Cortisol and Stress Response
The best way to understand your cortisol rhythm is through functional testing like the ENDO Plus Panel. It shows:
How your cortisol rises and falls across the day
Whether you’re in high-stress mode or full-on burnout
The relationship between cortisol, thyroid, and sex hormones
Your detox and hormone metabolism capacity
This test gives us a complete picture not just a snapshot.
But There Is A simpler Way To See What Is Going On.
Take the Stress Questionnaire
Want to know which stage of stress you're in?
Take the Metagenics Ideni-T Stress Questionnaire
Email your results to mark@markkibyuk.com
Book your free consult so we can discuss your results
I’ll personally review your results and send over my recommended supports based on your pattern no guessing required.
Nutrients Burned Out by Stress (And Why You Need Them)
When cortisol is high, your body uses up nutrients faster this is called a “burn rate.”
Here’s what stress depletes most:
Magnesium – for sleep, calm, muscle function
Vitamin C – crucial for adrenal hormone production
B vitamins – especially B5 and B6, needed for hormone synthesis
Zinc – for immunity, hormone metabolism, and wound healing
Electrolytes – like sodium and potassium, often low in burnout
Best Supplements for Cortisol Support
Your cortisol pattern determines the right support. Here’s what I use:
🔺 For High Cortisol (Anxiety, Irritability, Sleep Issues):
Serenagen – Calms the nervous system and improves resilience
Exhilarin – Helps buffer emotional stress and mental fatigue
Magnesium glycinate – Soothes the nervous system and improves sleep
Adrenal Complex (Designs for Health) – Glandular support for adrenal tone
🔻 For Low Cortisol (Fatigue, Brain Fog, Burnout):
Adreset – Adaptogenic support for low resilience and exhaustion
Licorice Root Extract – Helps gently raise cortisol levels
Adrenotone (Designs for Health) – A full-spectrum adrenal support formula
Vitamin C + B-complex – Foundational support for rebuilding adrenal function
Not sure what’s right for you? Send your stress quiz results or book a quick consult.
You Can Reset Your Cortisol Rhythm
Your body was built to bounce back. But sometimes it needs a hand to remember how.
Whether you’re stuck in survival mode or flatlined from burnout, we can get your hormones back in sync gently, naturally, and with the right tools.
Next Steps:
Take the stress quiz: Find it HERE
Email results to: mark@markkibyuk.com
Book a free call to Discuss your Options
MK