Is Your Stress Hormone Stealing Your Sleep?
- Dr. Rachel Winstedt, ND
- Aug 12
- 3 min read
We’ve all been there—you finally crawl into bed, ready for rest, only to stare at the ceiling, mind racing, heart pounding. Or maybe you drift off, only to wake at 3 a.m., wired and restless. It’s not just bad luck or “getting older.” The culprit could be hiding in plain sight: cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone.
Your Hormone’s Daily Dance
Cortisol follows a 24-hour rhythm—spiking in the morning to wake you up, then gradually dipping until night so you can fall asleep. But modern life isn’t exactly kind to that delicate cycle. Late-night scrolling, intense workouts after dinner, caffeine fixes at 4 p.m., and constant stress can keep cortisol levels unnaturally high when you need them low.
The result? Trouble falling asleep, restless nights, and that maddening early-morning wake-up.
How High Cortisol Hijacks Your Sleep
When cortisol is elevated at night, it does more than make you feel alert—it suppresses melatonin, your sleep-inducing hormone. That’s a double whammy: you feel “wired” yet exhausted, and your brain struggles to sink into deep, restorative stages of sleep.
High nighttime cortisol can also bring on racing thoughts, night sweats, and vivid dreams, making it hard to stay asleep once you drift off.
The Stress-Sleep Cycle You Can’t Afford to Ignore
Here’s the tricky part: poor sleep raises cortisol even more, creating a vicious cycle. You sleep less, your stress hormone spikes higher, and the next night… you guessed it—more tossing and turning.
This feedback loop doesn’t just wreck your rest. Over time, it can impact mood, weight, hormones, and immune health.
📖 Your Free Resource: Stress Survivor to Thriver Guide
Want practical strategies to start calming your stress response today?
➡ Download the Stress Survivor to Thriver Guide & discover simple, science-backed steps to
move from burnout to balance.
Small Shifts, Big Sleep Payoffs
You don’t have to overhaul your life to get your cortisol rhythm back on track. These 5 science-backed tweaks can make a big difference:
Catch the morning light — Ten minutes of natural sunlight after waking helps reset your body clock.
Move earlier in the day — Save high-intensity workouts for morning or early afternoon.
Wind down with intention — Dim lights, shut off screens, and try deep breathing or gentle stretching an hour before bed.
Mind your menu — Avoid heavy meals and caffeine late in the day; opt for calming herbal teas instead.
Protect your bedtime — Go to sleep and wake up at the same time, even on weekends, to keep your hormone rhythm steady.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve been blaming stress, age, or “bad sleep habits,” it might be time to consider what your cortisol is doing. By supporting your body’s natural rhythm, you can break the stress-sleep cycle and finally wake up feeling rested, energized, and ready for the day.
📅 Ready to Reset Your Cortisol and Sleep Better?
If you suspect high cortisol is keeping you up at night — or draining your energy during the day — we can help you address it.
➡ Schedule a visit with Dr. Rachel, ND to get a comprehensive evaluation and a personalized plan to balance hormones, improve sleep, and restore energy.
Comments