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New Delhi: You’ve finally done everything “right” for the day. Dinner is done. The lights are dim. You’re on the couch, scrolling or watching a show. On the surface, this appears to be rest. But inside your body, alarms may still be blaring. Many patients are surprised to hear this in the clinic: “I’m not stressed, doctor—but I’m always tired, gaining weight, and unable to sleep.” Very often, the hidden culprit is cortisol overload. Dr. Nishchitha K, Consultant in Endocrinology at Gleneagles BGS Hospital, spoke about how cortisol is often misunderstood as an enemy, but it is actually beneficial for health.
Cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone. It’s designed to protect you. When faced with danger—real danger—it raises blood sugar, sharpens focus, and keeps you alert. The problem today is not cortisol itself, but rather how often and how long it remains activated. Your body does not distinguish between:
To your nervous system, stress is stress.
So even when you’re physically resting, your hormones may still be operating in “survival mode.”
Subtle Signs Your Cortisol May Be Running the Show
Cortisol overload doesn’t announce itself loudly. It creeps in quietly, often mistaken for lifestyle issues or ageing. Some common patterns doctors see include:
These are not character flaws. They are physiological signals.
Why the Couch Doesn’t Always Mean Rest
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: mental stimulation can keep cortisol elevated even when the body is still. Late-night scrolling, binge-watching intense content, or worrying while “relaxing” prevents cortisol from dropping. Blue light suppresses melatonin. Irregular sleep timing confuses hormonal rhythms. Skipped meals signal scarcity to the body. From a hormonal standpoint, the message becomes: “Stay alert. Something isn’t safe.”
The Cortisol–Weight Connection
One of cortisol’s lesser-known effects is how it influences fat storage. Chronically high cortisol pushes the body to store energy—especially around the abdomen—because it anticipates future threat. This is why many people gain weight even with:
Until cortisol normalises, weight loss efforts often feel like pushing against a wall.
It’s Not About Doing More—It’s About Signalling Safety
Patients often assume the solution is more discipline. In reality, it’s the opposite. Your hormones respond to signals of safety, not effort. Helpful resets include:
These may sound simple, but hormonally, they are powerful.
When to Seek Medical Advice
If symptoms persist despite lifestyle adjustments, it’s important not to self-diagnose. Hormonal imbalances can overlap with thyroid disorders, insulin resistance, or adrenal dysfunction. An endocrinologist can evaluate patterns, not just lab values, and guide a personalised approach.
The Takeaway
Your body isn’t malfunctioning—it’s responding exactly as it was designed to. The modern world has blurred the line between danger and daily life. True rest is not just about lying down. It’s about convincing your body that it’s safe to let its guard down. And sometimes, that’s the most important form of healing we overlook.
