Cortisol
The hormone that keeps the body on standby over the long term — useful in a burst, burdensome as a constant flow.
What it does
It releases energy, dampens the inflammatory response and sharpens attention. It has a daily rhythm: high in the morning, low in the evening. Under chronic stress that rhythm flattens, which shows in sleep, mood and immune response.
Why it matters
Because it shows that exhaustion after prolonged stress isn’t a lack of willpower but a bodily state that needs time and recovery, not just better organisation.
See also
Gestalt therapy
An approach focused on what is happening now — in the body, in the room, between us.
People-pleasing
A pattern in which you systematically put someone else's need before your own to keep the peace.
Body image
Your picture of your own body, which often depends more on your mood than on the body itself.
