Feeling Tired All the Time? Low Cortisol Might Be to Blame

Photo by Zohre Nemati

Waking up feeling exhausted, even after a full night’s sleep, is frustrating. You hit the snooze button again and again, dragging yourself out of bed, only to find yourself daydreaming about bedtime as soon as your day starts. By the time lunch rolls around, you’re reaching for a bag of chips instead of making that healthy salad you promised yourself, simply because you’re too tired to care. If this sounds familiar, it might be more than just “normal” fatigue—you could be dealing with low cortisol.

What is Cortisol, and Why Does It Matter?

Cortisol is often called our "stress hormone," but it does so much more than that. Produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol plays a key role in helping our bodies respond to stress. It gives us energy, keeps our focus sharp, and helps us cope with the challenges life throws our way. Think of it as your body’s internal alarm system, helping you get through stressful situations.

In small doses, cortisol is actually beneficial. It supports your immune system, helps regulate blood sugar, and even reduces inflammation. It’s why you might feel alert and ready to tackle the day after a good night’s sleep—cortisol peaks in the morning to help you wake up, then gradually decreases throughout the day.

But what happens when this delicate balance is disrupted?

The Stress-Cortisol Connection

Our modern lives are filled with stressors, from work deadlines to family obligations, and even things like chronic dieting and lack of sleep. When we’re constantly under stress, our bodies release cortisol as part of the “fight or flight” response. But unlike in ancient times, when stress might mean escaping a predator, today’s stressors don’t go away. This means cortisol is released continuously, and over time, our adrenal glands struggle to keep up.

This chronic stress can initially cause elevated cortisol levels, making you feel more energetic or even a bit anxious. But eventually, your adrenal glands become fatigued, and cortisol production drops. That’s when you might start feeling tired all the time, even when life doesn’t seem any more stressful than usual.

Why Low Cortisol Often Goes Unnoticed

One of the most frustrating things about low cortisol is how often it gets overlooked. You might go to your doctor, explain your symptoms—constant fatigue, brain fog, mood swings—and be told that your lab results are “normal.” It’s not uncommon for women to leave these appointments feeling like they’re imagining their symptoms or that they just need to try harder to manage stress.

But here’s the thing: standard tests don’t always capture the full picture. It’s possible to have cortisol imbalances that affect your daily life without falling outside the “normal” range on a lab test. And that’s where many women find themselves stuck—feeling exhausted but unable to pinpoint why.

Common Causes of Low Cortisol

So, what can cause cortisol levels to drop too low? Here are a few of the most common reasons:

• Chronic Stress Leading to Adrenal Dysfunction: When you’re constantly dealing with stress, your adrenal glands can become overworked, eventually leading to low cortisol production.

• Restrictive Dieting: Cutting calories too drastically or eliminating entire food groups can leave your body without the nutrients it needs to produce cortisol. Your body perceives severe calorie restriction as a threat, leading to an initial spike in cortisol, followed by a crash.

• Poor Sleep Patterns: Quality sleep is essential for cortisol regulation. If you’re tossing and turning at night, your body can’t properly balance cortisol, leaving you feeling drained during the day.

• Emotional or Physical Burnout: Whether it’s overdoing it at the gym or constantly saying “yes” to everyone else while ignoring your own needs, burnout can deplete your cortisol levels over time.

These are just a few potential causes, but the result is often the same: that overwhelming fatigue that makes even simple tasks feel impossible.

Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

Low cortisol can manifest in a variety of ways, many of which can easily be mistaken for something else:

• Persistent fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest

• Feeling lightheaded or dizzy when standing up quickly

• Craving salty or sugary foods

• Trouble focusing or remembering things

• Feeling anxious, irritable, or low

If these symptoms sound all too familiar, it’s worth looking into whether low cortisol could be the root cause.

How to Find Out If Low Cortisol Is Your Issue

If you suspect that low cortisol might be behind your constant fatigue, there are ways to find out for sure. Testing can provide a deeper understanding of your cortisol levels throughout the day and how they relate to other hormones in your body. This can be especially valuable if you’ve been struggling to get answers and feel like you’re being told everything is “normal.” Interested in getting your cortisol tested, check this out!

(For more detailed explanations about what might be causing your low cortisol and some additional symptoms,, check out this video where I break down everything you need to know about low cortisol.)

Next Steps: Get the Support You Deserve

Living with low cortisol can feel like a constant uphill battle, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re tired of feeling exhausted, unmotivated, or like your body is working against you, I can help. 

👉 Click here to book a call with me, and let’s start the journey to balanced hormones and more energy together.