What is cortisol?

Cortisol is your body’s super helper when you’re stressed or tired.

Imagine you're playing a really fun game, and suddenly there's a big surprise, like someone jumps out from behind the couch! Your heart beats faster, you feel more alert, and you're ready to run or hide. That's kind of what cortisol does. It helps your body get ready for action when things are tough.

Think of cortisol as the snack you grab before a big test at school. When you’re nervous, your brain sends out a signal, and your body makes more cortisol. This gives you energy so you can focus better or react faster, just like how eating a snack helps you stay awake during that long math lesson.

But if your body keeps making cortisol all the time, like when you're always worried or not getting enough sleep, it's like having too many snacks without doing any work. It might make you feel tired, grumpy, or even forgetful.

Cortisol is a normal and helpful part of life, it just needs to have its moments!