You’re lying there, wired. Not sure why your heart’s racing or your thoughts are spiralling. Nothing happened, but your whole system is on edge. Your whole body feels like it’s bracing for impact.
Let me say it clearly: this is not all in your head. It’s also in your hormones. Your nervous system. Your stress load. Your lived experience. And we need to stop pretending that anxiousness is just a mindset issue.
Let’s talk about how your hormones - especially cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone can tip you into anxiety, panic, or that wired-and-tired state no one else seems to understand.
Hormones Don’t Just Run Your Period. They Run Your Perception of Safety.
We were sold this idea that hormones are just about fertility, PMS, and pregnancy. That’s surface-level. Because hormones are also regulating your brain chemistry, your stress response, and your ability to stay calm when life is coming at you hard.
So when they’re out of sync? Of course your anxiety ramps up. Here’s how it works...
Cortisol is your body’s go-to stress hormone.
It’s not bad. It keeps you alive in emergencies (and does some other cool stuff to).
But when the emergencies never end (emails, toddler meltdowns, financial stress, emotional load, trauma triggers, burnout…) your cortisol stays chronically high.
And when cortisol is up, your body adjusts everything else accordingly. Including your sex hormones. Because survival always trumps ovulation.
Progesterone is your calming hormone.
It supports GABA - your brain’s “you’re okay” chemical. The one that helps you feel safe, grounded, less reactive. In the second half of your cycle (after ovulation), progesterone should rise and wrap you in that soft, steadying vibe.
But under chronic stress? That calming support can vanish. Your body stops prioritising progesterone. And this is where most blogs yell: “It’s because cortisol is stealing pregnenolone!” Let’s clear that up.
The “Pregnenolone Steal” Myth (and What’s Actually Happening)
You’ve may of heard the theory: your body makes pregnenolone (the “mother hormone”) and then chooses whether to turn it into cortisol or progesterone. So under stress, more cortisol gets made, and progesterone loses out.
Sounds simple. But it’s not entirely true.
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Each hormone-making cell (in your ovaries, adrenals, etc.) produces pregnenolone within itself. There’s no shared “pool” that cortisol can raid.
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What determines the outcome is enzyme activity and hormonal signals. Stress changes the messages your brain sends to these cells. It’s not theft - it’s rerouting.
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In many cases, stress triggers your brain to send fewer signals to produce progesterone at all. It’s not about a shortage of ingredients - it’s about your body choosing not to bake that cake right now.
So yes, stress affects progesterone. But the mechanism is more about hormonal re-prioritisation and less about pregnenolone being "stolen."
And when progesterone drops?
You feel it.
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Racing thoughts
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Heightened startle response
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Emotional fragility
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Night sweats, disturbed sleep
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Feeling “on edge” even when nothing’s wrong
It’s biology.
Estrogen’s Role: The Balance Dance
Estrogen gets a bad rap - but it’s also essential.
You want it in the right amount, at the right time, in harmony with progesterone. When estrogen dominates (especially if progesterone is low), things feel off.
That imbalance can create:
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Mood swings
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Panic feelings
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Irritability that hits like a freight train
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Noise sensitivity
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That intense “I’m not okay but I don’t know why” vibe
Most of this isn’t talked about in standard medicine. You're told it’s just stress. Or PMS. Or in your head.
What You Can Actually Do About It (Without Overhauling Your Whole Life)
This isn’t a call to be perfect. It’s a call to support your system in real, doable ways.
Here’s where to start:
1. Move your body (but don’t punish it)
Big muscle movements help metabolise stress hormones. Walk. Dance. Stretch. Punch a pillow. Sweat. Shift the energy.
2. Let your breath be what it is
No need to force deep breathing if your system’s too wired. Instead, just sit for 5-10mins and notice your breath. Let it find its way back to you.
3. Feed your nervous system
- Protein + carbs every 3-4 hours
- Magnesium-rich foods (dark choc, leafy greens, seeds) or a supplement like Adapt
- B vitamins (especially B6 for progesterone support - Adapt has all the B vitamins you need)
- Salt (especially if you crave it - it might signal adrenal depletion - we love celtic salt)
4. Support GABA gently
Supplements like L‑theanine or low-dose GABA (250 mg) can support your calm chemistry. Check with your health practitioner.
5. Question your caffeine
Caffeine can mimic anxiety in sensitive systems. Try cutting back or switching to green tea if you feel jittery all the time. Honestly - this can be a huge one for many women who refuse to give up the coffee. But when they finally agree to test it out - everything shifts. Give it a good 2 weeks to really notice the change.
6. Review your contraception
Some hormonal contraceptives can suppress natural progesterone and impact mood. This is nuanced - please don’t make changes without professional support - but it’s worth being informed.
7. Prioritise sleep like your hormones depend on it
Because they do. Deep sleep repairs your nervous system, restores hormone balance, and helps reset cortisol rhythm.
8. Build a buffer in your mornings
Before your phone. Before the chaos. Give yourself 10 minutes.
- Light. Breath. Space.
- A moment of “what do I need today?”
- Protein-rich breakfast i
This isn’t about blaming hormones for everything. It’s about recognising that they do play a role, and they’re heavily influenced by your stress levels, your environment, your food, your sleep, and the unrelenting pressure so many women carry.
You don’t have to live in a body that feels unsafe. You don’t have to normalise the mental load, the anxiety, or the 3am wake-ups where your heart’s pounding for no reason. Support your nervous system. Balance your hormones. Create space for calm to return.
And when you’re ready? Glowable’s here to back you - with practitioner formulated Adapt and real education - because no woman should be left to figure this out alone.