Cortisol
In the intricacies of your body's functions, hormones play a profound role. Their ring-leaders of everything from your energy levels to your sleep patterns. Cortisol, often referred to as the "stress hormone," is a key player in this circus of regulating your wakefulness and sleep cycles. Calling this a circus may sound misleading, although what happens when this delicate rhythm is disrupted seems to align with swallowing fire and shining on a trapeze.
Waking up early, sometimes as early as 3 a.m., can be attributed to a variety of factors that create a disturbance in your cortisol rhythms. Whether it's a caloric deficit, an intense training schedule, or an inadequate intake of carbohydrates, these situations can tip the scales, prompting an early rise. Normally, cortisol gradually increases, peaking around 6 a.m. This peak triggers the release of epinephrine from your adrenals, almost like a burst of morning energy.
However, an intriguing phenomenon known as being "wired and tired" can also manifest. This scenario involves difficulty falling asleep and difficulty waking up, often due to inappropriate elevation of cortisol in the evening hours. This imbalance, likely a result of chronic stress, disrupts your diurnal cortisol rhythm.
Chronic stress plays a central role in these scenarios. It can throw off your cortisol patterns, leading to sleep disturbances and wakefulness at odd hours. Your body is designed to respond to stress, but when stress becomes chronic and unmanaged, it can wreak havoc on your hormonal equilibrium.
The delicate dance between cortisol and your sleep-wake cycles is a reminder of the intricate interplay within your body. While the "exciting wakeup call" and the "wired and tired" sensations might seem contradictory, they both point to the same root cause—an imbalanced cortisol rhythm due to chronic stress.
Your body’s internal clock is finely tuned, and cortisol plays a pivotal role in regulating your wakefulness and sleep. Disruptions to this rhythm, whether due to a caloric deficit, intense training, or chronic stress, can lead to early wakefulness or sleep disturbances. As you navigate day-to-day activities, it's essential to prioritize stress management - for the sake of your hormones and a greater felt sense of well-being.
Give further consideration by exploring through the following questions.
How do you ensure adequate daily carbohydrates in each meal?
How often are you reliant on caffeine or alcohol to function day-to-day?
When in the day do you make time to sit in the sun? How often are you scheduling moments and/or days to recover?
