5. Sugar craving?
High cortisol means high blood sugar, which puts you in a risk category for diabetes. With high glucose levels comes a rise in insulin, which then drop your blood sugar, causing a sudden urge to down a block of chocolate.
6. Doom and Gloom
Serotonin is the hormone that transmits chemical messages from one side of the brain to another. It is linked to psychological functions like mood, appetite, sleep, memory and sexual and social behaviour. Low levels of serotonin are reported to cause depression. High levels of cortisol suppress the production of serotonin and also increase anxiety, leading to jitters, nervous stomach, panic and paranoia.