Definition:

1. A stress hormone involved in our natural fight or flight response to perceived threats.

Insights:

1. Normative stress helps our body grow and adapt.
2. Chronic stress continuously releases cortisol into our body. Our immune system then sends chemicals throughout the body that causes inflammation, leading to increased risk of autoimmune diseases including heart disease and cancer.
3. Once we have handled perceived threats, our body will return to balance, and cortisol is reduced. This does not happen if our mind 'gets in the way'.