Cortisol Chaos: Stress, Hormones, and the Invisible Load of Motherhood
hi Mobsters, it’s Leah here, psychologist, mum and founder of the house of Hormones
This week on our wellbeing blog, Let’s talk about cortisol, the hormone we often hear about in the context of stress, but rarely fully understand. As a mum, businesswoman, or woman juggling life’s never-ending to-do list, you might have blamed “stress” for a bad night’s sleep, that snapping moment at 3pm, or that all-too-familiar feeling of running on empty. But what’s actually going on in your body?
Cortisol is produced by your adrenal glands and is best known as your body’s “stress hormone”, but it’s actually essential for energy, blood pressure, metabolism, and even your immune system. Normally, cortisol follows a natural rhythm: high in the morning to wake you up and gradually declining throughout the day so you can wind down.
But let’s be honest, how many of us mums are getting up slowly, sipping a warm cup of tea with zero interruptions? More likely, we’re jolted out of bed by a baby, a toddler, or a mental reminder of the school run, packed lunches, and that email we forgot to send.
This chronic stress disrupts our natural cortisol rhythm. Over time, our levels can stay too high for too long, or worse, crash altogether! Leaving us feeling wired but tired, foggy, moody, and even inflamed.
The term “invisible load” refers to the mental weight women often carry: remembering appointments, managing the family calendar, knowing which child is going through a tricky phase, and carrying the emotional tone of the household. And guess what? Every one of these mental tasks triggers a physiological stress response. Your body doesn’t know the difference between real danger and mental overload, it just reacts.
Add to that the hormonal shifts that come with the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, or postnatal recovery, and you’ve got a recipe for what I like to call cortisol chaos.
Too much cortisol over time can contribute to:
Trouble sleeping
Low mood or anxiety
Blood sugar swings (hello, sugar cravings)
Weight gain around the middle
Brain fog or poor memory
Hormonal imbalance (it can suppress reproductive hormones)
If you’re constantly feeling overwhelmed, snapping more than usual, or exhausted no matter how much you sleep, this could be a sign your stress system needs some love.
The good news? There’s plenty we can do:
Bookend your day with calm: A slow start (even 5 minutes of quiet breathing) and a winding-down ritual at night helps signal safety to your body.
Eat to balance blood sugar: Protein, fibre, and healthy fats. Skip the coffee-for-breakfast habit.
Move, but gently: Walking, stretching, and low-impact workouts help regulate cortisol better than extreme cardio.
Say no without guilt: Every time you overcommit, your body says yes to more cortisol.
Talk about it: You're not weak, lazy or failing, you're likely overloaded.
Mums don’t need fixing. But we do need support, and a lot more honesty around the reality of the invisible, hormonal, stress-driven load we carry.
Let’s give our bodies the same compassion we so easily extend to others.
With love
THOH
What is Mums Who Build?
Mums Who Build is a vibrant community created to support female founders, women in leadership, and mums who are building businesses or exploring self-employment. Our mission is to make education for women more accessible, to champion mums as leaders, and to help you grow with confidence and connection.
When you join the MOB, you’ll unlock:
Free monthly wellbeing content from Xena Life to support your mental and physical health
Access to expert-led events and resources designed for mums in business
If you’re local to East London, free pre & postnatal gym classes in partnership with Pure Muscles—because your wellbeing matters just as much as your ambition
Whether you’re just thinking about launching your own venture or already scaling your business, you deserve community, support, and practical tools to thrive.
