Difficulties with falling asleep and/or staying asleep are extremely common. One of the most common causes of poor sleep is due to chronically elevated situational stress. Two of the organs most influenced by stress are the adrenal glands and the brain. The adrenal glands secrete cortisol in response to stressful situations whether perceived or factual. That is, in many ways, your body can not distinguish between an event that places you in real danger, versus a situation which "stresses you out." Long ago, this sympathetic branch of the nervous system was intended to propel us into "fight or flight," producing the cascade of physiological reactions which prepares us to deal with danger. During this time we experience, racing heart, tremor, elevated respiratory rate, rerouting of metabolic energy to the muscles, and much more. However, for many Americans, we seldom require this mechanism to propel us out of harms way, yet we currently live in an environment that frequently stimulates this stress response for no better reason than we are cut off in traffic, or we have been standing in line at Starbucks for what seems to be too long. Herein lies the problem; some of us are in perpetual "fight or flight" simply due to the high stress, fast-paced lifestyles we are living in, which eventually leads to imbalanced cortisol levels and thereby sleep challenges.
Cortisol and Sleep...
Many are familiar with the detrimental effects of prolonged, elevated cortisol, but equally or perhaps more problematic is a reduced or sub-optimal cortisol level as seen in "adrenal fatigue" and "adrenal exhaustion." Cortisol balances our blood sugar, manages blood pressure, bolsters the immune system, and is an attempt by the body to reestablish homeostasis in the presence of stress. Further, cortisol is released in a diurnal pattern, that is, we get spikes of cortisol every day to help with energy and either get us going, or keep us going. When stressed, we can secrete cortisol at irregular times causing sleep disruption. Basically, our body is telling us to get up and go, when we are really trying to rest and sleep. We will work to support, repair, or replace your cortisol based upon your level of adrenal maladaptation.
Hormones and Sleep...
Another extremely common cause of sleep disturbance is sub-optimal hormone levels. In men, Testosterone is a receptor agonist which functionally activates Serotonin and Dopamine in the brain. Serotonin is a direct precursor of Melatonin, which many are familiar with for it's benefits toward sleep. Serotonin is also associated with positive mood, as this is the neurotransmitter most often replaced or perpetuated in anti-depressant drugs. Testosterone has also been associate with increased GABA (Gamma Aminobutryc Acid) production, which is a calming, "inhibitory" neurotransmitter associated with curbing anxiety and improving sleep. Medications such as Valium and Xanax increase GABA but are addictive and often difficult to wean off of.
In women, Estrogen and Progesterone support the same inhibitory neurotransmitters, Serotonin and GABA respectively. This is why many women may start having issues sleeping during perimenopause. This is the time Estrogen and Progesterone start to fall, resulting in mood and sleep disturbances for many.
Cortisol and Sleep...
Many are familiar with the detrimental effects of prolonged, elevated cortisol, but equally or perhaps more problematic is a reduced or sub-optimal cortisol level as seen in "adrenal fatigue" and "adrenal exhaustion." Cortisol balances our blood sugar, manages blood pressure, bolsters the immune system, and is an attempt by the body to reestablish homeostasis in the presence of stress. Further, cortisol is released in a diurnal pattern, that is, we get spikes of cortisol every day to help with energy and either get us going, or keep us going. When stressed, we can secrete cortisol at irregular times causing sleep disruption. Basically, our body is telling us to get up and go, when we are really trying to rest and sleep. We will work to support, repair, or replace your cortisol based upon your level of adrenal maladaptation.
Hormones and Sleep...
Another extremely common cause of sleep disturbance is sub-optimal hormone levels. In men, Testosterone is a receptor agonist which functionally activates Serotonin and Dopamine in the brain. Serotonin is a direct precursor of Melatonin, which many are familiar with for it's benefits toward sleep. Serotonin is also associated with positive mood, as this is the neurotransmitter most often replaced or perpetuated in anti-depressant drugs. Testosterone has also been associate with increased GABA (Gamma Aminobutryc Acid) production, which is a calming, "inhibitory" neurotransmitter associated with curbing anxiety and improving sleep. Medications such as Valium and Xanax increase GABA but are addictive and often difficult to wean off of.
In women, Estrogen and Progesterone support the same inhibitory neurotransmitters, Serotonin and GABA respectively. This is why many women may start having issues sleeping during perimenopause. This is the time Estrogen and Progesterone start to fall, resulting in mood and sleep disturbances for many.
At Monterey Bay Wellness, we will address the underlying cause or causes of your sleeping issues. Whether stress-related, structural, or caused by a metabolic/neurotransmitter imbalance; we strive to reestablish proper balance allowing you to return to deep natural sleep by working with your body, not against it.
