For several years now, I feel that I have not been in great health mentally and physically.
I have awful anxiety and low mood. Very drained but weirdly wired at the same time. Daily gut issues that really drain me and worry me and despite endless tests I am told nothing is wrong other than a diagnosis of IBS which I work hard to control (fail miserably as symptoms are every single day).
I have tried absolutely everything to help control all of the above to no avail (other than draining a big hole in my bank account!). I eat a special diet for my gut, exercise every day, practise gut directed hypnotherapy and don’t eat or drink anything which may cause a mental stimulation eg caffeine etc.
One thing that I do see a constant pattern is just how anxious and wired I am every morning without fail.
I know cortisol levels are at their highest first thing but I feel mine are particularly high.
I often wake between 1-4am.
As soon as I wake at 7am, I need the toilet, again I know this is not unusual for IBS sufferers but I feel like an engine has switched on and is putting my digestive system in overdrive. I truly feel awful for the first half of the day then gradually feel better until the evening which is the best part of the day for me, I feel so much calmer and often have a calmer gut then too. I just absolutely dread the mornings and first half of the day.
In 2019 I had a ct scan to check on a kidney cyst. One of the incidental findings was a small ‘nodule’ on my adrenal gland. My gp wasn’t concerned and it’s never been mentioned again but I wonder if this could have something to do with it?
I don’t know much about cortisol levels and may be grasping at straws but when you feel like shit every single day it’s hard not to fall down rabbit holes of thinking.
Does anyone know much about cortisol levels and how they could influence stress, anxiety and gut issues?