Cortisol Over 40: Why It Matters (and Why Energy Might Be the Missing Piece)
- Kelly Joseph
- Jul 29
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 6
You’ve probably heard the word “cortisol over 40” or "cortisol in midlife" tossed around in wellness circles lately.
Is it just another trendy term like “adaptogens” or “hormone balancing teas”? Or is it the actual reason your body is inflamed, your pants feel tighter, your sleep is a mess, and you feel like snapping over nothing — even though you’re trying to “do all the things”?
Let’s be real: If you’re a woman in your 40s or beyond, understanding cortisol is not optional. It’s essential.
And while most wellness plans focus on food and fitness (which are important!), there’s a deeper layer that too many women are missing:
👉 Your energy.
Let’s talk about that too...because we look at the holistic picture in my world.
What Is Cortisol, Really?
Cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone — produced by your adrenal glands.
Its job is to help you survive in short bursts:
It spikes when you’re in danger,
helps you wake up in the morning,
gives you quick energy in emergencies,
and shuts down non-essential functions like digestion and reproduction when you’re stressed.
In short: cortisol is brilliant when your body thinks it’s in crisis or when it needs that jolt in a good way.
But here's the thing… your body doesn’t know the difference between:
running from a bear
arguing with your teen
skipping meals while juggling work
or silently people-pleasing through every part of your life
To your nervous system, it’s all the same. Stress is stress — and often in these times, our cortisol is staying elevated.
The Hormone Hierarchy (aka Why You Can’t Ignore Cortisol Over 40)
Initially in midlife, you might be tempted to jump straight to fixing your estrogen, progesterone, or thyroid — especially during perimenopause.
But here’s the deal:
Hormones work in a hierarchy — and cortisol is at the very bottom.If it’s out of balance, the rest of your hormones can’t do their jobs.
Imagine your hormones like a pyramid:
Base level: Insulin, Oxytocin & Cortisol
Middle: DHEA & Pregnenolone
Not in my pic: Melatonin & Thyroid Hormones
Top: Sex Hormones (Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone)
If cortisol is spiking or crashing, your body will literally downshift everything else — especially metabolism, reproduction, and fat-burning — because it thinks it’s in survival mode.
That’s why we can:
eat clean
work out
take the supplements…and still feel inflamed, exhausted, bloated, and blah.....this was me and something I am still healing.
Because your body doesn’t want to look hot when it thinks you’re being chased by lions. It wants to survive.
Common Cortisol Clues in Midlife
If you’ve felt:
Wired but tired
Puffy or inflamed (especially in the midsection)
Craving sugar, salt, or caffeine
Snapping over small things
Waking up at 2–4am regularly
Anxious for no reason
Like your body isn’t “yours” anymore…
Then cortisol might be the sneaky root cause. And no — it’s not just aging or willpower.
Here’s What Most Programs Miss…
You can’t just out-supplement cortisol.
You can’t meal plan it away. You can’t HIIT your way out of it. (And let’s be honest — that often makes it worse if your HIIT workout isn't done strategically.)
Because chronic stress isn’t just physical. It’s emotional. It’s energetic. It’s how you process life through your body.
And that’s where Human Design comes in.
What’s Human Design Got to Do With It?
Human Design is a system that helps you understand your unique energy blueprint — how you’re wired to make decisions, rest, work, connect, and navigate life.
It’s not a personality quiz. It’s a soul map.
And when you’re living out of alignment with your true design, you often feel:
depleted
bitter or frustrated
overwhelmed
like you’re constantly “off”
(👋 Sound familiar?)
That misalignment? It’s not random. It creates energetic stress — and your body responds with cortisol.
Here’s What You Can Learn with Human Design:
Your Type: how your energy flows + interacts with others
Your Authority: how you’re meant to make decisions
Your Not-Self Theme: your personal “stress signal” we will call it in this instance
Your Centers: how you process emotions, pressure, and willpower and many other energies
When you start living with your energy instead of against it, your nervous system finally feels safe again — and that’s when the magic happens.
Deep exhale....
Weight starts to drop. Energy returns. Clarity shows up. You feel more like... you.
Listen midlife friend. All of this you're going through and learning about...
This Isn’t a Crisis — It’s Your Comeback.
You’re not too old. You’re not broken. You’re just overdue for a reset that honors who you really are.
That’s why I created two free tools to help you start this next chapter from a place of energy, alignment, and calm confidence:
👉 Get Your Free Wellness Human Design Chart (the energy aspect)
Understand your energy so you can finally stop pushing and start aligning.
A micro commitment to recalibrate your stress response, gently reset your body, and return to center — with support, science, and soul. Yes!! I will be diving deeper into how to use your Human Design to support your cortisol too...all through email and optional group support.
I lean into both because we need both!
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