Hormones & Stress
Hormones & Stress: Finding Balance in a Busy World
Stress doesn’t just live in your mind—it lives in your body. When stress is constant, your hormones can shift out of balance, leaving you tired, anxious, inflamed, or struggling with weight and sleep. Cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones—they all respond to your stress load.
At The Nurse Rebecca, I make it simple to understand how stress and hormones work together—and what you can do to feel better. Here you’ll find:
✅ Clear explanations of how stress affects your hormones
✅ Guidance on cortisol, adrenal function, and nervous system regulation
✅ Strategies for managing stress without guilt or restriction
✅ Simple, science-backed tools to help restore energy and balance
If you’ve been told “it’s just stress,” I want you to know—your symptoms are real, and there are ways to support your body.
👉 If you’d like to dig deeper, you can order lab testing for hormone and cortisol levels through trusted partners like Everlywell, EmpowerDX, or Personalabs. And if you’re ready for personalized support, book a free 60-minute consultation with me—I’ll help you connect the dots between stress, hormones, and how you feel.
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Stress doesn’t just live in your mind — it shows up in your body. Chronic stress can push cortisol out of rhythm, disrupt estrogen and progesterone balance, and leave you feeling drained, inflamed, anxious, or stuck in survival mode.
For women especially, hormone and stress imbalances can hide beneath “normal” labs, leaving you frustrated and overlooked. That’s why digging into the right labs can provide the missing answers.
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Understanding Testosterone in Women: The Hidden Hormone Behind Energy, Strength, and Drive
Understanding Testosterone in Women: The Hidden Hormone Behind Energy, Strength, and Drive I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a woman sit across
Understanding Progesterone: What This Hormone Test Really Means
Understanding Progesterone: What This Hormone Test Really Means I once had a patient who said, “My cycles are all over the place — my doctor
Understanding Estradiol (E2): What Your Estrogen Lab Really Means
Understanding Estradiol (E2): What Your Estrogen Lab Really Means I still remember the first time a patient asked me, “My lab says estradiol… is that
Specific Lab Test Guides
Cortisol (Blood or Saliva)
Measures: Your stress hormone, either at a single point or across the day.
Why It Matters: High or low cortisol can affect energy, sleep, weight, and immune health.
DHEA-S
- Measures: A hormone produced by your adrenal glands.
- Why It Matters: Helps balance cortisol, supports energy, mood, and hormone production.
Estrogen (Estradiol, E2)
Measures: The primary female hormone.
Why It Matters: Too high or too low can affect mood, cycles, bone health, and more.
Progesterone
Measures: Hormone important for menstrual cycle balance and calming effects on the nervous system.
Why It Matters: Low progesterone can lead to PMS, irregular cycles, anxiety, or sleep issues.
Testosterone (Total & Free)
Measures: An androgen hormone, present in both women and men.
Why It Matters: Imbalances can cause fatigue, weight changes, low libido, or mood shifts.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services I trust and use myself. Your support helps me continue providing free, helpful health resources. Thank you!
Trusted At-Home Lab Tests
If your provider won’t order a test, or you just want to track your health from home, these companies make it easy and reliable. I only recommend ones that meet high accuracy standards and keep your information secure.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and services I trust and use myself. Your support helps me continue providing free, helpful health resources. Thank you!
Health Labs
HealthLabs.com is a nationwide lab testing service that lets you order your own blood and urine tests without a doctor’s referral. Partnered with CLIA-certified labs like Quest and LabCorp, they offer fast, affordable results in 1–3 days on everything from hormones to glucose, thyroid, and more.
Everlywell
Everlywell makes it simple to take charge of your health with accurate, physician-reviewed at-home lab tests. From hormones and thyroid to blood sugar, food sensitivities, and more, their easy-to-use kits deliver clear results straight to your inbox in just days.
Personalabs
Personalabs lets you order lab tests online and visit a local lab for collection — no doctor’s referral required. It’s an affordable, convenient way to access a wide range of lab tests and get your results securely online.
How to Use Your Results
Labs are powerful — but they’re only part of the story. Once you have your results:
✅ Compare your numbers to optimal ranges, not just the “normal” ranges.
✅ Track how your symptoms line up with your labs. Stress and hormone shifts don’t always show up the same way for everyone.
✅ Bring your results to your provider to discuss nutrition, sleep, movement, or supplements that may help.
✅ Look at the big picture — hormones interact with thyroid, blood sugar, and inflammation.
👉 Want support connecting the dots? Book a free consultation with me here. Together, we’ll review your labs, your symptoms, and next steps toward balance and energy.
Want Help Understanding Your Lab Results?
Your numbers are just part of the story — the real magic is knowing what they mean for you.
In your free 60-minute consultation, we’ll:
Review your results together in plain, human language
Talk about what’s going well and what could use support
Outline next steps you can actually follow without overwhelm
You’ll leave with clarity, confidence, and a plan that works with your body — not against it.
This content is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your healthcare provider for questions about your personal health.