Imagine this: You’ve had to cut back your work hours because childcare fell through, and now money is tight. Your husband is working extra hours and comes home too exhausted to help with the kids or housework. On top of that, a family member keeps asking for money, and you know you’ll have to say no again. Your job is demanding, and you never have enough time to finish everything you need to do. Then, on a particularly rough morning, your dog was sick all night, and your baby was up teething, leaving you with only a few hours of sleep. You overslept, scrambled to get out the door, and realized you forgot the diaper bag. After turning back to get it, your gas light turned on. On your way to get gas, you hit road work. Not only that, but your baby cried the entire car ride. In these moments of chaos and exhaustion, your body is producing the stress hormone cortisol . Cortisol is crucial for handling acute stress, but when elevated for too long, it can take a toll on your health. Contrary to popular belief, cortisol is not inherently bad. It is essential for various bodily…