Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, please consult a qualified healthcare professional. If you are in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
Table of Contents
- The Moment the Pressure Lifts — and You Fall Apart
- What Is a Cortisol Crash?
- The Biology Behind Post-Stress Depression
- Cortisol Crash Symptoms: What Does It Actually Feel Like?
- Why Do I Crash After Stress? The HPA Axis Explained
- Cortisol and Serotonin: The Connection Nobody Talks About
- Stress Aftermath Depression vs. Clinical Depression: How Are They Different?
- What Is Situational Depression?
- How Long Does Post-Stress Fatigue Depression Last?
- Warning Signs That Your Stress Comedown Has Become Something More
- Can Stress Cause Permanent Brain Changes?
- How to Support Your Recovery After a Stressful Period
- When Should You See a Doctor or Therapist?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
The Moment the Pressure Lifts — and You Fall Apart
You made it through. The deadline was met, the exams were finished, the crisis at work resolved itself, or the difficult life event finally passed. You expected to feel relieved — maybe even elated. Instead, you feel hollow. Exhausted in a way that sleep doesn't seem to fix. Flat. Sad. Maybe even tearful, and you're not entirely sure why.
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone, and you are not overreacting.
There is a very real, physiologically grounded reason why you feel depressed after a stressful period. It has a name — sometimes called a cortisol crash, a stress comedown, or post-stress depression — and understanding what is happening inside your body and brain during these moments can be the first step toward feeling better.
This article will walk you through the science in plain language, explain the difference between a temporary crash and something that warrants professional support, and give you practical tools to support your recovery.
Support Your Stress Response, Lower Cortisol and Feel Calmer, Clearer and More Like Yourself Again.
Try our new organic cortisol balance drops risk free
Shop Organic Cortisol Balance Drops
What Is a Cortisol Crash?
The term "cortisol crash" refers to the sudden drop in cortisol — your body's primary stress hormone — that can occur after a prolonged period of high stress. To understand the crash, it helps to first understand what cortisol is actually doing while you are under pressure.
Cortisol is produced by your adrenal glands as part of your body's stress-response system. During a stressful period, your brain signals these glands to pump out more cortisol so that you can stay alert, focused, and energized enough to deal with whatever is in front of you. In short bursts, this is enormously helpful. It is the same physiological mechanism that helped your ancestors escape predators. In modern life, it helps you power through a high-stakes work project, care for a sick family member, or navigate a difficult personal crisis.
The problem is that cortisol was never designed to stay elevated for weeks or months. When the stressor finally resolves and cortisol levels drop — sometimes quite abruptly — your system can struggle to recalibrate. The sudden absence of the neurochemical and hormonal scaffolding that was keeping you going can feel like the floor dropping out from under you.
This is the cortisol crash. And feeling down after stress in the days or weeks that follow is one of its most common and least discussed consequences.
The Biology Behind Post-Stress Depression
Post-stress depression is not simply "being tired." It involves real, measurable changes in your neurochemistry, your hormonal systems, and even your immune function.
The Stress Response Was Keeping You Going
During high-stress periods, elevated cortisol and adrenaline levels essentially act as a performance-enhancing cocktail for your nervous system. They sharpen focus, maintain energy, and suppress processes your body considers non-essential in a crisis — including proper digestion, immune function, and, crucially, the regulation of mood-related neurotransmitters.
When the stressor ends and those hormone levels fall, your body has to do a lot of catching up. Systems that were suppressed start demanding resources. Your nervous system, which was operating in a sustained state of high alert, needs to downshift. That downshift is not always smooth.
Inflammation Enters the Picture
Research published in a 2022 PMC review confirmed that stressful life events play an elemental role in triggering episodes of major depressive disorder, partly through the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, hypercortisolemia (excess cortisol in the bloodstream), and subsequent inflammatory changes throughout the body and brain.
In a 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis, Kuring and colleagues found that long-term stress was associated with higher levels of systemic inflammation and worse depression symptoms — a finding that reinforces the idea that the biological effects of stress do not simply disappear when the stressor does.
A separate 2023 study by Swathi and colleagues identified chronic stress as a major contributor to depression in adults, further cementing the scientific consensus that what many people experience as "post-stress depression" or a "stress aftermath depression" is not weakness or imagination — it is a documented physiological and psychological phenomenon.
Cortisol Crash Symptoms: What Does It Actually Feel Like?
People often describe a cortisol crash as feeling blindsided — surprised by how bad they feel precisely at the moment they expected to feel better. The specific cortisol crash symptoms can vary from person to person, but they tend to cluster in a few recognizable patterns.
Physical Symptoms
- Extreme fatigue that is disproportionate to your recent activity level — the kind where you sleep nine or ten hours and still feel like you haven't rested
- Body aches and heaviness, sometimes described as feeling like your limbs are made of lead
- Headaches or a persistent dull pressure behind the eyes
- Digestive disruption — nausea, bloating, appetite changes, or loss of interest in food
- Immune system dips — getting a cold or infection right after the stressor lifts is extremely common, because cortisol suppresses certain immune responses while elevated, and when it drops, those suppressed processes can overcorrect
- Sleep disturbances — either sleeping far more than usual, or paradoxically being unable to sleep despite feeling exhausted
Emotional and Cognitive Symptoms
- Low mood, tearfulness, or emotional flatness
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions — often described as "brain fog"
- Irritability or emotional volatility — snapping at people you care about over small things
- Feelings of emptiness, lack of motivation, or inability to feel pleasure in things you normally enjoy
- Guilt or self-criticism — sometimes about the very fact that you feel bad when "things are better now"
- Anxiety that doesn't seem to have a clear trigger
The Post-Adrenaline Crash
Some people specifically describe a post adrenaline crash — a type of low that follows highly acute stress events rather than chronic ones. This can happen after a car accident, a sudden medical emergency, a job loss, or any other situation where adrenaline spiked sharply. The crash that follows can feel like a sudden and disorienting deflation: heart pounding less, alertness fading, and the emotional weight of what just happened finally landing.
Support Your Stress Response, Lower Cortisol and Feel Calmer, Clearer and More Like Yourself Again.
Try our new organic cortisol balance drops risk free
Shop Organic Cortisol Balance DropsWhy Do I Crash After Stress? The HPA Axis Explained
The most direct answer to why you crash after stress lies in the mechanics of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis — the command-and-control system for your body's stress response.
Here is how it works in simplified terms:
- Your brain perceives a threat or stressor. The hypothalamus, a small region at the base of your brain, activates the stress response.
- The hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland, which in turn signals the adrenal glands (which sit atop your kidneys) to release cortisol and adrenaline.
- Cortisol floods your system, raising blood sugar for energy, sharpening alertness, and suppressing functions not needed for immediate survival.
- Under normal circumstances, a feedback loop kicks in: rising cortisol signals the hypothalamus and pituitary to dial back production. The system self-regulates.
The trouble begins when stress is chronic. Sustained activation of the HPA axis can disrupt the sensitivity of this feedback loop. The system that normally restores balance becomes dysregulated. Some people end up with chronically elevated cortisol; others, after prolonged stress, develop blunted cortisol output — their adrenal glands are simply less responsive, and cortisol levels drop lower than normal.
This blunted response is a key mechanism behind the cortisol crash after burnout and the exhaustion and depression that accompany it. Your body was running on emergency fuel for so long that when the emergency passes, the fuel line runs dry.
The Role of Adrenaline (Epinephrine and Norepinephrine)
Cortisol is not the only player. During acute and chronic stress, your body also releases adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine). These catecholamines are responsible for the heightened alertness and "wired" feeling of intense stress. When they drop after the stressor resolves, the stress comedown can include a pronounced low — feelings of deflation, disconnection, and low motivation — as the nervous system recalibrates.
Cortisol and Serotonin: The Connection Nobody Talks About
One of the most important and underappreciated aspects of post-stress mood disruption involves the relationship between cortisol and serotonin — two chemical systems that are deeply interconnected.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a central role in mood regulation, sleep, appetite, and emotional resilience. Low serotonin activity is widely associated with depression and anxiety. What many people do not realize is that high cortisol can actively suppress serotonin function.
Here is how this plays out:
- Elevated cortisol reduces the sensitivity of serotonin receptors in the brain, meaning serotonin signals are less effective even if serotonin levels themselves are normal.
- Chronically high cortisol can also reduce the synthesis of serotonin by interfering with the availability of tryptophan, the amino acid precursor that your body uses to make it.
- High cortisol also suppresses the function of the prefrontal cortex — the part of your brain responsible for emotional regulation, decision-making, and putting situations in perspective — while amplifying activity in the amygdala, your brain's threat-detection center. This combination can make everything feel more threatening or hopeless than it actually is.
When the stressful period ends and cortisol finally drops, serotonin function does not immediately snap back to normal. There is a lag period — sometimes days, sometimes weeks — during which your brain is recalibrating its serotonin signaling. This is one of the core neurochemical reasons why post stress fatigue depression feels so persistent even after the external stressor has resolved.
This connection between cortisol and serotonin also helps explain why people with a history of depression are particularly vulnerable to stress-related mood disruption. Their serotonin systems may already have less reserve capacity to absorb the suppressive effects of chronic cortisol exposure.
Stress Aftermath Depression vs. Clinical Depression: How Are They Different?
This is one of the most common questions people ask when they find themselves in the low that follows a stressful period: Is this "normal," or is this actual depression?
The honest answer is that the distinction matters, but it is not always clean. Stress aftermath depression shares many symptoms with clinical major depressive disorder (MDD). The difference lies primarily in cause, duration, and severity.
Stress Aftermath Depression
- Is typically triggered by an identifiable stressor or the end of one
- Tends to improve as the body and brain recalibrate, usually within days to a few weeks
- May resolve more readily with rest, self-care, and social support
- Does not necessarily involve the persistent hopelessness, loss of self-worth, or functional impairment that characterizes MDD
Clinical Major Depressive Disorder
According to CDC guidance, clinical depression is characterized by symptoms that last long enough to interfere with daily functioning — typically two weeks or more — and includes symptoms such as:
- Persistent low mood or emptiness
- Sleep disturbances (sleeping too much or too little)
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Loss of energy and fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Physical aches and pains without a clear cause
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- In serious cases, thoughts of death or suicide
The important thing to understand is that these categories can overlap. A stress comedown can trigger a depressive episode in someone who is biologically vulnerable. A period of intense chronic stress can also cause lasting changes in the brain that make depression more likely to develop or recur (more on this below). What starts as a temporary post-stress dip can, in some people, become something that requires professional care.
What Is Situational Depression?
Situational depression — also called reactive depression or adjustment disorder with depressed mood — is a recognized clinical category that describes depressive symptoms that arise in direct response to an identifiable life stressor. It was described and discussed in research available on WebMD, among other sources.
Unlike major depressive disorder, situational depression is specifically tied to an external event. Common triggers include:
- Losing a job
- Ending a relationship
- A serious illness in yourself or a loved one
- Moving or major life transitions
- The end of a prolonged caregiving period
- Natural disasters or accidents
- Financial crises
Importantly, situational depression can occur not just during the stressful event, but after it resolves — which is why so many people are caught off guard by the low that follows what they expected to be a relief.
Situational depression is treatable. Short-term therapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), is highly effective. In some cases, short-term medication may be considered as well, always under the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider.
Support Your Stress Response, Lower Cortisol and Feel Calmer, Clearer and More Like Yourself Again.
Try our new organic cortisol balance drops risk free
Shop Organic Cortisol Balance DropsHow Long Does Post-Stress Fatigue Depression Last?
There is no single answer, because the duration of post stress fatigue depression depends on several factors:
- How long and severe the original stress was — A two-week crunch before a work deadline will have a different aftermath than two years of caregiving for a seriously ill family member.
- Whether the stress was resolved cleanly — Ongoing or unresolved stressors complicate recovery even after the acute phase passes.
- Individual biology — People with a personal or family history of depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders tend to have more pronounced and longer-lasting responses.
- Lifestyle factors — Sleep quality, nutrition, exercise, and social connection all significantly influence recovery speed.
- Whether support is sought — People who reach out for help — whether to friends, a therapist, or a doctor — tend to recover more quickly.
General Timelines
For most people, the physical symptoms of a cortisol crash (fatigue, body aches, immune dip) begin to improve within one to two weeks as the body's hormonal systems recalibrate.
Emotional symptoms — low mood, brain fog, reduced motivation — may linger longer, often two to six weeks, particularly after prolonged or severe stress.
If symptoms are persisting beyond four to six weeks, are getting worse rather than better, or are significantly interfering with your daily functioning, that is a meaningful signal that professional support is warranted.
Warning Signs That Your Stress Comedown Has Become Something More
It is important to know the difference between a temporary stress comedown and a genuine depressive episode that needs clinical attention. Here are the warning signs to watch for:
Physical Warning Signs
- Fatigue so severe that basic daily tasks feel impossible
- Significant changes in appetite — eating far less or far more than usual
- Sleeping excessively but still feeling unrefreshed, or being unable to sleep at all
- Physical aches and pains that have no other medical explanation and persist for weeks
Emotional Warning Signs
- Persistent low mood lasting more than two weeks with no improvement
- Feelings of hopelessness — a sense that things will not get better
- Loss of interest or pleasure in all activities, not just some
- Feeling disconnected from yourself or others (depersonalization)
- Intense feelings of worthlessness, self-blame, or guilt
- Withdrawal from relationships and social activities
Cognitive Warning Signs
- Inability to concentrate or make simple decisions
- Persistent negative thought patterns that feel impossible to interrupt
- Thoughts of death, dying, or feeling like others would be better off without you
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please reach out for help immediately. Call or text 988 (in the US) to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or go to your nearest emergency room.
Can Stress Cause Permanent Brain Changes?
This is a question that understandably concerns people, and the research answer is nuanced: chronic stress can cause significant brain changes, some of which may persist — but there is also strong evidence that many of these changes are reversible with the right support and lifestyle changes.
The Hippocampus and Depression
The hippocampus is a brain structure critical to memory, learning, and the regulation of the stress response. It is also one of the most stress-sensitive regions of the brain.
In a neuroimaging study of 24 women with a history of depression cited by Harvard Health, the hippocampus was 9% to 13% smaller in women with depression compared to those without it — and critically, women who had experienced more depressive episodes had smaller hippocampal volumes. This suggests that repeated or prolonged stress and depression may cumulatively affect hippocampal structure.
Chronically elevated cortisol is thought to contribute to this by reducing neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons) in the hippocampus and potentially damaging existing neurons. The hippocampus is also rich in cortisol receptors, making it particularly vulnerable.
The Good News: Neuroplasticity
The brain retains significant capacity for change and healing throughout adulthood — a quality known as neuroplasticity. Research has shown that:
- Regular exercise can stimulate neurogenesis in the hippocampus
- Antidepressant medications, when appropriate, have been shown to support hippocampal recovery
- Mindfulness-based therapies and stress reduction practices can measurably change brain structure and function over time
- Consistent sleep is critical for neural repair and emotional regulation
The fact that stress can change the brain is not a reason for despair — it is a reason to take post-stress recovery seriously and to seek help when you need it.
How to Support Your Recovery After a Stressful Period
Recovery from post-stress depression and cortisol crash is not about forcing yourself to "snap out of it." It is about creating the conditions your nervous system needs to recalibrate. The following strategies have meaningful scientific backing.
1. Prioritize Sleep Above Almost Everything Else
Sleep is when your brain consolidates learning, regulates emotions, clears metabolic waste, and rebalances neurochemistry. After a period of chronic stress, your sleep may be disrupted — either sleeping too much or too little. Try to:
- Maintain a consistent sleep and wake time, even on weekends
- Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and screen-free
- Avoid caffeine after midday
- Consider a short wind-down routine: 20–30 minutes of low-stimulation activity before bed
2. Move Your Body Gently
Exercise is one of the most potent evidence-based interventions for depression and stress recovery. It stimulates the release of endorphins, supports serotonin and dopamine production, reduces cortisol, and promotes hippocampal neurogenesis. Crucially, the exercise does not have to be intense to be beneficial. After a period of burnout, aggressive exercise can sometimes aggravate adrenal fatigue. Instead:
- Aim for 20–30 minutes of moderate-intensity movement most days — walking, cycling, swimming, yoga
- Get outside if you can, as natural light and green space provide additional mood benefits
- Listen to your body and rest if you genuinely need to
3. Eat to Support Hormonal Recovery
Nutrition plays a real role in cortisol regulation and neurotransmitter synthesis. After a stress period:
- Eat regular meals — skipping meals can spike cortisol
- Include protein at each meal to support neurotransmitter production (serotonin is made from tryptophan, found in turkey, eggs, dairy, nuts, and seeds)
- Prioritize anti-inflammatory foods — fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fatty fish, olive oil — as inflammation is a key driver of post-stress depression
- Reduce alcohol and caffeine, both of which disrupt cortisol rhythms and sleep quality
4. Reconnect with Other People
Chronic stress often leads to isolation — you were too busy or too exhausted to maintain social connections. After the stress period ends, rebuilding these connections is genuinely therapeutic. Human social contact stimulates oxytocin, which actively suppresses cortisol and supports mood. Even small steps help: a phone call with a friend, a coffee with a colleague, or joining a group activity.
5. Resist the Urge to Immediately Fill the Void
One of the most counterproductive things people do after a major stressor resolves is to immediately load in new commitments, projects, or stimulation to avoid sitting with the uncomfortable feelings of the crash. Your nervous system needs genuine downtime. Allow yourself to be unproductive. Read a novel. Sit in a park. Watch something lighthearted. Rest is not laziness — it is recovery.
6. Practice Nervous System Regulation
Simple practices that activate the parasympathetic nervous system (your "rest and digest" mode) can actively support cortisol recalibration:
- Deep diaphragmatic breathing — try a 4-7-8 pattern (inhale for 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale for 8)
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Mindfulness meditation — even 10 minutes a day has measurable effects on cortisol and mood
- Cold water exposure — a brief cold shower can stimulate the vagus nerve and improve mood
- Gentle yoga or stretching
7. Limit News and Social Media
During a stress crash, your brain's threat-detection systems are already oversensitive. Constant exposure to alarming news and the comparison dynamics of social media can keep cortisol elevated and disrupt your recovery. Consider a deliberate, time-limited approach to media consumption.
Support Your Stress Response, Lower Cortisol and Feel Calmer, Clearer and More Like Yourself Again.
Try our new organic cortisol balance drops risk free
Shop Organic Cortisol Balance DropsWhen Should You See a Doctor or Therapist?
There is no shame in needing professional support — and there is no threshold of suffering you need to reach before you "deserve" it. That said, here are clear markers that suggest it is time to reach out:
See a doctor if:
- Physical symptoms (fatigue, body aches, immune issues) are persisting beyond two to three weeks with no improvement
- You suspect there may be a medical component — thyroid disorders, iron deficiency anemia, and other conditions can mimic or worsen cortisol crash symptoms
- You are considering whether medication might be appropriate for you
See a therapist or counselor if:
- You are struggling to process the stress or trauma that preceded the crash
- Your mood has been low for more than two to three weeks
- You are withdrawing from relationships and activities
- You recognize unhealthy patterns — using alcohol, overworking, avoidance — as coping mechanisms
- You simply feel that talking to someone would help (it very often does)
Seek immediate help if:
- You are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm
- You feel unable to care for yourself or others who depend on you
- You are experiencing symptoms of psychosis (confusion, paranoia, hallucinations)
Effective therapeutic approaches for stress-related and situational depression include:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — addresses the thought patterns that sustain low mood
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — builds psychological flexibility and values-based action
- Somatic therapies — address the body-based residue of stress
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) — particularly effective for preventing depressive relapse
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I feel depressed after a stressful period?
When chronic stress ends, cortisol and adrenaline levels drop, sometimes sharply. These hormones had been sustaining your energy and focus during the stressful period. Their departure, combined with the neurochemical effects of prolonged stress on serotonin function and brain chemistry, can create a temporary but real low that feels like depression.
Is feeling down after stress normal?
Yes. Feeling down after stress is extremely common and is rooted in real physiology. It is your body's way of demanding recovery after a sustained period of high-alert functioning. It does not mean something is permanently wrong with you.
How is stress-related depression different from clinical depression?
Stress-related or situational depression is tied to an identifiable trigger and typically improves as the body recalibrates and circumstances stabilize. Clinical major depressive disorder (MDD) persists for two or more weeks, often independent of external circumstances, and involves a consistent pattern of symptoms that significantly interfere with daily functioning. The two can overlap, however — stress can trigger a clinical depressive episode in vulnerable individuals.
Can cortisol cause depression?
Yes, in several ways. High cortisol suppresses serotonin receptor sensitivity, interferes with tryptophan availability (needed for serotonin production), impairs the prefrontal cortex's ability to regulate emotions, and drives inflammation — all of which contribute to depressive symptoms. The relationship between cortisol and serotonin is a key mechanism in stress-related depression.
What is a stress comedown?
A stress comedown refers to the period of low energy, low mood, and general flatness that follows after a period of intense stress. It is the experiential equivalent of what scientists call the cortisol crash — the body's adjustment period after the hormonal surge of the stress response winds down.
How long can situational depression last?
Most cases of situational depression begin to improve within four to six weeks as the body and brain recalibrate. If symptoms persist beyond six weeks or worsen over time, professional evaluation is recommended.
What are the warning signs that stress has turned into depression?
Key warning signs include: persistent low mood lasting more than two weeks, loss of interest in all activities, feelings of hopelessness, significant changes in sleep or appetite, inability to function at work or in relationships, and any thoughts of death or suicide.
When should I see a doctor about post-stress depression?
See a doctor if physical symptoms persist for more than two to three weeks, if you suspect an underlying medical condition, or if your mood is significantly interfering with your daily life. Seek immediate help if you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
What helps with recovery after a stressful event?
The most evidence-supported approaches include prioritizing sleep, gentle daily exercise, eating regular nutritious meals, rebuilding social connections, nervous system regulation practices (such as deep breathing and mindfulness), limiting alcohol and caffeine, and allowing genuine downtime. Professional support from a therapist or doctor should be sought when self-care measures are insufficient.
Can stress cause brain changes that affect mood?
Yes. Chronic stress and high cortisol can reduce hippocampal volume, suppress neurogenesis, and alter the balance of activity between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala — all changes that affect mood, emotional regulation, and stress resilience. However, many of these changes are reversible with proper care, exercise, adequate sleep, and, when needed, professional treatment.
Final Thoughts
If you are currently sitting in that strange, disorienting low that follows a period of intense stress, the most important thing to know is this: what you are experiencing is real, it is documented, and it is not a character flaw.
The biology of the cortisol crash and post-stress depression is well-established. Your body spent weeks or months running at an elevated state of alert. The neurotransmitters and hormones that were keeping you functional during that time have dropped away, and your system is struggling to recalibrate. That struggle shows up as exhaustion, low mood, brain fog, and the sense that something is wrong when everything should be fine.
You are not broken. You are recovering.
The research is also clear that stress aftermath depression can become clinical depression in some people — particularly those with a biological vulnerability, a history of trauma, or inadequate social and professional support. This is not meant to alarm you, but to underscore that taking your post-stress recovery seriously is an act of real self-care, not indulgence.
Rest when you can. Move your body gently. Eat well. Lean on people you trust. And if the low persists, deepens, or begins to interfere significantly with your ability to function — please reach out to a professional. You do not have to manage this alone, and you do not have to wait until things become unbearable before asking for help.
The period after the storm is part of the storm. But it does end.
If you found this article helpful, consider sharing it with someone who might be going through a similar experience. For more evidence-based content on mental health, mood, and stress recovery, explore the rest of our resource library.
References and Sources:
- Kuring, J. et al. (2023). Systematic review/meta-analysis: long-term stress, inflammation, and depression symptoms. Cited in Alter Behavioral Health.
- Swathi, P. et al. (2023). Chronic stress as a major contributor to depression in adults. Cited in Alter Behavioral Health.
- PMC Review (2022). Stress, HPA axis activation, and depression. PMC9405608. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9405608/
- Harvard Health Publishing. What causes depression? Neuroimaging study, hippocampal volume, and depression. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Depression symptoms and daily functioning. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/depression-anxiety.html
- WebMD. Situational Depression. https://www.webmd.com/depression/situational-depression
- Alter Behavioral Health. Can stress cause depression? https://alterbehavioralhealth.com/blog/stress-cause-depression/
- Nurx Health. Can stress cause depression? https://www.nurx.com/blog/can-stress-cause-depression/
0 comments