The Hidden Impact of Stress on Women (and How to Reclaim Your Energy)

Fiona Black
Sep 14, 2025
2 min read

Burnout isn’t solved with bubble baths or yoga once a week. Stress is not just “in your head” it’s a full-body takeover. And for women, the effects run deep.

as a functional medicine health coach, we don’t ask “How do we make the symptoms go away?” We ask: “What’s the root cause? What systems are under pressure? And how do we reset the body so it can thrive again?”

Stress hijacks your hormones

When your body thinks it’s under attack, cortisol (your stress hormone) surges. That’s normal in short bursts. But chronic stress means cortisol never fully resets and that throws everything else off balance.

Irregular cycles, painful periods, and fertility struggles
Hot flashes and intensified menopause symptoms
Constant fatigue, brain fog, and sugar cravings

Functional medicine reset: Support your adrenals with steady blood sugar (protein + healthy fats every meal), cut the caffeine rollercoaster, and add stress-regulating practices like breathwork and sound therapy to bring your body back into rhythm.

Stress rewires your brain and energy system

Living in stress mode changes your brain’s wiring, it keeps you hyper-alert, robs you of deep sleep, and makes it harder to recover energy. Women often describe feeling “wired but tired”: exhausted but unable to switch off.

Insomnia or restless sleep
Feeling flat, depleted, or “not yourself”
Overthinking, worry, or racing mind

Functional medicine health coach reset: Prioritise circadian rhythm care (morning sunlight, screen curfew at night), magnesium-rich foods for calming, and restorative practices like meditation or RTT to reset the mind-body loop.

Stress wrecks your gut and immune system

Your gut isn’t just about digestion, it’s where most of your immune system and feel-good neurotransmitters live. Chronic stress changes gut motility, increases inflammation, and weakens the microbiome.

Constipation or IBS-like symptoms
Low immunity and constant infections
Mood dips, anxiety, or depression

Functional medicine health coach reset: Heal the gut by focusing on whole foods, prebiotics + fibre, staying hydrated, and daily movement. Stress regulation techniques (like vagus nerve breathwork) switch digestion back on.

Stress is not “just part of life” it’s a signal that your body needs recalibration. Ignore it, and it snowballs into hormonal chaos, gut disruption, and emotional burnout. Listen to it, and it can be your most powerful catalyst for change.