Hello fellow Explorere; I look forward to working with you and sharing ideas new and old in hopes that we can make this thread a new Sticky. I would love the opportunity to identify all the other wonderful Explorers on here at the same time. Maybe it will result in us building a clubhouse in a treetop, somewhere.

The first topic I am proposing (after we all say hello, and grab a cuppa) is: how do you think your blood type affects your stress/cortisol level, as an Explorer? Genetically do you see not that much of a problem with stress/cortisol, an average smount of stress/cortisol, or often very intense stress reactions with lots of cortisol? Do you ever feel cortisol "lingering" in your system a long time through the typical Explorer's liver (which takes longer to rid the body of toxins anyway?)

cortisol levels and me...what's thaat hello and fine to meet you explorer maid  half of mine   ...I think and saw... my cortisol levels are justamente just in time and normal even while being in heaviest stressy situations, but merely catecholamines might be up in our AB-cases ....as here we resemble merely to the O's....

Hello there!  Explorer checking in here.  I can't really say what's up with my cortisol.  I believe that As typically (according to one of Dr. D's videos that I watched) have more problems with cortisol, and Os have more problems with adrenalin/dopamine.  I'm currently trying to get my estrogen/progesterone balanced.  I haven't *explored* cortisol questions yet.

I am an A with low cortisol.  Maybe once my adrenals are fixed, the low cortisol issue will go the other way.  

I know Dr. D has stressed the cortisol and BT A connection to stress...but i believe that being an explorer, i don't have cortisol problems, even with high amounts of stress.  In the BTD, the stress response of O is what i identified with.  I long before the BTD always needed a physical outlet for stress, and the energy goes to my muscles with a strong rush of adrenaline when things get heated.  

I can do this for awhile, but need periods of rest and relaxition to recharge, or i will become easily agitated.  I had the adrenal fatigue described by Dr. D, where the exercise that used to fuel me, would drain me more.  That has happened only once in my life.  Now i know to exercise and take rests, concentrate and zone, then relax and veg.  Long periods of a little stress is an enemy to me.

Explorers came when they had to get on the move at times, and could chill at others and not worry about 1 thing!!!!

I also think my reactive genes really got turned on after a near death car crash when i was 19.  I was bed ridden for 3 mths, lost 40 lbs (165 to 125), developed a staph infection in the muscle and bone at the big surgical incision around my hip, and took a lot of antibiotics and other meds.

I was also given a good number of blood transfusions.  This diet will help me to cool these genes down hopefully.  Luckily I was young and never had a recurrence of the staph infection and recovered 100 percent.  Did not even develope a blood clot in my leg, thanks to the care i recieved from the Dr.s that some people on this site seem to have disdain for;)

It's really hard to quantify stress/cortisol.  My main issue is blood sugar.  Frankly, the Explorer diet doesn't help too much with this.  I'd be better off with all those sweeteners listed as Neutral Infrequent as opposed to super beneficials.

I'm just chiming in to say hello. I can't really speak to the corisol issue. I know that when I was tested last year (when I was diagnosed with Lyme disease) that I was pretty close to the normal range. But your theory sounds pretty interesting. I know that my slow processing liver is responsible for a lot of my health problems.  

I never tested any of this.  I def try to avoid a lot of stress and live healthy though.

Quoted from 14428

Another Explorer checking in... I see 3 of us are nonnies too, which I guess is a big marker of Explorers. I can't say much about cortisol either, as it's not always easy to determine what is causing what. I am healing on so many levels at this point   and seeing AMAZING changes especially in my skin and hair...I had dry skin, but otherwise I thought I had pretty good skin until I see it now... and it's not dry anymore either  .

I'm on Premarin Virginia secondary to surgical menopause, and I can't get off of it.. I've tried twice now...and won't be doing that again, but I'm thinking maybe I should add progesterone cream, but hey that might be another thread...

Have you checked into bio identical hormone creams?  Some people do much better using them versus synthetic hormones.

Quoted from nowishow

I'm just chiming in to say hello. I can't really speak to the corisol issue. I know that when I was tested last year (when I was diagnosed with Lyme disease) that I was pretty close to the normal range. But your theory sounds pretty interesting. I know that my slow processing liver is responsible for a lot of my health problems.  

Lyme disease can throw off all the body's functions.  I was just diagnosed after years of all doctors not knowing what was wrong.  I am starting treatment in a few weeks.  My hormones, adrenals and thyroid are all off because of the Lyme.

Hello I'm an Exploring/Gathering?slight Hunter< I imagine about 45 % 42 % 13 %

I get a bit bad tempered but am strangely free of stress, I have always been able to handle very stressful situations far better than most people i know.

I think when explorers have toxins build up, they become more easily agitated.  That seems to be the case with me anyway.

I handle stress in a more calm way since i have done the explorer recommends.

Big hugs to everyone for all the insightful posts! (((((((((((((hugggg))))))))))) so glad we can have a thread to share and reflect.......

Good idea.  Thanks for starting it!

How can you tell when you have high cortisol levels other than getting tests? Does it feel like something?

Stress usually, eventually, leads me to anger. I smash and storm about for a bit and then feel totally drained for the rest of the day.

while loading up in orthomolecular amounts in B-complex, Mg and aminoacids & fatty acids  I feel much better since.... lurking for adrenal balancings as well... can't say that I feel
not ok but my most important work is still mentally....the repetition of L.Hay's
infos do help me tremendiously and lead me to let go off...shullbit issues...
but first I need to understand until I'm able to let go....

Magess, a little tip... instead of feeling drained take care where and why you're going to feel likewise... detect la causa and get off  (it)  ...

Too much cortisol in the blood will tend to make people gain weight especially more belly fat. Judging by that if I am really stressed about something either long term or short I would have to say that I'm not really influenced by cortisol. Stress will tend to cause weight loss at least for me. Don't know why maybe cause I'm a nonnie.

Quoted from Magess

How can you tell when you have high cortisol levels other than getting tests? Does it feel like something?

Stress usually, eventually, leads me to anger. I smash and storm about for a bit and then feel totally drained for the rest of the day.

Cortisol is the only thing I can put a finger on that is left causing the problem ...unless it's some other substance I can't figure out. My adrenal output seems normal; no imbalance there. But since I am classified as a "Reactor" (like Hunters) my psychological makeup is going to be different than others and I don't know exactly how much cortisol I dump into my system when under extreme stress. All I know is when I feel the onset of it on a stressful day, sometimes even talking to people about issues does NOT help.....have seen many many times when meditation and exercise did not take it away, either.....feels like something 'circulating' in my body that won't go away easily.....and I've just found out that whatever this substance is......if I dont do something about it fast......it activates Bulimia -- which I am convinced in SOME people is a true autoimmune disease.  THANKFULLY -- through one other member here on this site, I have been introduced to SOUND THERAPY and have found a SOUND FREQUENCY that has been my lifesaver......it not only calms me down but "flushes the cortisol/substance" down my internal drain so that I don't have to suffer anymore.....THANK YOU GOLDIE!!!! I am so glad Goldie intervened in my life with her idea!

I am actually a very good-natured person, almost always wake up in a good mood, but stress will make me bad tempered.  But when it's really BIG stress, like major life changes, I seem to take it in stride.  It's just the ordinary daily stressors that make me want to pull my hair out.  Tell me the world has turned upside down, however, and I come into my own, functioning quite well on overdrive (and adrenaline I suppose).  I think THAT must be very explorer-like.

Quoted from Captain_Janeway

Too much cortisol in the blood will tend to make people gain weight especially more belly fat. Judging by that if I am really stressed about something either long term or short I would have to say that I'm not really influenced by cortisol. Stress will tend to cause weight loss at least for me. Don't know why maybe cause I'm a nonnie.

I'm glad that that reminds me the story is not complete till I get my secretor testing done. I'm hoping for secretor since I have great dental health....but you never know.

I also have a peculiar response to stress.  I can get completely stress out before an anticipated stressor, or after a surprise one, while feeling pretty calm during the event.

Build-up of stress by products has always been an issue for me.  I had a few berserk / fugue states during the stress of my youth, but I am not sure how those would be connected.  Looking forward to better mobility and exercise in the future, so I am not expecting any amelioration.

Quoted from Seraffa

I'm glad that that reminds me the story is not complete till I get my secretor testing done. I'm hoping for secretor since I have great dental health....but you never know.

Knowing your secretor status will be very helpful.  I think it is vital, actually.

Quoted from paul clucas

I also have a peculiar response to stress.  I can get completely stress out before an anticipated stressor, or after a surprise one, while feeling pretty calm during the event.

Yes!

Quoted from paul clucas

Build-up of stress by products has always been an issue for me.  I had a few berserk / fugue states during the stress of my youth, but I am not sure how those would be connected.  Looking forward to better mobility and exercise in the future, so I am not expecting any amelioration.

I would not go back to my childhood/youth for anything, speaking of fugue states.  So much better to be adults in control of our own destinies.