11/19/2025
If you wake up with puffy, swollen eyes your body is trying to tell you something. This can be a subtle sign that your cortisol rhythm is off and your stress hormones aren't cycling the way they should.
Here's how it works:
- Cortisol is meant to rise in the morning to wake you up, reduce fluid retention, and get your metabolism going.
- But if your cortisol is low when it should be high (a common pattern in burnout or HPA axis dysfunction), your body can't regulate inflammation or fluid balance efficiently.
This often leads to:
- Morning puffiness around the eyes and face
- Feeling groggy or heavy even after 8+ hours of sleep
- Brain fog or a slow start in the morning
- Craving coffee or sugar to "kick in"
- Waking up more tired than you were before bed
If this sounds familiar, your body is asking for support!