cortisol

Cortisol is a hormone in your body. It's made in your adrenal glands which are small, bean-shaped organs that sit on top of your kidneys. Cortisol helps you to handle stress, but too much cortisol can make you feel really anxious and make it harder for you to think clearly. When your body is in a stressful situation, like after a fight with a friend or when you're running late for something important, your body makes more cortisol. That can make you feel tense, like your heart is beating faster. When you calm down, your body lowers the cortisol in your body and you start to feel better.