It’s February. It’s cold, the days are short, and life is busy. You feel exhausted, yet when your head hits the pillow, your mind won’t shut off. You walk into a room and forget why you entered. You feel “wired but tired.”
You might dismiss this as just “being stressed.” But physiologically, there is a very specific mechanism happening behind the scenes that is robbing you of your calm.
It is a phenomenon we call the “Pregnenolone Steal.”
The "Grandmother" Hormone: A Lesson in Resource Management
To understand why you feel this way, we have to look at how your hormones are made.
Think of Pregnenolone as the “Grandmother Hormone.” It is the raw material—the precursor—that your body uses to manufacture other critical hormones. From Pregnenolone, your body has two main pathways it can choose [1]:
The "Calm" Pathway
It can be converted into Progesterone (and DHEA). Progesterone is your natural valium; it promotes sleep, calmness, and clear thinking.
The "Survival" Pathway
It can be converted into Cortisol. Cortisol is your stress hormone; it keeps you alert, mobilizes sugar for energy, and helps you survive danger.
The Heist: Survival Trumps Reproduction
Your body is brilliant at prioritizing survival.
When you are under chronic stress—whether that is a looming deadline, a family crisis, or simply the physiological stress of a freezing cold winter—your brain signals the alarm. It demands more Cortisol to handle the threat.
To meet this demand, your body diverts resources. It takes the “Grandmother” hormone (Pregnenolone) and shunts it down the cortisol pathway.
The result? The Pregnenolone Steal.
Because the raw materials are being used to make stress hormones, there is very little left over to make Progesterone.
The Symptom Picture: Wired, Tired, and Foggy
This is why women often have more difficult cycles, heavier PMS, or increased anxiety during stressful periods. It’s not just “in your head”—it’s a supply chain issue.
When the “Steal” is active, you experience the double-whammy of high cortisol and low progesterone:
Brain Fog
Progesterone supports cognitive function. Without it, things feel fuzzy.
Insomnia
You lack the sedative effect of progesterone, but have the alertness of cortisol.
Anxiety
Without progesterone to soothe GABA receptors, you feel on edge.
The Fix: Stop the Steal
You cannot supplement your way out of the steal without addressing the demand for cortisol. Here is how we tell the body it is safe to make progesterone again.
1. The "Adrenal Cocktail"
Your adrenal glands consume massive amounts of minerals when pumping out cortisol. Replenishing them helps regulate the stress response.
The Recipe: 4oz Orange Juice (Vitamin C) + A pinch of Sea Salt (Sodium) + A pinch of Cream of Tartar (Potassium). Sip this around 10 AM or 2 PM to support adrenal function.
2. Adaptogenic Herbs
3. Rest as Medicine
It sounds cliché, but in February, rest is a prescription. Every minute you spend in a “parasympathetic” (relaxed) state is a minute your body isn’t demanding cortisol, leaving more pregnenolone available to make the hormones that make you feel like yourself again.
If you are struggling with brain fog or hormonal chaos this month, remember: your body isn’t broken. It is trying to save you. It’s just a little confusing about the threat level. By supporting your adrenals and lowering the alarm, we can redirect those resources back to where they belong—making you feel calm, clear, and balanced.
Is Stress Hijacking Your Hormones?
If you suspect the “Pregnenolone Steal” is impacting your cycle or your mood, we can check. Dr. Jennifer Luis offers adrenal and hormone testing to map out your pathways.
References:
- Miller, W. L., & Auchus, R. J. (2011). The molecular biology, biochemistry, and physiology of human steroidogenesis and its disorders. Endocrine Reviews, 32(1), 81–151.
- Chandrasekhar, K., Kapoor, J., & Anishetty, S. (2012). A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine.
