1. A woman’s hormonal system is five times more sensitive to stress than a man’s. Studies show that the HPA axis (hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal) in women activates faster and stays active longer. This means her body produces more cortisol under the same amount of stress and takes longer to recover. Even if she looks calm, her nervous system may already be operating in survival mode. 2. High cortisol blocks emotional bonding. Cortisol suppresses oxytocin - the hormone of love and trust. So even