iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll ThofthThseFigure 10: Steroid Hormone SynthesisChronic Stress
During stressful situations, the body shifts hormone production
away from the progesterone/aldosterone pathway and away from the
DHEA/estrogen/testosterone pathways to focus on producing cortisol.
This mechanism is known as “pregnenolone steal,” where the body takes
the pregnenolone normally reserved for DHEA and progesterone and
puts it towards cortisol production. This is a protective way of conserv-
ing resources to help us survive stressful fight-or-flight situations like car
crashes, being chased by bears, and the like.
This “reserve fuel function” is a brilliant design or evolution of the human body
and is vital when we are fighting or running for our lives. However, a near-
death experience is not always necessary to turn on the fight-or-flight response.
Our stress response can turn on in non–life-threatening situations we find
stressful like running late, being stuck in traffic, or delivering a presentation at