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Blunted Stress Response

Meaning

A Blunted Stress Response describes a physiological state characterized by an abnormally reduced or delayed secretion of stress hormones, primarily cortisol, following exposure to a genuine psychological or physical stressor. This diminished reactivity, often measured by a reduced cortisol awakening response or a flat response to a challenge test, is clinically distinct from a hyper-responsive state. It suggests a potential dysregulation or chronic fatigue within the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the body’s central stress regulatory system. Clinically, this state can manifest as profound fatigue, low energy reserve, and an inability to cope effectively with daily demands.