<P> Studies on people show that the HPA axis is activated in different ways during chronic stress depending on the type of stressor , the person 's response to the stressor and other factors . Stressors that are uncontrollable , threaten physical integrity , or involve trauma tend to have a high , flat diurnal profile of cortisol release ( with lower - than - normal levels of cortisol in the morning and higher - than - normal levels in the evening ) resulting in a high overall level of daily cortisol release . On the other hand , controllable stressors tend to produce higher - than - normal morning cortisol . Stress hormone release tends to decline gradually after a stressor occurs . In post-traumatic stress disorder there appears to be lower - than - normal cortisol release , and it is thought that a blunted hormonal response to stress may predispose a person to develop PTSD . </P>
<P> Studies on people show that the HPA axis is activated in different ways during chronic stress depending on the type of stressor , the person 's response to the stressor and other factors . Stressors that are uncontrollable , threaten physical integrity , or involve trauma tend to have a high , flat diurnal profile of cortisol release ( with lower - than - normal levels of cortisol in the morning and higher - than - normal levels in the evening ) resulting in a high overall level of daily cortisol release . On the other hand , controllable stressors tend to produce higher - than - normal morning cortisol . Stress hormone release tends to decline gradually after a stressor occurs . In post-traumatic stress disorder there appears to be lower - than - normal cortisol release , and it is thought that a blunted hormonal response to stress may predispose a person to develop PTSD . </P>
along the hpa-axis what is what factor is the first to be released in response to stress
along the hpa-axis what is what factor is the first to be released in response to stress
cortisol
cortisol