Cortisol Spikes and the Anxiety Loop
Posted: Sat May 24, 2025 8:35 am
While dopamine fuels the craving, another hormone often enters the mix: cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. According to research published in The Journal of Neuroendocrinology, when our phones buzz and we delay checking them—whether due to social etiquette or busy hands—our bodies often respond with a stress reaction.
This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as “notification anxiety”, mirrors the effects of mild social stress or performance pressure. It creates a low-level cortisol spike that persists until the notification is addressed. In chronic scenarios, repeated spikes can impair working memory, sleep, and emotional regulation.
What's worse, many people become caught in a dual-system vietnam phone number list trap: we get dopamine for checking and cortisol for not checking. The result? A compulsive loop where the mind oscillates between stress and relief—relief that only arrives when the notification is resolved.
FOMO: The Fear of Missing Out and Behavioral Conditioning
If dopamine is the carrot and cortisol the stick, FOMO is the invisible leash. Notifications tap into a deep evolutionary drive to remain connected to the group—a survival imperative that once protected us from being ostracized or left behind.
In the digital age, this has been weaponized.
Push notifications often present information in a way that heightens urgency and social comparison:
"You're missing out on today's deal!"
"Your friend just posted a new story."
"Only 3 spots left in the webinar—register now!"
This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as “notification anxiety”, mirrors the effects of mild social stress or performance pressure. It creates a low-level cortisol spike that persists until the notification is addressed. In chronic scenarios, repeated spikes can impair working memory, sleep, and emotional regulation.
What's worse, many people become caught in a dual-system vietnam phone number list trap: we get dopamine for checking and cortisol for not checking. The result? A compulsive loop where the mind oscillates between stress and relief—relief that only arrives when the notification is resolved.
FOMO: The Fear of Missing Out and Behavioral Conditioning
If dopamine is the carrot and cortisol the stick, FOMO is the invisible leash. Notifications tap into a deep evolutionary drive to remain connected to the group—a survival imperative that once protected us from being ostracized or left behind.
In the digital age, this has been weaponized.
Push notifications often present information in a way that heightens urgency and social comparison:
"You're missing out on today's deal!"
"Your friend just posted a new story."
"Only 3 spots left in the webinar—register now!"