I Refused Anxiety Medication for 3 Years. Here's What Happened to My Cortisol. I've been a licensed therapist for 32 years, and high cortisol is one of the hardest things I see clients struggle with. The 3am anxiety that wakes them up in a panic. The brain fog that makes them forget what they're saying mid-conversation. The exhaustion that never goes away no matter how much they sleep. I've had clients tell me they feel like they're losing their minds. T Day and night, it never stops. About three years ago, it happened to me. My own cortisol started spiking out of control. I have perimenopause-induced cortisol dysregulation. All those years of holding space for others' trauma and not taking care of myself the way I should have finally caught up with me. At first it was just feeling tired after sessions. Then came the crashes. Those sudden waves of exhaustion and brain fog that hit you out of nowhere. By the end of my workday, I could barely think straight. But the worst part? Nighttime. The second I'd finally fall asleep, I'd wake up at 3am with my heart racing and anxiety flooding my body. Again. And again. I'd be lying there trying to calm my nervous system down, using every technique I teach my clients, and nothing worked. I'd be up half the night trying to get back to sleep, knowing I had clients scheduled the next morning who needed me to be present. Now I was the one living with it. And let me tell you, every client was right. It's a living hell. My doctor offered me medication for the anxiety. I smiled politely and said I'd think about it. But I knew I wasn't going to take it. I've watched too many of my clients struggle with the side effects. The emotional numbness. The weight gain. The sexual dysfunction. The fact that they still wake up anxious, just slightly less panicked. And for what? Most of them tell me it barely takes the edge off. I wasn't about to trade one nightmare for another. So I just dealt with it. Meditation every morning. Breathwork exercises. Ashwagandha supplements. Therapy for myself. Cutting out caffeine completely. Nothing really worked long-term, but what else was I supposed to do? Then about two months ago, one of my regular clients came in for her session. Woman in her late 40s with anxiety and high cortisol for years. She'd been struggling with perimenopause symptoms for over a decade. I always felt terrible for her because she'd tried everything—therapy, medication, lifestyle changes—and nothing gave her more than temporary relief. But this time she seemed different. Calmer somehow. More grounded. I asked her how she was managing her symptoms, and she said something I didn't expect. She told me her cortisol actually wasn't spiking anymore. She'd found this powder—moringa powder—with concentrated nutrients that replenish what stress depletes. Been taking it every morning and evening. And for the first time in years, she was sleeping through the night without waking up in a panic. I'll be honest, I was very skeptical. I've heard every miracle cure story you can imagine in 32 years of practice. But she seemed so genuinely at peace. Like she'd finally found something that actually worked at a physiological level, not just a coping mechanism. That same night, my cortisol was all over the place again. I woke up at 3am in a full panic and couldn't get back to sleep. And I kept thinking about what she'd said. So I looked it up. Turns out, moringa has 25 times more iron than spinach, 17 times more calcium than milk, and concentrated levels of magnesium, B-vitamins, and vitamin C—exactly what chronic cortisol elevation depletes. It doesn't just mask anxiety symptoms like adaptogens do. It actually replenishes the nutrients your body burns through when cortisol is chronically high. Plus it naturally regulates cortisol at the cellular level. The science actually made sense. I ordered some. Figured I had nothing to lose. Worst case, it wouldn't work and I'd be out a few dollars. When it arrived, I mixed a teaspoon in my morning smoothie. I didn't expect much. Just another thing to try. After about a week, my cortisol dropped a little. From 31 down to 28. Better. But not life-changing. So I ordered a different brand. This one was cheaper, came in capsules instead of powder. After two weeks, my numbers stayed about the same. Maybe 27 on good mornings. Still too high. I was getting frustrated. Everyone online said moringa worked. But it wasn't working for me. So I went back and started reading more carefully. That's when I noticed something. People weren't just saying "moringa." They were getting specific about which moringa. One person said they tried four different brands before finding one that actually worked. Another mentioned most moringa powder you can buy online is "mature leaf powder"—the older, tougher leaves that don't have any of the nutrient density or bioavailability your body needs. I started researching. Turns out, most moringa supplements are: Made from mature leaves (much lower nutrient content) Grown at low elevations (weaker mineral concentration) Heat-processed (destroys vitamin C and enzymes) Mixed with fillers Not tested for heavy metals The moringa powders that actually worked for cortisol had to be: Young leaf harvest (peak nutrient density) Grown above 1,000 meters elevation (higher mineral and antioxidant levels) Shade-dried or freeze-dried (preserves heat-sensitive nutrients) Pure powder with no additives Third-party tested for purity I kept seeing the same brand mentioned over and over in reviews and testimonials. Rosabella Moringa. I ordered it. It was more expensive than the others I'd tried, but at that point I didn't care. When it arrived, I could tell the difference immediately. The powder was vibrant green—not the dull brownish-green of the cheap stuff. The smell was fresh and grassy. When I mixed it in water, it dissolved smoothly. I made a smoothie with it that first morning. Added a full teaspoon. I didn't expect much. I'd already tried two other brands. But about an hour later, I noticed something. The usual mid-morning anxiety wasn't building. Like someone had turned down the volume on my nervous system. I went from feeling like I was constantly bracing for disaster to actually feeling calm and clear-headed. I could actually be present with my clients again without half my mind being consumed by my own anxiety. That night, I slept through. Actually slept through without waking up at 3am. No panic attack. No racing thoughts. Just sleep. When I woke up the next morning, I laid there stunned. Seven hours. I'd slept seven hours without waking up once. By the end of the first week, I got my cortisol tested. 22. Not 28 like with the other brands. 22. I had them test it twice because I didn't believe it. It hadn't been under 25 in over two years. Those 3am panic attacks that used to jolt me awake? Gone. The brain fog that made me lose my train of thought during sessions? Cleared up almost completely. I could work a full day without feeling like my nervous system was about to short-circuit. It's been three months now. I sleep through the night. Every night. The panic attacks are gone. The constant low-grade anxiety is gone. Sometimes I get a tiny bit anxious before a particularly heavy session, but it's nothing. Nothing compared to what it was. I saw my client last week and thanked her for telling me about it. She just smiled and said she was glad it helped her therapist the way it helped her. Look, for almost three years I thought I just had to live with the panic and exhaustion. That this was perimenopause and I just had to white-knuckle through it. But I was wrong. And here's the thing—not all moringa is created equal. I wasted weeks on cheap brands that barely moved the needle. Rosabella Moringa's organic, high-altitude, young-leaf powder is the only one that actually worked. If my client hadn't mentioned moringa that day, I'd still be waking up at 3am in a panic with my cortisol through the roof. I've told eight of my clients with high cortisol about Rosabella specifically. Every single one of them has come back and said their anxiety has decreased significantly and they're finally sleeping through the night. One woman told me she stopped having panic attacks for the first time in five years. I'm sharing this because I hope it can help someone else the way it helped me. After 32 years as a therapist, I thought I knew every option out there for managing stress and anxiety. Turns out, my client knew something I didn't. Here's where I got mine: https://shop.tryrosabella.com/npl (They're running a sale right now, significant savings. I just ordered 5 more bags) ~ Dr. Kandace Kichler P.S. - A few things I wish I'd known before ordering: When I first ordered Rosabella Moringa, I didn't know they had a 90-day money-back guarantee. If it doesn't work for you, you get your money back. No questions asked. I wish I'd known that earlier—would've saved me from trying those cheaper brands that didn't do anything. Most people buy it at regular price, but right now they're running a promotion where you can get it at a significant discount. That's actually how I was able to stock up on five bags—the savings made it possible. The only problem is that Rosabella is a small, family-run company. They're getting really popular (probably because therapists like me keep recommending it to clients), and they can't always keep up with demand. I want to apologize in advance because when you click the link below, you might see that they're sold out. I've had clients wait months before Rosabella was back in stock. But I'd still suggest clicking to see if they have any left. If you're dealing with high cortisol, 3am panic attacks, brain fog, or constant exhaustion—and especially if medications are making your life miserable with side effects—I'd grab some before they're gone again. I went from cortisol of 31 to 19 in three months. If there's even a chance this could work for you, it's worth trying. 👉 Check if Rosabella Moringa is in stock here: https://tryrosabella.com/products/rosabella-moringa-powder-capsules-sub-np