Cortisol is an essential steroid for our body's systems including things like blood pressure and electrolyte balance. Without any cortisol, it would be fatal. It is an incredibly strong natural steroid and often compared to artificial steroids like prednisone. Any time the body is stressed-whether actual stress, illness or injury then the cortisol will normally rise to meet these new demands. With addison's disease, your body is not producing enough cortisol to even match your daily needs. And when you add any of the stressors mentioned above, the problem becomes much more severe with the body trying to draw on all the cortisol reserves that may not be there. This is among the reasons why you've been asked to reduce your stress loads but be aware that in times of illness or injury it may actually be worse. This is why you have an emergency kit and the need to alert any emergency/medical personnel about this dangerous disorder. Did you hear about the illness Amy Schumer recently announced? She has a secondary type of Addison's she acquired from getting too many steroid shots. In your case, you have a primary disorder but I thought you might be interested in hearing about a public figure that has something similar though hers will eventually go away. You absolutely don't want to find out how low your cortisol can go. Please make sure you follow all of your doctors orders and I wish you the best on this new journey.