Stress hormone can conquer your fears.

The article cites a study, conducted by Dominique de Quervain and colleagues at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, which focuses on the impact of cortisol, a stress hormone, on fear. The researchers gave either cortisol or its precursor, cortisone, to volunteers with arachnophobia or phobias linked to social situations. A control group received a placebo. An hour later, the intrepid volunteers were confronted with a picture of a spider or given a public-speaking assignment. Their anxiety levels were measured both by heart rate and, subjectively, by asking them how they felt. The people who had been given a dose of cortisol or cortisone were less anxious than those given the placebo.