
S 911: Trauma, Cortisol, and the HPA Axis: The Physiological Layer Most Coaches Overlook
From Sam Miller Science by Sam Miller
June 5, 2026 · 16 min · Episode 911
About this episode
Sam Miller discusses the impact of trauma on the nervous system and its implications for body recomposition and coaching.
A dysregulated nervous system will stall body recomposition no matter how dialed the nutrition is or how consistent the training is. Inside today's episode, I dig into trauma as a physiological variable rather than a soft emotional topic, and why most coaching certifications skip this conversation entirely. I break down the autonomic nervous system and HPA axis interplay, the two nervous system presentations , and why the cortisol literature looked contradictory for years. Topics discussed: - Trauma as a Spectrum - Autonomic Nervous System Dysregulation - HPA Axis and Cortisol Output - Sympathetic Dominance Presentation - The Dissociative Subtype - Cortisol Patterns Over Time - Childhood vs Adult Trauma - Inverted Diurnal Rhythm - Lifestyle and Clinical Interventions - The Coach's Role and Scope ---------- My Live Program for Coaches: The Functional Nutrition and Metabolism Specialization www.metabolismschool.com ---------- [Free] Metabolism School 101: The Video Series http://www.metabolismschool.com/metabolism-101…
People in this episode
Host: Sam Miller
Topics covered
- Trauma
- Cortisol
- HPA Axis
- Nervous System Dysregulation
- Coaching
- Body Recomposition
Keywords
- trauma
- cortisol
- HPA axis
- nervous system
- coaching
- body recomposition
- autonomic nervous system
- sympathetic dominance
- diurnal rhythm
More episodes of Sam Miller Science
- S 913: The Most Overlooked Hormone in Coaching: A Full Breakdown of DHEA and DHEA Sulfate · June 12, 2026 · 27 min
- S 912: Overuse, Osteoarthritis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Joint Pain and Why the Same Advice Doesn't Work for All of Them · June 9, 2026 · 17 min
- S 910: Upgrading Your Lab Testing: The Blood Panel Markers That Actually Move the Needle · June 2, 2026 · 13 min
- S 909: Improving IBS Symptoms Without Cutting Foods: What the Research Actually Shows About the Gut-Brain Axis · May 29, 2026 · 8 min
- S 908: The Metabolic-Mental Health Connection: Decoding Inflammation, Serotonin, and Brain Resilience · May 26, 2026 · 14 min
- S 907: The Hidden Science of Caffeine and Sleep: How Genetics, Body Fat, and Medications Affect Half-Life · May 22, 2026 · 14 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Sam Miller Science podcast page.