S 911: Trauma, Cortisol, and the HPA Axis: The Physiological Layer Most Coaches Overlook

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

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