Mini Mikkipedia - Cortisol, Stress & Why You Feel Wired and Tired

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In this Mini Mikkipedia episode, Mikki unpacks one of the most common yet misunderstood issues in modern health: the interplay between cortisol, stress, poor sleep, and elevated heart rate. Using a real community question as the foundation, she explains why feeling “wired but tired” isn’t a personal failing, but a physiological response to chronic, unresolved stress.

Mikki walks through how cortisol actually works, why both exercise and life stress use the same biological pathways, and what happens when your system never fully downregulates. She also explores the role of the HPA axis, autonomic nervous system imbalance, and why tools like HRV and resting heart rate can offer insight—but also create more stress if misused.

Most importantly, this episode delivers practical, evidence-based strategies to help restore balance and build resilience.

Key Highlights:

• Why cortisol is not the villain—and what it actually does
• The difference between acute stress and chronic, unresolved stress
• What a high morning heart rate is really telling you
• How lifestyle, hydration, and training load impact your stress response
• Practical tools to downregulate your nervous system

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