The Biology of Trauma® With Dr. Aimie

The Perimenopause Revolution: Trauma, Transitions and Tools with Dr. Mariza Snyder Oct 21, 2025

Many women enter perimenopause unprepared for the brain remodeling and nervous system changes that make this transition feel destabilizing. For practitioners supporting clients through midlife, and for women navigating perimenopause themselves, understanding how stored trauma amplifies symptoms and shrinks capacity changes everything about this journey.

This episode features Dr. Mariza Snyder, author of The Perimenopause Revolution, who shares her personal journey through perimenopause while carrying complex PTSD from childhood abuse.

You'll discover why stabilizing blood sugar becomes foundational for cellular energy, how the critical line of overwhelm shifts during perimenopause, and why brain inflammation during this transition feels like cognitive decline.

Dr. Mariza reframes perimenopause as an invitation to review what's up for change—relationships, obligations, and patterns that no longer serve your nervous system—rather than something to survive.

In this episode you'll learn:

02:16 Why Blood Sugar Stability Is Pillar One: How stabilizing cellular energy through food becomes foundational during perimenopause and nervous system dysregulation
04:30 Perimenopause as Neuroendocrine Transition: Understanding neuroinflammation and brain remodeling during erratic hormone decline
08:14 When Executive Function Falters: Why women who effortlessly managed 100 tabs suddenly can't multitask the way they used to
11:22 Change and Stored Trauma: Why perimenopause triggers those carrying trauma—change means the unknown, and the unknown feels more dangerous than familiar suffering
14:18 Everything Up for Review: How perimenopause forces discernment about what you've been tolerating, prioritizing, and saying yes to
17:03 The Critical Line of Overwhelm Shifts: How perimenopause shortens your capacity threshold and why that might be the invitation you need
20:53 The Cake Pop Phenomenon: Why women operate disconnected from their bodies and how perimenopause demands new attunement
23:14 Progesterone, GABA, and Melatonin Decline: The alarming rate at which women lose these calming neurochemicals during perimenopause
27:09 Shifting State Through Grounding: Practical strategies like naming objects in the room to get prefrontal cortex online
28:34 The Five Week Midlife Reset Plan: Movement, sleep strategies, meal plans, recipes, and symptom trackers to create wins without overwhelm

Main Takeaways:

Cellular Energy Determines Everything: Blood sugar stability creates homeostasis that supports mood regulation, stress tolerance, and nervous system capacity—making it foundational for both perimenopause and trauma healing.
Perimenopause Shrinks Your Critical Line of Overwhelm: Your capacity threshold shortens during perimenopause, forcing discernment about relationships, obligations, and patterns that push you over the edge into dysregulation.
Brain Inflammation Mimics Cognitive Decline: The erratic decline of estrogen, progesterone, GABA, and melatonin creates neuroinflammation that feels like early dementia but is actually your brain remodeling for the second half of life.
The Hundred-Tab Brain Stops Working: Executive function that allowed effortless multitasking begins to falter—it’s a time your brain is recalibrating to focus on one thing at a time.
Stored Trauma Amplifies Perimenopause Symptoms: Women with childhood trauma, hypervigilant nervous systems, and complex PTSD experience perimenopause as more destabilizing because change triggers survival responses rooted in the unknown feeling dangerous.
Everything Comes Up for Review: Perimenopause forces examination of what you've been tolerating—work obligations, relationships, people-pleasing patterns, and the habit of prioritizing everyone else before yourself.
Disconnected Demands New Attunement: Operating disconnected from your body (all cerebral, nothing below the neck) no longer works—perimenopause demands you drop into your body and form new relationships with its signals.

Notable Quotes:

"If we could just optimize, stabilize our cellular energy through stabilizing our blood sugar, we really set a great foundation."

"We could have a hundred tabs open and manage them effortlessly. And then I remember the day where I was really having to effort because that level of executive function begins to falter."

"Nothing is wrong. Stop trying to find something to do right now. Like, just be present in the moment."

"I feel like a cake pop sometimes. Everything is just happening here and what's below my head, there's nothing below. You know, I'm so disconnected."

"Perimenopause is a time for discernment, because everything is up for review. We get to work on the trauma because it's probably coming up for review."

"The critical line of overwhelm—you have less of a line. It shortens. And I don't necessarily think that that is a bad thing if you can become aware."

Episode Takeaway:

Perimenopause isn't just about hot flashes and missed periods. Your brain is literally remodeling itself. Hormones that showed up predictably for decades now arrive erratically. For women carrying stored trauma, this feels destabilizing. Change means the unknown. The unknown feels dangerous. You don't know who you're becoming. You don't know what your capacity will be. You don't know if you can trust your brain anymore. Your nervous system responds the only way it knows how—by staying on alert.

The critical line of overwhelm shifts during perimenopause. Your capacity threshold shortens. What felt manageable last year now pushes you over the edge.

The relationships that drain you. The obligations you never wanted. The people-pleasing patterns you've carried for decades. They suddenly feel intolerable. Your nervous system no longer has bandwidth for what doesn't serve you.

Stabilizing cellular energy through blood sugar becomes foundational because dysregulation multiplied by time creates the neuroinflammation that mimics cognitive decline. Women who operated as "cake pops"—all cerebral, disconnected from body signals—discover that perimenopause demands new attunement. Your body is no longer willing to be ignored. The invitation is to grieve your former self, accept your brain's recalibration, and choose what you're calling into the second half of your life with fierce discernment about what matters enough to maintain your nervous system regulation.

Resources/Guides:

The Perimenopause Revolution by Dr. Mariza Snyder - The comprehensive manual for navigating perimenopause with nervous system support, blood sugar strategies, movement plans, meal plans, and the five-week midlife reset. Get the book and access over $700 in bonuses at drmariza.com/book
The Biology of Trauma book - Available now everywhere books are sold. Get your copy
Foundational Journey - If you are ready to create your inner safety and shift your nervous system, join me and my team for this 6 week journey of practical somatic and mind-body inner child practices. Lay your foundation to do the deeper work safely and is the pre-requisite for becoming a Biology of Trauma® professional.

Related Episodes:

Guest: Dr. Mariza Snyder is a functional practitioner and author of The Perimenopause Revolution, the comprehensive guide helping women navigate perimenopause with nervous system regulation, cellular energy optimization, and practical strategies for the decade-long transition. With her own experience of complex PTSD and hypervigilant nervous system, she brings both clinical expertise and personal understanding to supporting women through midlife brain remodeling. Learn more at drmariza.com and connect with her on Instagram @drmariza.

Your host: Dr. Aimie Apigian, double board-certified physician (Preventive/Addiction Medicine) with master's degrees in biochemistry and public health, and author of the national bestselling book "The Biology of Trauma" (foreword by Gabor Maté) that transforms our understanding of how the body experiences and holds trauma. After foster-adopting a child during medical school sparked her journey, she desperately sought for answers that would only continue as she developed chronic health issues. Through her practitioner training, podcast, YouTube channel, and international speaking, she bridges functional medicine, attachment and trauma therapy, facilitating accelerated repair of trauma's impact on the mind, body and biology.

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing.

Comment Etiquette: I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please share and use your name or initials so that we can keep this space spam-free and the discussion positive😌

Fear From Breast Cancer: How Two Mothers Reject ‘Normal’ & Find Freedom Oct 14, 2025

After treatment, Dirci was told by her oncologist to go back to her life as “normal.” But as she steps into the cancer support groups, everyone is in fear of remission. Melanie received the diagnosis of breast cancer, felt the fear of if treatment would get it all, and decided now was the best time for nervous system healing -not later. She finds herself on the radiation table using her somatic tools and finding a calm and a freedom that surprises the nurses.

Many people receive cancer diagnoses without anyone explaining how stress, trauma and nervous system dysregulation create the biological conditions where disease can be welcomed. For practitioners supporting clients through cancer treatment, and for individuals navigating their own healing journey, understanding the connection between stored trauma and physical health changes everything about experiencing freedom from the fear that accompanies a diagnosis, even after successful treatment.

This episode shares two stories about breast cancer and the nervous system regulation work that became essential to their ability to find freedom during and after the treatment.

You'll hear from Dirci, a mother of twins who developed breast cancer during the pandemic after years of daily overwhelm, and Melanie, whose postpartum anxiety and childhood hypervigilance preceded her diagnosis.

Both women went where their oncologists said wouldn't make a difference—yet addressing their nervous system dysregulation became the missing, foundational piece for their emotional health. Their journeys reveal what becomes possible when we heal the underlying Biology of Trauma® instead of returning to the patterns that created illness.

In this episode you'll learn:

[02:01] Dirci's Story: How her sister's death, twins' therapy sessions, and daily overwhelm preceded breast cancer
[10:54] When Doctors Say "Go Back to Normal": Why returning to life as usual after treatment felt wrong
[14:09] The Moment Everything Clicked: Discovering trauma in her body through Dr. Aimie's interview
[18:30] From Information to Embodiment: How the 21 Day Journey created awareness and presence in daily life
[21:04] The Transformation Others Noticed: Looking better after cancer treatment than before diagnosis
[27:02] Melanie's Story: Postpartum anxiety, rage, and hypervigilance that preceded her breast cancer diagnosis
[36:04] Using Rage as a Pause Button: How anger became a coping mechanism to control overwhelming environments
[41:45] Going Through Treatment with Peace: Using the heart hold on the radiation table instead of panic
[48:26] Tools That Don't Wear Out: Why nervous system regulation practices remain effective years later
[49:40] Healing the Next Generation: Breaking intergenerational trauma patterns by regulating your own nervous system

Main Takeaways:

Normal Was What Made Them Sick: When doctors said "return to life as normal," both women recognized that normal—daily overwhelm, hypervigilance, pushing through exhaustion—was what had created the conditions for illness in their bodies.
Too Much Too Fast and Too Little for Too Long: Dirci's story shows how these two trauma patterns combined—sudden losses and daily therapy stressors—created chronic nervous system dysregulation that manifested as breast cancer two years later.
Cancer Communities Can Create More Fear: Traditional cancer support groups focused on recurrence statistics and survival rates kept both women in fear states, while trauma healing communities offered a path toward joy and aliveness instead.
Awareness Creates Different Parenting: Learning to regulate her own nervous system helped Dirci recognize when her children were in sympathetic or shutdown states, allowing her to parent from understanding rather than trying to change behaviors.
The Body Needs Tending During Treatment: Melanie went through radiation and biopsies with peace by using tools like the heart hold and orienting—creating connection with medical staff instead of panic.
Healing Tools That Don't Wear Out: Unlike other modalities that lose effectiveness over time, the nervous system regulation tools from the 21 Day Journey remained relevant and powerful for both women years later.
Moving From Hours to Presence: Dirci shifted from feeling like she never had enough hours in the day to actually being present in her life—the essence of the healing journey.

Notable Quotes:

"I knew that the way my life was happening was what put me into cancer. So I needed to find help." - Dirci Souza

"I don't want to have fear, I just want to support my body. I would rather be working towards finding a path to feel joy and feel alive than to take a path that brings along the fear." - Dirci Souza

"Until then, I had no idea. Didn't cross my mind. Trauma. Am I traumatized? For me it was just life. What I was going through and I needed to be brave, I was surviving." - Dirci Souza

"I used anxiety to fuel myself. So I would keep doing whatever it is I needed to do. That's the energy I ran on." - Melanie

"I could not have imagined remaining so calm and centered going through cancer treatment. I could put my hand over my heart right there on the radiation table. That was one of my favorite moments through the whole cancer journey." - Melanie

Episode Takeaway:

When oncologists say "return to life as normal" after cancer treatment, they miss a critical piece: normal was often what created the conditions for illness. Both Dirci and Melanie's stories reveal how years of nervous system dysregulation—chronic hypervigilance, pushing through exhaustion, using anxiety as fuel—created the biological environment where cancer could develop. Dysregulation multiplied by time creates disease. Their diagnoses arrived after years of too much too fast combined with too little for too long.

The remarkable insight: both women looked better after cancer treatment than before diagnosis. Why? They finally addressed underlying nervous system dysregulation, not just the cancer. Simple tools like the heart hold and vu breath created immediate regulation—Melanie used the heart hold on the radiation table and experienced peace instead of panic. Most powerfully, healing your nervous system heals the next generation through co-regulation, breaking intergenerational trauma biology that manifests as chronic illness decades later.

Resources/Guides:

The Biology of Trauma book - Available now everywhere books are sold. Get your copy
Foundational Journey - If you are ready to create your inner safety and shift your nervous system, join me and my team for this 6 week journey of practical somatic and mind-body inner child practices. Lay your foundation to do the deeper work safely and is the pre-requisite for becoming a Biology of Trauma® professional.

Related Episodes:

Your host: Dr. Aimie Apigian, double board-certified physician (Preventive/Addiction Medicine) with master's degrees in biochemistry and public health, and author of the national bestselling book "The Biology of Trauma" (foreword by Gabor Maté) that transforms our understanding of how the body experiences and holds trauma. After foster-adopting a child during medical school sparked her journey, she desperately sought for answers that would only continue as she developed chronic health issues. Through her practitioner training, podcast, YouTube channel, and international speaking, she bridges functional medicine, attachment and trauma therapy, facilitating accelerated repair of trauma's impact on the mind, body and biology.

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing.

Comment Etiquette: I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please share and use your name or initials so that we can keep this space spam-free and the discussion positive😌

Understanding the Freeze Response and Brain Fog Oct 10, 2025

What if the brain fog you're experiencing isn't just tiredness—but your nervous system's way of disconnecting you from an unbearable reality?

In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie Apigian answers a question from Rachel, a therapist in Seattle, about why the freeze response is associated with brain fog. Many people think of the freeze response as simply paralysis, not understanding the sophisticated biological mechanisms happening at the cellular level.

This episode dives deep into the freeze response—when it happens, why it happens, and the brain inflammation that creates the disconnection and fog we experience. Understanding this biology helps us recognize when we or someone we're working with has a chronic functional freeze, so we know where to start with healing.

In this episode you'll hear more about:

The five steps the body takes to go into a trauma response—starting with activation and crossing the critical line of overwhelm
The two reasons we cross that critical line: "too much too fast" (excessive activation) and "too little for too long" (prolonged stress without recovery)
Why your nervous system decides certain situations are life threats—even when logically they're not (like being berated in residency or hearing hurtful words from someone you care about)
The cellular biology of brain fog: How immune cells in your brain (microglia) unleash inflammation, cytokines, and chemokines that create the mental disconnection and fog
The surreal feeling of freeze: Why voices sound distant, why you feel like you're in a daze, and why people around you seem far away even though they're right there
Chronic functional freeze: The state where you're still functioning and going through life, but secretly wanting to hide, using substances like caffeine or food (especially histamine-producing foods) to push through
Why anxiety is often your body fighting the freeze—using stress to stay out of shutdown, which is why relief from anxiety can sometimes make you fall into that heaviness
The brain inflammation protocol: Specific nutrients and practices to keep your microglia in their resting state, including NAC, magnesium L-threonate, luteolin, GABA, resveratrol, and turmeric
Ocular-cardiac reflex (eye support): A simple but powerful tool where gently pressing on closed eyes activates the vagus nerve for immediate calm
Why starting with the freeze is essential—opening up the chronic functional freeze gives you more energy to dedicate to the healing journey
Dr. Aimie's personal story of a biking accident and concussion—experiencing the freeze response firsthand as she regained consciousness on the sidewalk

The freeze response isn't weakness or paralysis—it's your nervous system's sophisticated survival strategy when it perceives a life threat. Brain fog is always part of the freeze response, created by immune cells in your brain that help you disconnect from unbearable reality. Understanding this biology helps you recognize the freeze in yourself or others, and know that working with it is where healing must start.

🎧 Want the full conversation? This mini episode expands on Episode 142: Why Stress Isn’t Trauma: How to Spot Overwhelm and Start Healing Your Nervous System with Dr. Aimie Apigian, where Dr. Aimie explores the difference between stress and trauma responses and how to recognize when you've crossed the critical line of overwhelm.

Why Stress Isn’t Trauma: How to Spot Overwhelm and Start Healing Your Nervous System with Dr. Aimie Apigian Oct 07, 2025

Why does brain inflammation happen during the freeze response? How do you explain the difference between stress and trauma to patients? What's the single most important starting point for nervous system regulation? This episode answers these critical questions while revealing why emotional eating isn't a willpower problem and introducing the simple three-day tracking tool that changes everything for healing.

You'll discover the critical line of overwhelm - that invisible threshold where stress becomes trauma - and learn practical strategies you can implement immediately to support your nervous system and begin the repair process.

In this episode you'll learn:

[01:19] The Biggest Myth: Why confusing stress and trauma leads to minimizing experiences and self-shame
[02:11] Physician's Lens on Trauma: If it makes you sick 20 years later, it wasn't just stress
[06:04] Three Nervous System States: Understanding polyvagal theory and the critical line of overwhelm
[09:52] Brain Inflammation During Freeze: Why immune cells unleash inflammation as protective survival strategy
[13:25] Dysregulation Multiplied by Time: Why autoimmunity takes 20 years of nervous system dysregulation to appear
[14:40] Three-Day Nervous System Journal: Simple hourly tracking tool that reveals hidden patterns
[19:00] The Gut-Brain Connection: Why your gut is inseparable from brain health and trauma loops
[21:22] Emotional Eating and Functional Freeze: Understanding food's hidden functions beyond willpower
[24:40] The #1 Starting Point: Why quality sleep has greatest impact on nervous system regulation
[25:44] Aligning with Circadian Rhythm: Morning sunlight, red light therapy, and working with your body's healing strategies

Main Takeaways:

Stress vs. Trauma Requires Different Repair: If it makes you sick 20 years later, it was trauma requiring fundamentally different approaches than stress management
The Critical Line of Overwhelm: Personal capacity threshold where activation becomes trauma and the body automatically hits emergency brake
Brain Inflammation Serves Protection: Immune cells unleash inflammation during freeze to facilitate disconnection and energy conservation for survival
Time Compounds Dysregulation: Autoimmunity requires approximately 20 years of nervous system dysregulation to manifest as diagnosable disease
Three-Day Tracking Creates Awareness: Hourly nervous system tracking reveals patterns showing time spent in shutdown, stress, or calm aliveness
Innate Healing Requires Right Conditions: Surgical incisions prove the body heals itself when blocks are removed and proper support provided
Gut-Brain Creates Stuck Points: Imbalanced gut causes neurochemical problems feeding back to worsen gut issues, limiting therapy progress
Food Function Reveals Need: Emotional eating serves specific purposes - staying awake, avoiding feelings, managing energy - not willpower failure
Sleep Impacts Everything: Quality sleep has greatest single effect on nervous system regulation and reduces sugar cravings

Notable Quotes:

"If it makes you sick 20 years later, that was not just stress. That was trauma your body was experiencing in childhood. You're looking at it through the lens of your adult self now, but that's not how you were experiencing it back then."

"The critical line of overwhelm is where you've done your best. Your best wasn't good enough, and hitting the wall means there's no point in trying anymore."

"Brain inflammation is part of a trauma response. Sometimes it triggers it. Sometimes it's triggered by the freeze response, but they always happen together."

"Dysregulation multiplied by time becomes diagnoses. It's predictable."

"Track your nervous system, and you'll be amazed at how much you learn about yourself in a week."

Episode Takeaway:

The critical line of overwhelm represents your personal threshold where stress becomes trauma and your body automatically engages the emergency brake. Brain inflammation during freeze is part of the deliberate survival strategy - helping you disconnect, go numb, and conserve energy for survival. The insight: dysregulation multiplied by time becomes disease. Autoimmunity takes approximately 20 years of compounded nervous system dysregulation to manifest. This explains why short-term stress doesn't cause chronic illness but prolonged trauma patterns do.

The three-day nervous system journal - tracking your inner state hourly - reveals patterns invisible to both practitioners and clients. This tracking tool shows how much time you spend in each of the three states and guides targeted intervention.

Quality sleep stands as the single most powerful starting point for nervous system regulation. Better sleep reduces emotional eating, decreases sugar cravings, and increases your capacity to handle stress before crossing that critical line into trauma territory.

Resources/Guides:

The Biology of Trauma book - Available now everywhere books are sold. Get your copy
Foundational Journey - If you are ready to create your inner safety and shift your nervous system, join me and my team for this 6 week journey of practical somatic and mind-body inner child practices. Lay your foundation to do the deeper work safely and is the pre-requisite for becoming a Biology of Trauma® professional.

Related Episodes:

Episode 101: Brain Inflammation: Addressing The Overlooked Gatekeeper To Trauma Release with. Dr Austin Perlmutter

Your host: Dr. Aimie Apigian, double board-certified physician (Preventive/Addiction Medicine) with master's degrees in biochemistry and public health, and author of the national bestselling book "The Biology of Trauma" (foreword by Gabor Maté) that transforms our understanding of how the body experiences and holds trauma. After foster-adopting a child during medical school sparked her journey, she desperately sought for answers that would only continue as she developed chronic health issues. Through her practitioner training, podcast, YouTube channel, and international speaking, she bridges functional medicine, attachment and trauma therapy, facilitating accelerated repair of trauma's impact on the mind, body and biology.

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing.

Comment Etiquette: I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please share and use your name or initials so that we can keep this space spam-free and the discussion positive😌

BRCA Gene Carriers: How Nervous System Dysregulation Affects Breast Cancer Risk Oct 03, 2025

What if having the same gene as your sister doesn't mean you'll have the same outcome? What if trauma and nervous system dysregulation could be the difference between expressing a genetic disease—or not?

In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie Apigian answers a question from Rachel in Texas, who discovered she carries the BRCA gene mutation. Despite making the same lifestyle changes as her sister—who also has the mutation—Rachel developed breast cancer while her sister remained healthy. Why?

Dr. Aimie reveals the biological mechanism that connects nervous system dysregulation to genetic expression: oxidative stress. This episode offers a scientifically grounded yet hopeful perspective on why two people with identical genetics can have vastly different health outcomes—and what you can do about it.

In this episode you'll hear more about:

Why BRCA mutation carriers have a 45-72% lifetime breast cancer risk (versus 12-13% in the general population)—but not everyone with the gene develops cancer
The biological link between nervous system dysregulation and oxidative damage to DNA
How BRCA genes interact with NRF2 antioxidant pathways, creating increased vulnerability to oxidative stress
Why both sympathetic activation (stress/anxiety) and dorsal vagal shutdown (depression/numbness) decrease your body's ability to clear oxidative stress
The "calm alive" state: when your body naturally engages its healing and antioxidant repair mechanisms
Dana's story from The Biology of Trauma—a physician with childhood trauma who found a breast lump and learned to repair nervous system dysregulation
Practical tools: why vitamin C and antioxidant-rich foods (broccoli, blueberries) matter for genetic conditions
How somatic self-practices can quickly shift your nervous system state and support cellular repair
Why having a genetic condition doesn't mean you're powerless—epigenetics shows us DNA expression can change

Genetics load the gun, but environment and nervous system state pull the trigger. This episode is a powerful reminder that even when you carry genetic risk, your nervous system regulation, oxidative stress levels, and daily practices can dramatically influence whether those genes are expressed. Your biology is not a life sentence.

🎧 Want the full conversation? This mini episode expands on Episode 141: Can Trauma Make Genetic Disease Worse? The Role of the Nervous System, where Dr. Aimie explores hereditary conditions and why nervous system work matters even when genetics are involved.

Can Trauma Make Genetic Disease Worse? The Role of the Nervous System Sep 30, 2025

Many people living with genetic conditions like MEN1, or hereditary autoimmune disorders feel trapped by their diagnosis. Practitioners often monitor and treat symptoms without addressing how trauma and nervous system dysregulation amplify those symptoms. But what if your nervous system still holds the key to how you experience your genetic condition?

In this conversation, Lizzie Dunn, diagnosed at 13 with MEN1, shares how she came to my work skeptical about trauma's role in genetic disease. She discovered that her body wasn't betraying her. It was protecting her. And through nervous system regulation and somatic work, she experienced shifts she never thought possible.

This episode bridges the gap between conventional medicine and trauma healing. Whether you're a practitioner working with genetic conditions or someone living with a hereditary diagnosis, you'll learn how the nervous system acts as the master conductor of your biology.

In this episode you'll hear more about:

[00:00:09] How nervous system regulation influences genetic disease symptoms
[00:03:00] Why the nervous system sees genetic mutations as vulnerabilities that trigger faster trauma responses
[00:09:00] How stored trauma creates dysregulation that amplifies all symptoms
[00:14:00] Why so many people with chronic conditions live disconnected from their bodies
[00:22:00] How paradox and vulnerability are essential parts of healing
[00:23:40] Why generational trauma gets passed down through mitochondrial DNA
[00:30:00] How healing requires working on mind, body, and biology levels simultaneously
[00:36:00] Why small interventions across three areas create bigger shifts than years of single-approach work

Main Takeaways:

Nervous System as Master Conductor: Even with genetic conditions, the nervous system determines symptom severity by directing all physiological responses and biological adaptations
Genetic Vulnerabilities Trigger Faster Trauma Responses: The nervous system sees genetic mutations as vulnerabilities, causing it to move into overwhelm and trauma biology more quickly than if no vulnerabilities existed
Body Disconnection is Survival: Living in your head and disconnecting from your body is a protective mechanism to avoid overwhelming sensations of powerlessness, shame, and pain
Generational Trauma Through DNA: Trauma passes down through mitochondrial DNA on the mother's side via epigenetic changes from oxidative stress, affecting gene expression in future generations
Integration Creates Lasting Change: Single-approach healing (therapy alone, supplements alone, or diet alone) creates temporary shifts; addressing mind, body, and biology simultaneously creates sustainable transformation
Small Hinges Move Big Doors: You don't need decades of intensive work; small interventions across three levels create remarkable shifts when done together
Body Has Innate Healing Capacity: Like skin healing over surgical incisions, the body can reorganize and reset when blocks at mind, body, and biology levels are removed

Notable Quotes:

"Even if we have a truly genetic disease, the nervous system is still going to be influencing the degree of symptoms that we have from that."

"The nervous system is what drives all the other systems, because it's what changes them, allows them to adapt to our environment. And so the nervous system, when it becomes dysregulated in its responses, it's going to cause dysregulation of all the other symptoms and systems."

"Why would I want to be in my body? My body is in pain, emotional pain, physical pain. I don't like my body. My body is working against me. At least that's the thought that I have. Why would I want to be in my body?"

"That's not resilience. That's pushing through, that's surviving. So let's call it that. Let's call it, Hey, you're surviving, you're pushing through. But that kind of resilience is going to come at a cost."

"Epigenetics do get passed down to us, and it gets passed down, especially through the mother because of the mitochondrial DNA that gets passed on to the children."

"You actually don't have to do that much of each to start seeing shifts. But we do need to bring in all three because when you have all three, they're like small hinges. And when you've got small hinges and you've got three of these small, you just did baby steps, small hinges move big doors in our life."

Episode Takeaway:

Living with a genetic condition doesn't mean you're powerless over your symptoms. Your nervous system acts as the master conductor of your biology, determining how severely you experience your hereditary condition. When you have genetic vulnerabilities, your nervous system perceives them as threats and moves into trauma biology faster, creating dysregulation across all systems. The exhaustion many people feel isn't just from their disease—it's amplified by stored trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and the survival mechanism of disconnecting from their body. True healing requires removing blocks at three levels simultaneously: addressing self-limiting beliefs through parts work, completing interrupted protective responses through somatic work, and supporting cellular function through biology interventions. When you provide support across all three levels, small interventions create remarkable shifts. Your body has innate healing capacity—when blocks are removed, it can reorganize, reset, and return to its best possible state, regardless of genetic vulnerabilities.

Resources/Guides:

The Biology of Trauma book - Available now everywhere books are sold. Get your copy
Foundational Journey - If you are ready to create your inner safety and shift your nervous system, join me and my team for this 6 week journey of practical somatic and mind-body inner child practices. Lay your foundation to do the deeper work safely and is the pre-requisite for becoming a Biology of Trauma professional..

Related Episodes:

Related Youtube Videos:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing.

Comment Etiquette: I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Please share your constructive feedback by using personal name or initials so that we can keep this space spam-free, and let's keep the discussion positive!

Why You Always Feel Responsible for Everything and What Your Body Is Really Trying to Tell You Aug 30, 2025

Do you carry everyone else's emotions like they're your personal responsibility? What if that crushing weight isn't your personality, but your nervous system still running on childhood survival biology?

When you feel like everything depends on you - fixing problems, managing emotions, preventing disasters - your body is operating from what I call protection mode. This isn't about being caring or responsible. It's complex PTSD showing up as hyperresponsibility, and there's specific biology behind why your nervous system won't trust others to handle anything.

Think of protection mode like living with an internal security system that never turns off. Your shoulders stay braced, your nervous system scans for problems to solve, and you exhaust yourself trying to control outcomes that aren't actually yours to manage. Meanwhile, everyone else seems to relax while you carry the mental load.

In this Biology Behind It mini episode, I break down the highlights from Episode 136, explaining why adults who experienced childhood chaos still live with their hearts protected and an exhausting need to manage everyone else's stability.

You'll hear more on:

Why neuroception (your body's background safety calculator) still reads danger signals everywhere
How protection mode creates the physiology of chronic responsibility and hypervigilance
The hidden costs of living protected: sleep issues, chronic fatigue, muscle tension, and autoimmune problems
Why you can't be in protection mode AND connection mode simultaneously - they're opposite physiological states
How childhood experiences of "I never want to feel that way again" create lasting protection patterns
The difference between telling yourself you're safe versus creating actual inner safety
Why waiting for someone else to make you feel secure keeps you stuck in survival biology
Practical somatic approaches to shift from protection mode to authentic safety

Whether you're the person everyone calls when things fall apart or you're supporting someone whose strength might actually be stored trauma, this episode reveals why your nervous system refuses to let others take responsibility. I give you the roadmap back to trusting life enough to finally let your guard down.

🎧 Want the full deep-dive? Listen to Episode 136: "Why You Always Feel Responsible for Everything: Hidden Signs of Complex PTSD from Childhood" for the complete framework on recognizing protection patterns and creating the inner safety your body needs to finally relax.

Why You Always Feel Responsible for Everything: Hidden Signs of Complex PTSD from Childhood with Dr. Tian Dayton Aug 26, 2025

Many adults struggle with patterns they can't explain: feeling responsible for everything, working harder than everyone else without realizing it, or getting triggered by chaos even when their current life is stable. They might find intimacy difficult, feel disconnected from their emotions, or notice their nervous system going into overdrive in situations that don't seem threatening.

What they don't realize is that these patterns often trace back to growing up in chaotic environments where they had to become the adult in the room as a child. The truth is, when children are forced to take on adult responsibilities - managing emotions, solving problems, or keeping the family together - it rewires their nervous system in ways that show up decades later as chronic overwhelm, relationship difficulties, and an inability to recognize their own limits.

In this episode, Dr. Tian Dayton joins Dr. Aimie to explore how early relational trauma and chaotic family dynamics create lasting patterns in our nervous system. You'll discover why traditional talk therapy often isn't enough for trauma resolution, how movement and body-based approaches can complete what words cannot, and why environments like 12-step programs can create the perfect container for nervous system healing.

You'll hear about:

[2:00] The hidden signs of early relational trauma and why chaos is so hard to identify
[5:30] How children adapt to become "project managers" in dysfunctional families
[8:00] Why some people feel like the "crazy one" while others become the "uptight one"
[9:00] Understanding "thwarted intention" and how it creates emotional blocks in adulthood
[12:00] How sense memory gets triggered in relationships and intimacy
[14:00] The critical importance of early touch and bonding for nervous system development
[18:00] When nervous systems "freeze" and brace for danger with intimate partners
[21:00] Why 12-step programs create ideal conditions for trauma healing
[27:30] The power of "limbic baths" and co-regulated nervous system states
[32:00] How "act hunger" and movement help complete unresolved trauma responses
[35:00] Why the body needs catharsis and energy release for true healing

Whether you're recognizing your own patterns from a chaotic childhood, supporting someone who grew up in dysfunction, or you're a practitioner working with clients who have early relational trauma, this episode provides both the understanding and practical approaches needed to break generational cycles and create lasting healing.

Dr. Tian Dayton is a leading expert in psychodrama therapy have developed her approach of Relational Trauma Repair and is the author of numerous books on trauma, addiction, and family dynamics.

Helpful Links Related To This Episode

Resources/Guides:

Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $350 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window (before Sept 23).
Foundational Journey - If you want to be guided through The Essential Sequence laid out in my book, join me and my team for this 6 week journey into your inner world to create calm aliveness with somatic and parts healing practices. This lays the foundation to do the deeper work safely. These are a specific sequence of 42 different daily practices I have found that change one’s biology and health symptoms the fastest.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Related Youtube Videos:

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

Comment Etiquette:

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Please share your constructive feedback by using personal name or initials so that we can keep this space spam-free, and let's keep the discussion positive!

Why Strong People Get Sick: The Connection Between Childhood Trauma and Chronic Illness Aug 22, 2025

Being praised for strength or handling everything so well might seem like a positive thing. But what if those compliments aren't celebrating resilience, but actually highlighting stored trauma masquerading as strength?

Being called resilient might be one of the most dangerous compliments you've received. True resilience flows from safety and support, but trauma resilience is your nervous system running on emergency biology that will eventually make you sick.

In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie goes into the biology behind the difference between healthy resilience and trauma resilience. She explains why the child who never complains and the adult who never misses work despite chaos are running on trauma biology that leads to chronic illness decades later.

You'll hear more on:

The two types of resilience and why only one is actually healthy
How trauma biology creates leaky gut, inflammation, and autoimmune responses
Why your nervous system is actually stuck in survival mode
The connection between adverse childhood experiences and adult chronic illness
How stored trauma shows up as digestive issues, fatigue, brain fog, and autoimmunity
Why traditional stress management doesn't work for trauma biology
What needs to be repaired in order to start building authentic resilience

Whether you're the person everyone calls mature for your age or supporting someone whose strength might be stored trauma, this episode gives you practical tools to move from functioning in survival mode to building authentic resilience from a place of safety and support.

🎧 Want the full deep-dive? Listen to Episode 135: The Hidden Difference Between Stress and Trauma for the complete framework on understanding how your body keeps the score.

The Hidden Difference Between Stress and Trauma In How The Body Keeps Score Aug 19, 2025

Most people think stress and trauma are just different points on the same scale. But what if that belief has kept people stuck in cycles of chronic illness, autoimmune flare-ups, and emotional overwhelm?

Many people are doing everything "right." They’re eating well, exercising, going to therapy, yet they still struggle with gut issues, brain fog, anxiety, and fatigue that won't go away. They can't understand why their body seems to be working against them instead of healing.

In this episode, Dr. Aimie reveals the crucial difference between stress and trauma, and why understanding this distinction changes everything about how you heal. She explains how unresolved trauma gets stored in the body and creates a biology of trauma that keeps your nervous system stuck in survival mode.

You'll discover why trauma doesn't have to be "big" to be significant, how it shows up as chronic health conditions decades later, and the repair tools that address trauma at the emotional, somatic, and cellular levels, creating accelerated healing that single approaches cannot.

You'll hear more on:

[2:30] The simple question that reveals childhood trauma you may have downplayed
[6:45] How chronic conditions like autoimmunity follow predictable trauma patterns
[9:00] What happens during nervous system shifts and why they affect your whole body
[15:30] How brain inflammation fuels “body trauma loops” that keep you stuck
[19:44] Why brain inflammation is part of your trauma response (and how to recognize it!)
[25:00] The three levels of repair needed for lasting trauma healing
[27:30] How generational trauma passes through epigenetics (and how to break the cycle)
[30:15] The #1 thing to prioritize for nervous system regulation and recovery
[32:45] Daily habits that increase resilience, healing capacity, and overall well-being

Whether you're personally dealing with chronic health issues and unresolved trauma, or you're a practitioner helping clients understand the mind-body connection, this episode provides the scientific framework and practical tools you need to start addressing trauma at all levels and create lasting healing.

Resources/Guides:

Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025.
Essential Sequence Guide - Discover why doing the right things in the right order is key to releasing trauma and achieving your full potential. Get the insights you need to make lasting change.
Foundational Journey - If you want to be guided through The Essential Sequence laid out in the Roadmap and the book, join me and my team for this 6 week journey into your inner world with practical somatic and parts self-practices to lay your foundation to do the deeper work safely. These are the daily practices I have found that change one’s biology and health symptoms the fastest.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Related Youtube Videos:

Why Your Brain Shuts Down Over Cereal and What to Do About It Aug 15, 2025

Have you ever been so mentally drained that even choosing breakfast cereal felt impossible? It’s not just that you’re being indecisive. It’s decision fatigue, and it’s your nervous system’s way of saying your nervous system capacity is running low.

Think of nervous system capacity like an internal energy bank account. Every decision, big or small, is a withdrawal. When that account is empty, even simple choices can feel like climbing a mountain. Your brain hits “insufficient funds,” and suddenly you’re overwhelmed.

In this Biology Behind It mini episode, Dr. Aimie responds to a listener who shared his embarrassing moment of having to leave the grocery store because choosing cereal felt impossible! This question opens the door to understanding decision fatigue, neuroception, and why our survival system treats every choice as a potential threat.

You'll hear more on:

Why every decision is a withdrawal from your capacity account
Why your nervous system doesn't distinguish between small and big decisions
What happens when your energy reserves can't meet the demands you're facing
How attachment filters from early life determine which decisions drain more energy than others
Why low energy triggers trauma biology and chronic functional freeze
Practical strategies to reduce decision fatigue

Whether you're struggling with decision overwhelm or supporting someone experiencing these "adult meltdowns," this episode helps you understand why small decisions can feel impossible and gives you concrete tools to build your capacity back up.

🎧 Want the full deep-dive? Listen to Episode 134: "The Biology of Overwhelm: Why Small Demands Feel Impossible" for the complete framework on building your energy reserves and capacity account.

The Biology of Overwhelm: Why Small Demands Feel Impossible Aug 12, 2025

Many people feel constantly exhausted and easily overwhelmed, even when they're doing everything "right". They’re eating well, exercising, and trying to manage stress. They can't understand why small things overwhelm them so much or why they always feel so tired and stressed. One simple email or a broken appliance can completely derail their day, leaving them feeling like they're barely keeping it together.

In this episode, Dr. Aimie Apigian explains how your body doesn't react to stress based on what's happening to you. It actually reacts based on whether you have enough energy left to handle it.

Think of your nervous system like a bank account. Every challenge, decision, or demand, no matter how small, takes energy out of your account. When you're already running low from everyday stressors, even tiny problems can push you into overwhelm and emotional shutdown.

This isn't about changing your mindset or trying harder. It's about understanding what's actually happening in your nervous system when you get overwhelmed by daily life, so you can start making small changes that add up to feeling stronger and more resilient. You'll hear more on:

[3:52] The simple difference between life's demands and your energy to handle them
[5:32] How small events can feel overwhelming
[9:36] The daily energy "drains" that add up over time and quietly exhaust your system
[11:51] What's actually happening in your body during shutdown and overwhelm
[8:06] Why even good things (like travel or celebrations) can still drain your energy
[17:11] How to build up your reserves so you're ready for unexpected challenges
[19:33] Simple ways to reduce daily energy drains and add small "deposits" back to your system

Whether you're personally dealing with chronic exhaustion and burnout, or you're a practitioner helping clients who want better stress management techniques that actually work, this episode gives you practical action steps to start feeling better right away.

Resources/Guides:

Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025.
Foundational Journey - If you're ready to create a felt sense of safety in your body and experience the benefits of 26% decrease in daily physical pain, 28% decrease in sleep issues and digestive issues, 30% decrease in anxiety, depression, or want to learn how to do this for those you help - join me.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Related Youtube Videos:

The 2 Things Your Body Needs To Come Out Of The Freeze | Dr. Aimie Apigian

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

The Hidden Trauma Behind Autoimmune Disease: Why Your Body Feels Unsafe to Be You Aug 08, 2025

Why does autoimmunity often target high functioning women? Why do so many people with autoimmune diseases also feel stuck in emotional overwhelm, exhaustion, and self-doubt?

In this Biology Behind It mini episode, Dr. Aimie answers a powerful question from Maya, a therapist working with clients who have autoimmune conditions, and dives deeper into how past trauma affects the body and can lead to immune problems.

Dr. Aimie breaks down how hidden stress patterns, mitochondrial damage, and emotional self-beliefs can create the perfect storm for autoimmune diseases. She shares practical ways to support healing that go beyond mindset or medication.

In this epsiode, you'll discover:

Why autoimmune disease is a symptom of a deeper biology of trauma
How nervous system dysregulation leads to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction
Why common emotional patterns like perfectionism, people-pleasing, and feeling unsafe to be authentic are linked to autoimmunity
Why fatigue is the most common early sign of autoimmunity (and what’s happening in your cells)
The role of microglia activation in brain fog, decision fatigue, and emotional shutdown
Practical tools to support nervous system healing

Whether you’re living with an autoimmune diagnosis or supporting someone who is, this episode will help you connect the dots between stored trauma and immune dysfunction. It gives you clear steps to start calming inflammation, restoring energy, and supporting your body’s healing at the root level.

🎧 Want the full deep-dive? Listen to Episode 133: Autoimmunity and Childhood Trauma: How Your Immune System Reflects Your Past

Autoimmunity and Childhood Trauma: How Your Immune System Reflects Your Past Aug 05, 2025

Many people with autoimmune conditions like lupus, Hashimoto’s, or rheumatoid arthritis feel discouraged, confused and frustrated. They’ve been told there’s nothing they can do except manage symptoms for the rest of their life. But what if autoimmune disease is associated with childhood and a sign that the body has been living in survival mode for too long and that recovery is possible?

In this episode, Dr. Aimie explains the real nervous system root causes of autoimmune diseases and why rewiring your nervous system, stored trauma, and emotional pain can help your body recover. She shares her own story of sitting in a rheumatologist’s office, staring at high antibody numbers on her lab results, and deciding there had to be a better way forward.

You’ll hear why autoimmune conditions often affect high-functioning women and how toxic stress and trauma from years ago can get stuck in the body, leading to fatigue, chronic pain, brain fog, and autoimmune flare-ups decades later.

Dr. Aimie breaks down how autoimmunity isn’t just about the immune system. It’s also about safety, authenticity, and how the body responds to stress. Healing requires more than food or supplements. It means creating safety in your mind, in your body, and in your biology.

In this episode, you’ll hear more about:

[2:10] Why reversing autoimmune symptoms is about more than lab results or medication
[5:00] The personality traits that often show up in people with autoimmune conditions
[9:30] How childhood stress, emotional pain, and trauma get stored in the body
[13:40] Why a stressed nervous system leads to fatigue, brain fog, and chronic inflammation
[18:00] The surprising connection between being your true self and autoimmune flare-ups
[22:45] Why positive thinking alone doesn’t work and what your body actually needs to heal
[27:00] The three key levels of healing
[31:00] First steps you can take to start nervous system regulation and feeling safe again

Whether you're personally living with an autoimmune condition or you're a practitioner supporting clients with these challenges, this episode will give you the tools to start addressing the emotional root causes of autoimmunity and creating a felt sense of safety to help the body recover naturally.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses.
The Foundational Journey - a 6 week program to change an inner Biology of Trauma. If you are looking for emotional regulation, nervous system healing and changes in your physical health without another pill, this is for you. If you are a practitioner - this is where to start with the certificate training to become a Biology of Trauma® professional.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

The Biology Behind It: Do Babies Who Cry It Out Get Anxiety and Addiction Later in Life? Aug 01, 2025

Ever wondered why some adults struggle with anxiety, depression, or feeling overwhelmed even in safe situations? The answer might trace back to something as common as being left to cry it out as a baby.

In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie dives deep into the biology behind how early childhood experiences, including seemingly normal parenting practices, can program our immune cells for danger and create lasting brain inflammation, explaining the long-term effects of crying it out on mental health.

Responding to a listener's question about brain inflammation in babies, Dr. Aimie reveals what's actually happening inside tiny brains when they're left to cry it out, and how this creates the anxiety and depression we see later in life. You'll discover how your body's own biology might be perpetuating nervous system dysregulation from experiences you don't even remember.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How stress in early childhood creates “primed” microglia in the brain
Why these primed immune cells can trigger brain inflammation, anxiety, and depression later in life
The difference between stress and trauma (and why babies are especially vulnerable)
Why common experiences like birth trauma, NICU stays, and “crying it out” can rewire your stress response for life
The link between microglia activation, brain fog, decision fatigue, and emotional overwhelm
Practical steps for healing brain inflammation from childhood trauma and calming your nervous system

Whether you're working on your own healing or helping others who still feel stuck after therapy, this episode will help you understand why your body can still feel anxious and overwhelmed even when you know you're safe. Plus get simple tools to help your brain's immune system begin to heal!

🎧 Want the full story? Listen to Episode 132 with Dr. Darcia Narvaez to discover more common parenting practices that actually create a biology of trauma and lead to anxiety and addiction later in life. If you would like to watch the video version of this episode, head here to see the slides Dr. Aimie references in the episode.

Do Babies Who Cry It Out Get Anxiety and Addiction Later in Life? Jul 29, 2025

The truth is, early parenting choices, like sleep training and letting babies cry it out, can affect how their brain and body develop for years to come. Many well-meaning parents follow these popular methods, only to see their kids later struggle with anxiety, depression, or behavioral issues that seem to come out of nowhere. That’s because early attachment and nervous system development shape a child’s mental health in ways we don’t always see.

Everything that happens in the first years of life, from how you respond to your baby’s cries to how connected they feel, helps build their brain, nervous system, and their ability to feel safe and calm. Even common parenting habits can create hidden stress, making it harder for children to grow into resilient, emotionally healthy adults.

In this episode, Dr. Darcia Narvaez joins Dr. Aimie to talk about what babies really need for healthy brain development, emotional safety, and attachment. You’ll also learn how parents and practitioners can begin to repair early childhood trauma and help heal the nervous system, no matter the age.

You’ll hear about:

How sleep training and crying it out disrupt a baby’s developing nervous system
The link between early separations and anxiety, depression, and attachment issues later in life
How your own childhood experiences influence your health, relationships, and parenting style
Practical ways to rebuild connection and help your child’s nervous system heal
Why the vagus nerve is essential for emotional regulation in children
How common newborn medical procedures can cause lasting trauma
Why children need love and connection, not constant performance for approval

Whether you’re a practitioner wanting to understand how early attachment trauma affects adult clients, or a parent looking for nervous system regulation techniques and coregulation strategies to support your child, this episode offers science-backed insights and practical tools you can use right away.

Dr. Darcia Narvaez is a Professor of Psychology Emerita at the University of Notre Dame. She is the co-founder of the public and professional educational outreach project the Evolved Nest Initiative whose nonprofit mission is to share her science research into developing appropriate baselines for lifelong human wellness and providing guidelines for fostering full human potential.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

Attachment Trauma Healing Roadmap - Learn how your nervous system affects your ability to form secure attachments. Discover simple steps to rewire your nervous system for better relationships and overall health
Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses.
The Foundational Journey - a 6 week program as the place to lay the foundation for all the phases of the healing journey explained in The Essential Sequence guide. If you are looking for emotional and nervous system regulation and changes in your physical health without a pill, this is for you. If you are a practitioner - this is where it all starts with the year certificate training program to become a Biology of Trauma professional.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Related Youtube Videos:

True Stories Of Parents Repairing The Effects Of Adverse Childhood Experiences | Dr. Aimie Apigian

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

The Biology Behind It: Why Empaths Get Stuck in Grief and How to Move Through It Jul 25, 2025

Do you feel like your body is always on high alert? Does emotional stress lead to a racing heart, skin breakouts, or stomach problems? If you're an empath or highly sensitive person (HSP), you might be experiencing mast cell activation, and it’s more common than you think.

In this episode, Dr. Aimie explores the hidden biology behind why sensitive people get sick from stress. Here’s what’s happening: Your body has special immune cells called mast cells. They act like security guards. But after trauma or chronic stress, these cells can become overreactive. They can treat everyday experiences like threats, even normal conversations or emotional triggers.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why your body treats emotional stress like a physical emergency
How your immune system gets stuck in “danger mode” (and why it’s not your fault)
How to naturally calm an overactive nervous system
Supplements for mast cell activation
Dr. Aimie’s favorite technique that resets your nervous system
How blood sugar levels affect emotional reactivity
Simple daily habits to support nervous system healing

Whether you're someone who feels emotionally or physically drained after social interactions, a practitioner absorbing clients' trauma, or someone who seems to absorb energy from others, this episode will give you practical tools to feel safer in your body and break the cycle of overwhelm.

🎧 Want more support? Listen to Episode 131: Why Empaths Get Stuck in Grief and How to Move Through It for deeper guidance on trauma and emotional regulation.

Why Empaths Get Stuck in Grief and How to Move Through It Jul 22, 2025

Highly sensitive people and empaths often feel like they're drowning in grief while others seem to handle loss with ease. They absorb emotions from everyone around them, feel overwhelmed by everyday environments, and find themselves reaching for things they know aren't good for them just to numb the pain. But what if that sensitivity is actually a person's greatest strength?

In this episode, Dr. Aimie reveals why highly sensitive people experience grief so differently and how understanding your nervous system's unique needs can transform your relationship with both sensitivity and loss. She shares her own vulnerable story of self-sabotage after her best day ever, showing how even those who understand trauma can still get hijacked by grief.

You'll find out about why being an empath isn't about becoming less sensitive, but learning to support your sensitive system so you can hold pain without being overwhelmed by it. Dr. Aimie explains how your sensitivities can either drain your energy or become your superpowers, and why energy management is actually the key to living your life's purpose.

You’ll hear more on:

How to tell if you're a highly sensitive person
Why empaths feel grief more deeply and get overwhelmed faster than others
Simple ways to support your nervous system
How to tell which sensitivities drain your energy and which ones are your strengths
Why highly sensitive people numb emotional pain in self-sabotaging ways
What to do when grief takes over and you feel out of control emotionally
The biggest challenge for highly sensitive people and how to handle it
Easy ways to support your nervous system before you get overwhelmed

Whether you’re someone navigating grief yourself or a practitioner supporting sensitive clients, this episode offers practical insights to help you understand and support sensitive systems through the grieving process, transforming sensitivity into a strength.

Resources/Guides:

Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses.
The Essential Sequence - Grab my free guide that shows you the difference between the stress and trauma states of our nervous system. In just 3 steps, it walks you through what your body needs when it has stored trauma or is in a freeze response.
The Foundational Journey - a 6 week program as the place to lay the foundation for all the phases of the healing journey explained in The Essential Sequence guide. If you are looking for emotional and nervous system regulation and changes in your physical health without a pill, this is for you. If you are a practitioner - this is where it all starts with the year certificate training program to become a Biology of Trauma professional.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

The Biology Behind It: Why Stress Doesn’t Cause Chronic Pain And What Really Does Jul 18, 2025

Your mind says you’re safe, but your body still feels tense, overwhelmed, and stuck in danger mode. Why does this happen?

In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie goes into the biology behind why mental and emotional healing doesn’t always translate into physical healing. You’ll learn how trauma gets “stuck” in your nervous system, why your body can keep sending danger signals even when your mind feels better, and practical ways to help your body feel safe enough to recover.

Your nervous system works like a dashboard, constantly checking if you can handle what’s happening or need to shut down. When it stays stuck in survival mode, even after therapy, it can cause chronic pain, fatigue, and other symptoms. The good news is, you can help your body feel safe again and start to heal.

In this episode, you'll find out more about:

The difference between stress vs. trauma (and why it’s not about the event itself!)
Why your body creates a personal safety filter based on past experiences
How inflammation, toxins, and hidden stressors send danger signals to your nervous system
Why your body’s natural healing shuts down when you’re in survival mode
Simple ways to track and shift your nervous system state every day

Whether you’re doing your own healing or supporting clients who still feel stuck physically despite mental progress, this episode reveals the missing piece of trauma recovery. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of the body’s signals and walk away with practical tools to help the body catch up with the mind.

🎧 For more on chronic pain and trauma biology, listen next to Episode 130: Why It’s Not Stress That Causes Chronic Pain and What Really Does.

Why Stress Doesn’t Cause Chronic Pain and What Really Does Jul 15, 2025

Chronic pain affects millions of people who've been told their symptoms are just from stress. They've tried relaxation techniques, stress management, and lifestyle changes, but nothing really seems to work. They’re left feeling stuck, exhausted, and frustrated that their body just won’t heal.

But why does the body stay in pain even when the injury has healed?

In this episode, Dr. Aimie look at what most people believe about chronic pain. Instead of blaming stress, she shows how chronic pain actually comes from trauma stored in the body, and explores what's really going on and why this matters so much for healing.

Drawing from her own experience with chronic shoulder pain after a collarbone fracture, Dr. Aimie explains how her body was storing trauma, not just stress. Even after surgery and treatments, the pain wouldn't go away until she discovered what was really happening in her body.

You'll discover the difference between stress and trauma responses, why your body might be stuck in a chronic trauma response, and the hidden biochemical imbalances that make some people more likely to develop chronic pain.

You'll learn:

[1:45] Why stress does NOT cause chronic pain (and what actually does!)
[5:20] The critical line of overwhelm that turns stress into trauma
[11:34] What happens in the nervous system when you feel trapped and powerless
[16:33] Why unresolved trauma keeps your body stuck in a danger response
[21:15] The role of biochemical imbalances and why they increase pain sensitivity
[26:06] How oxidative stress and mitochondria contribute to functional freeze
[30:12] The hidden link between copper excess, anxiety, and chronic pain
[34:52] Practical steps to repair your biology and help your body feel safe again

Whether you're someone struggling with chronic pain or a practitioner seeking better tools to help clients, this episode reveals why understanding trauma biology, not just stress management, is the key to breaking free from chronic pain and reclaiming your life.

Helpful Links Related To This Episode:

Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses.
The 21 Day Journey - If you're ready to create a felt sense of safety in your body and experience the benefits of 26% decrease in daily physical pain, 28% decrease in sleep issues and digestive issues, 30% decrease in anxiety, depression, or want to learn how to do this for those you help - join me for your 21-Day Journey, a structured sequence of gentle, somatic-based self-practices walking you through The Essential Sequence to safely open up stored trauma in the body.
3 Most Common Biochemical Imbalances In Mood and Trauma Healing - Discover the common biochemical imbalances that are frequently at the core of mood and trauma patterns. Learn how these imbalances are identified and addressed to help improve emotional well-being.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

The Biology Behind It: Why You're Still Stuck in Survival Mode Jul 11, 2025

Have you or your clients ever felt exhausted, anxious, or even physically ill after a therapy session? Or wondered why emotional breakthroughs sometimes leave you feeling worse before you feel better?

In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie answers EDMR therapist Rebecca's question about why people sometimes get physical symptoms after making progress in therapy, and shares simple strategies to help prevent this from happening.

She goes into the biology behind how your nervous system is constantly deciding whether you're safe or in danger, and why digging into painful memories or feelings can make your body think it's under attack, even when you're actually healing.

You'll learn more about:

Why your body thinks feeling emotions is dangerous
How your "energy bank account" affects what you can handle in therapy
Why you might feel sick AFTER therapy sessions
How things like poor sleep and processed food make therapy harder on your body
Why your nervous system is always checking if you're safe or in danger
Two simple things you can do after therapy to feel better

Want to learn more? Listen to Episode 129 to find out more!

Why You're Still in Survival Mode (Even After Years of Therapy and Healing Work) Jul 08, 2025

Many people get stuck on their healing journey. They feel lost and confused. They've spent years in therapy, tried meditation, read all the books but still feel like they’re just surviving instead of truly living. This is way more common than we would like to believe, and quite discouraging for those dealing with stress, burnout, or old emotional wounds.

Even when you know you're safe, your body might still feel like it’s in danger.

That’s because healing isn’t just about mindset, it’s about your nervous system. And most healing methods skip the steps your body actually needs to feel safe at the nervous system level.

In this episode, Dr. Aimie explains why one often gets stuck and what the nervous system really needs to move from overwhelm and a functional freeze into calm aliveness. You’ll learn how the body experiences a trauma, why it holds on even for years after, and the step-by-step roadmap to give it what it needs to engage its own healing mechanisms.

You’ll learn more on:

[1:46] Why many people avoid connecting with their body and stay “in their head”
[4:05] How to tell if you’re disconnected from your body
[5:48] What happens in your body during a trauma response (and how it can get stuck)
[8:48] Why just telling yourself “you’re safe” doesn’t make your body believe it
[12:49] The hidden equation your nervous system uses to decide if you’re still in danger
[15:49] The surprising trait that can block healing
[18:16] Common signs you’re in shutdown mode
[21:51] The 3 major roadblocks that can slow down healing
[22:52] Why you need cycles of stress and rest to heal
[27:36] The 3-phase healing roadmap
[29:32] How emotional healing works just like physical healing—and why skipping steps keeps you stuck

Whether you're working on your own healing or helping others, this episode gives you the missing piece to understand what’s really going on in the body and how to finally move forward.

Helpful Links Related To This Episode:

Steps to Identify and Heal Trauma - A Roadmap for Healing - Find out what trauma is, how to recognize it, and get simple steps to help you heal in this 23-page guide. It’s great for anyone who wants to understand trauma better or support others on their healing journey.
Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses.
The 21 Day Journey - If you're ready to create a felt sense of safety in your body and experience the benefits of 26% decrease in daily physical pain, 28% decrease in sleep issues and digestive issues, 30% decrease in anxiety, depression, or want to learn how to do this for those you help - join me for your 21-Day Journey, a structured sequence of gentle, somatic-based self-practices walking you through The Essential Sequence to safely open up stored trauma in the body.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Related Youtube Videos:

What is the first thing we need to address to release stored trauma? | Dr. Aimie Apigian

Disclaimer:By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

The Biology Behind It: How Attachment Drives Anxiety, Autoimmunity and Chronic Illness Jul 04, 2025

What if the autoimmune condition you're dealing with today was actually programmed into your immune system decades ago during childhood?

In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie answers a listener’s question about the biological mechanisms connecting early attachment trauma to autoimmunity, and most importantly, what to do about it.

She goes into the biology behind how childhood fear literally programs your immune system at the cellular level, creating a biological foundation for autoimmune conditions that can emerge years or decades later, often triggered by additional stressors like accidents, infections, or major life events.

You’ll learn more about:

Why fear causes inflammation
How early fear creates overactive brain immune cells (microglia) that cause symptoms like brain fog and decision fatigue
The three key immune system pathways that determine whether your body stays in "inflammation mode" or switches to "repair mode"
Practical actions you can take to rebalance your immune system

Whether you're a practitioner working with autoimmune clients or someone with your own autoimmune journey, this episode reveals the hidden biological connections between early life experiences and immune dysfunction and offers hope through practical interventions that work at the cellular level.

Listen to Episode 128: How Attachment Drives Anxiety, Autoimmunity and Chronic Illness to explore the six core attachment pains and their biological impacts.

Don't forget to pre-order my new book, Biology of Trauma!

How Attachment Trauma Drives Anxiety, Autoimmunity & Chronic Illness Jul 01, 2025

Many people push others away while desperately craving connection. Others battle chronic pain, digestive issues, or autoimmune conditions that seem to have no clear cause. But why is this?

The answer often lies in unresolved childhood attachment trauma, specifically the experiences we had before we had words to make sense of them.

This is why someone can have what looks like a good childhood but still struggle with anxiety, digestive problems, chronic pain, or autoimmune issues as an adult. The body remembers what the mind has forgotten.

In this episode, Dr. Aimie breaks down the biology of early emotional pain and how it becomes stored in the body as chronic symptoms later in life. You’ll discover the six core attachment wounds, why the body learns to stay in survival mode, how unresolved early trauma shapes your nervous system, immune system, and relationships in adulthood, and most importantly, how to become your own safe person. You'll learn:

[2:08] Why babies need to be held to survive and what happens when they're not
[8:45] How to recognize if "it's not safe to relax" is your core attachment pattern
[11:35] The health impacts of early attachment trauma
[15:20]How fear becomes stored in the body as inflammation and chronic illness
[20:49] The six core attachment wounds that shape our nervous system and relationships
[25:30] How childhood wounds create the belief "I'm not capable" and lead to chronic overwhelm
[30:08] The surprising link between people-pleasing and chronic pain
[32:45] How brain fog, histamine intolerance, and depression can stem from attachment wounds
[37:50] The three-phase roadmap to safely heal stored trauma in the body

Whether you're someone living with unexplained chronic health issues or a practitioner supporting clients who seem stuck, this episode will help you understand the deep connection between childhood trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and adult symptoms and what it really takes to heal.

Helpful Links Related To This Episode:

Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses.
The 21 Day Journey - If you're ready to create a felt sense of safety in your body then join me for your 21-Day Journey, a structured sequence of gentle, somatic-based self-practices walking you through The Essential Sequence to safely open up stored trauma in the body.
Attachment Trauma Roadmap - Learn how your nervous system affects your ability to form secure attachments. Discover simple steps to rewire your nervous system for better relationships and overall health

Related Podcast Episodes:

Related Youtube Videos:

Why Attachment Is the Future Of Health | Dr. Aimie Apigian

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

The Biology Behind It: Why the Body Is Wired for Danger Jun 27, 2025

Your nervous system’s main job isn’t to make you happy. It’s to keep you safe. That’s why, even after the danger is over, your body can still act like it’s under threat. In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie goes into the biology behind how trauma gets stuck in the body and why it’s so hard to “just move on.”

You’ll learn how something called the body trauma loop keeps your system in survival mode, and how the brain’s ability to learn (neuroplasticity) can actually lock in trauma patterns over time.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

The 3 trauma survival responses: shutdown, disconnection, and freeze
Why your body keeps flipping between stress and shut down
How your brain and body learn to repeat trauma patterns automatically
How things like inflammation and oxidative stress keep your nervous system stuck
Why just saying “you’re safe” isn’t enough
A step-by-step process to help your body shift out of survival and into safety
Simple, body-based tools (somatic practices) you can use daily to calm your nervous system

Whether you're a practitioner or someone who's tired of feeling anxious, frozen, or burned out, this episode will help you understand what’s happening in your body and how to start changing it.

👉 Want the full breakdown? Listen to Episode 127: Why the Body Is Wired for Danger – Understanding Trauma’s Impact on the Nervous System for a deeper look at trauma and nervous system healing.

Why Your Body Is Wired for Danger: Understanding Trauma's Impact on Your Nervous System Jun 24, 2025

When was the last time that you truly felt so safe that you had no anxiety, no fear, or insecurity for the future?

Many people feel like they're always waiting for disaster to strike. Their body stays stressed even when nothing bad is happening.

If this sounds like you or those you help, here's why it happens and what you can do about it.

The answer lies in understanding how early life experiences wire our nervous system for survival rather than safety.

When we get overwhelmed and can't find our way back to feeling okay, it’s a sign our bodies get stuck in danger mode. This mode can last for years or even decades, affecting everything from our health to our relationships.

In this episode, Dr. Aimie dives into why the body might feel constantly on edge and explains the 3 key factors that make past experiences stick with us.You'll discover simple methods to calm the nervous system and start feeling more secure in life.

You'll learn more on:

[2:01] The three key elements that create overwhelming experiences: feeling overwhelmed, powerless, and in disbelief
[11:54] Understanding the critical line of overwhelm and why we cross it daily
[15:30] How early childhood experiences and generational trauma patterns contribute to nervous system wiring
[18:45] The difference between "too much, too fast" and "too little, too long"
[21:54] How to recognize survival patterns versus safety patterns
[25:12] The first essential step to rewiring the nervous system
[28:30] Why creating safety must come before processing difficult emotions
[32:15] Practical somatic tools you can use immediately when you notice stress and overwhelm

Whether you struggle with constant worry, can't seem to relax, or feel like you're always bracing for impact, this episode will help you understand what's happening in your body and give you practical steps to change it.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses.
The 21 Day Journey - If you're ready to create a felt sense of safety in your body and experience the benefits of 26% decrease in daily physical pain, 28% decrease in sleep issues and digestive issues, 30% decrease in anxiety, depression, or want to learn how to do this for those you help - join me for your 21-Day Journey, a structured sequence of gentle, somatic-based self-practices walking you through The Essential Sequence to safely open up stored trauma in the body.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Related Youtube Videos:

Body Adapts to Dysregulation: Survival Mechanisms | Dr. Aimie Apigian

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

The Biology Behind It: How Your Nervous System Decides What’s Safe and Why It Matters for Healing Jun 20, 2025

Even if you’ve done years of therapy, learned to manage your emotions, and built self-awareness, your nervous system might still be stuck in survival mode. But why is this?

In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie dives into the biology behind how oxidative stress at the cellular level can keep your body trapped in a trauma response. No matter how much mindset work you’ve done!

She breaks down how unresolved biological stress sends ongoing danger signals to your nervous system, fueling anxiety, overwhelm, and chronic dysregulation.

You’ll hear more about:

Why trauma isn’t just stored in your mind but in your mitochondria and DNA
How oxidative stress acts like “rust” inside your cells and blocks emotional regulation
The link between oxidative damage and PTSD, depression, and chronic illness
Why your body needs energy, not willpower, to heal from trauma
What actually helps repair oxidative damage and stabilize your nervous system
How to use food, supplements, and sleep routines to support deep biological healing

Whether you're supporting others on their healing journey or navigating your own, this episode reveals the hidden cellular barriers that can keep the nervous system stuck and offers practical ways to work with the body’s biology to create real progress.

🎧 Want the full picture? Listen to Episode 126: Neuroception Explained: How Your Nervous System Decides What’s Safe (and Why It Matters for Healing)

Neuroception Explained: How Your Nervous System Decides What's Safe and Why It Matters for Healing Jun 17, 2025

"Neuroception is what determines our response to everything in any moment of our life. It is not based on reality. It is based on one's perception.” – Dr. Aimie

Have you ever wondered why it's so hard to stick to healthy habits, even when you know they'll help you feel better? Or why those you help can’t seem resistant to their treatment plan?

The truth is, it's not about willpower or motivation. Deep inside the body, there's an invisible security system constantly asking one question: "Am I safe right now, or am I in danger?" This system is called neuroception, and it's been quietly running your life without you knowing it.

When this internal alarm system thinks you're in danger, even when you're perfectly safe, it can make your body reject the very things that would help you heal. Supplements feel overwhelming. Diet changes seem impossible. Exercise feels like too much. Your body isn't being difficult. In fact, it's actually trying to protect you!

In this episode, Dr. Aimie breaks down neuroception and shows you exactly how to work with your nervous system instead of against it. You'll discover why some days you feel motivated and capable, while other days everything feels overwhelming, and most importantly, what you can do about it.

You'll learn:

The simple equation your body uses to decide if you're safe or in danger
Why your body sometimes rejects healthy changes (Hint: it's not your fault!)
The three different states your nervous system operates in
How to tell which state you're in right now
Simple body-based techniques to shift into a state of safety
Why addressing oxidative stress is crucial for lasting change
How to create an environment where healing actually feels possible
And more!

Whether you're someone struggling to maintain healthy habits or a practitioner working with people who seem "resistant" to treatment, this episode will completely change how you understand behavior, motivation, and the healing process.

Helpful Links Related To This Episode:

Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses.
The 21 Day Journey - If you're ready to create a felt sense of safety in your body and experience the benefits of 26% decrease in daily physical pain, 28% decrease in sleep issues and digestive issues, 30% decrease in anxiety, depression, or want to learn how to do this for those you help - join me for your 21-Day Journey, a structured sequence of gentle, somatic-based self-practices walking you through The Essential Sequence to safely open up stored trauma in the body.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

Timestamps:

[01:51] What is this invisible security system in your body?
[06:09] The simple math your body does every second: Can I handle what's happening to me?
[12:10] The three modes your nervous system switches between (and how to recognize them)
[15:00] Why anxiety and depression might actually be your nervous system trying to protect you
[20:00] How past experiences get "stuck" in your muscles and keep you feeling unsafe
[25:00] Body language clues that reveal which mode someone is in
[27:01] Why you need to heal your cells, not just your mind
[29:51] The hidden cellular damage that keeps you stuck in "danger mode"
[33:46] The three-level approach that actually works: Mind, body movement, and cellular health
[36:42] Why "self-sabotage" is actually your body trying to keep you safe

Biology Behind It: Why the Mind & Body Can't Heal Without Oxytocin Jun 13, 2025

Why is it that sometimes the things that are supposed to help us feel calm actually make us feel more anxious instead? In this mini-episode, Dr. Aimie explores why this happens, expanding on her conversation with Dr. Sue Carter from Episode 125. She answers therapist Sarah's question about why some people struggle with relaxation techniques and reveals the surprising science behind it.

You'll hear more on:

Why oxytocin is called "nature's fire extinguisher" and how it helps you heal
How oxytocin and vasopressin work together (not against each other!)
Why past difficult experiences can make your body think "quiet time" is dangerous
How your brain's control center decides if you're safe or not
Simple ways to feel safer in your body before trying relaxation techniques

If you're a practitioner working with clients who struggle with calming techniques or if you've ever wondered why meditation or mindfulness makes you feel worse instead of better, this episode explains what's happening in the body and gives practical ways to work with it instead of against it.

To hear the full episode and learn more about how stress hormones affect healing, head over to Episode 125: Why the Mind & Body Can't Heal Without Oxytocin with Dr. Sue Carter.

The Forgotten Hormone: Why the Mind & Body Can’t Heal Without Oxytocin with Dr. Sue Carter Jun 10, 2025

Many people spend years in therapy and still struggle to feel truly safe in relationships. But why is this?

The answer lies in the body. You can understand your trauma, but still feel unsafe. Oxytocin helps turn that understanding into actual feelings of safety in your body. Known as nature’s most powerful anti-inflammatory, oxytocin plays a vital role in regulating the nervous system, forming secure connections, and shifting the body out of survival mode.

In this episode, Dr. Aimie is joined by world-renowned oxytocin expert Dr. Sue Carter to discuss how this hormone holds the key to healing trauma, creating genuine safety, and forming secure connections. Dr. Carter has studied oxytocin for over four decades and reveals why this hormone is essential for moving from survival to thriving.

In this conversation you hear why traditional talk therapy alone often falls short, how early life experiences program our capacity for connection, and practical tools for naturally increasing oxytocin to create a felt sense of safety in your body.

You’ll learn more about:

How early attachment experiences shape your nervous system and relationships
The difference between vasopressin and oxytocin in the stress response
How trauma and chronic stress disrupt your ability to feel safe, even in loving relationships
Why oxytocin is nature’s “fire extinguisher” for inflammation and chronic illness
Practical tools to support healing and regulate your nervous system
And more!

Whether you're a practitioner or someone navigating your own healing journey, this episode offers evidence-based insights into how your body creates its own pharmacy of healing hormones and why safety in relationships is the biological foundation for all healing

Helpful Links Related To This Episode:

Want to know more about the Safe and Sound Protocol mentioned in the episode? Go here to find out more.
Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses.
The 21 Day Journey - If you're ready to create a felt sense of safety in your body and experience the benefits of 26% decrease in daily physical pain, 28% decrease in sleep issues and digestive issues, 30% decrease in anxiety, depression, or want to learn how to do this for those you help - join me for your 21-Day Journey, a structured sequence of gentle, somatic-based self-practices walking you through The Essential Sequence to safely open up stored trauma in the body.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Timestamps:

[02:21] How Early Life Affects Oxytocin and Building Strong Bonds
[06:07] How Oxytocin Helps People Feel Safe and Connected
[07:51] What PTSD and Trauma Do to Oxytocin Levels
[09:59] Why Vasopressin, Not Cortisol, Is the Main Stress Hormone in Trauma
[12:29] How the Body Shuts Down During Trauma and Dissociation
[14:05] Why Loving Early Relationships Are Important for Emotions
[16:48] The Difference Between Fake Safety and Real Safety for Growth
[20:02] Simple Ways to Increase Oxytocin
[30:58] The Hypothalamus: How It Controls Oxytocin and Safety

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

The Biology Behind It: Grief and Gut Health Jun 06, 2025

Did you know that it's impossible to have gut issues without feeling grief and regret, and equally impossible to hold grief while maintaining a healthy gut?

In this mini-episode, Dr. Aimie explores the powerful connection between constipation and grief, expanding on her discussion in Episode 124. She answers a listener's question about remaining stuck in grief work despite months of therapy, and how chronic constipation might be the barrier preventing emotional healing.

You'll hear more on:

How grief triggers a biological trauma response that directly impacts digestion
The effect constipation has on your nervous system
How constipation leads to brain inflammation, mental fatigue, and emotional shutdown
Why your gut health directly impacts your ability to process emotions
Practical strategies to improve your constipation
Why talk therapy alone may not be enough when the nervous system is stuck in overwhelm

If you're struggling with both grief and digestive issues, or if you're a practitioner working with clients who seem stuck in their healing journey, this episode offers crucial insights into the biological barriers that may be preventing progress.

To hear the full episode and access additional resources, head over to Episode 124: Grief and Gut Health to learn more!

Grief and Gut Health: Is It Just Emotional or Something More? Jun 03, 2025

"Your gut cannot hold grief and regret and stay a healthy gut. It's impossible, and it's impossible to have gut issues and to not feel grief and regret." – Dr. Aimie

Grief isn't just an emotional process, it's a biological experience that can deeply disrupt your gut health, nervous system, and overall well-being. In this episode, Dr. Aimie explores the gut-brain axis and how emotional trauma like grief gets stored in the body, often leading to digestive issues and nervous system dysregulation.

Discover how grief affects the vagus nerve, diaphragm function, and the enteric nervous system—your body's "second brain." Learn why doctors often overlook the link between trauma and the gut, and how somatic healing offers a powerful, holistic approach to recovery. In this episode, you'll learn:

How the vagus nerve connects grief and gut health
The 3 most difficult types of grief to process: attachment grief, absent grief, and heart shock grief
How unprocessed grief disrupts diaphragm function and the digestive system
The difference between being stuck in grief vs. actively grieving
How grief contributes to inflammation and pressure in gut health
How your gut and brain work together to process emotional trauma
And more!

Whether you're a practitioner or on your own healing journey, this episode sheds light on the mind-body connection, offering a holistic healing perspective on grief, trauma, and gut health.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses.
The 21 Day Journey - many have taken the 21 Day Journey because of grief, and wanting to safely access and regain a sense of safety, energy, and find their authentic self again. Over the course of 21 days, I’ll guide you through a structured sequence of somatic-based self-practices designed to help you reconnect with your body, calm your nervous system, and begin healing from the inside out.
Steps to Identify and Heal Trauma - A Roadmap for Healing - Use this free 23-page guide to recognize when grief has become stored trauma in the body them, and get simple steps to the healing journey. It’s great for anyone who wants to understand trauma better or support others on their healing journey.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

The Biology Behind It: Light, Sleep and Habits to Heal Your Nervous System May 30, 2025

What if your inability to change habits and reactions wasn't about lack of willpower or being lazy, but was actually about your body not having enough energy to make the change?

In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie goes into the biology behind why so many people feel stuck in old patterns or habits, expanding on her conversation with Katie Wells from Episode 123. She answers a question from Jessica, a therapist, about why her clients intellectually understand their problems but can't seem to make changes stick and feel drained after therapy.

Dr. Aimie explains how trauma becomes an energy problem in your body. She breaks down what happens inside your cells when trauma gets stored and why healing requires energy that many people simply don't have.

You'll hear more about:

How trauma affects your body's mitochondria (aka the cellular powerhouses)
The warning signs that your energy system is struggling
Why feeling exhausted after therapy means your body doesn't have the energy to heal (Hint: You’re NOT actually failing!)
Simple steps you can take today to boost energy levels naturally

If you know what your problems are but can't seem to change them, or if you're helping someone who's stuck in this cycle, this episode offers practical steps that actually work with your biology instead of against it.

To hear the full conversation, listen to Episode 123: Light, Sleep, and High-Impact Habits to Heal Your Nervous System

Light, Sleep and High-Impact Habits To Heal Your Nervous System May 27, 2025

“I said to my body, ‘I want to be your friend.’ And it took a deep breath and said, ‘I’ve been waiting our whole life for this.’” – Katie Wells

Doing the inner work isn’t just emotional, it’s biological. In this episode, Dr. Aimie is joined by Wellness Mama founder and health journalist Katie Wells to talk about the high-impact habits with light, sleep, and movement can help support nervous system regulation and emotional healing

In this conversation, you’ll learn why trauma is actually an energy problem, how your environment may be silently working against your healing, and how small, daily habits can dramatically impact your capacity for rest, resilience, and recovery.

Together, Dr. Aimie and Katie dive into the misunderstood connection between light exposure, sleep quality, nutrition, and trauma recovery. They explain why pushing yourself, without creating safety and energy, can backfire, and how to finally work with your biology rather than against it.

You’ll hear more on:

Why trauma is an energy problem
How your nervous system responds to light, sleep, and environmental signs
Why rest and safety signals are essential to healing
How to listen to your body’s cues without overwhelm
Why doing more won’t help you heal, and what your nervous system actually needs instead
And more!

Katie Wells is a mom of six with a background in journalism. She took health into her own hands and started researching to find answers to her own health struggles. Her research turned into a blog and podcast that turned into an amazing community, Wellness Mama. She is one of the 100 most influential people in health and wellness and is considered a thought leader for the current generation of moms.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal - at the time of this recording, The Insider’s Circle Book Club is open and pre-orders have gone live. You will receive over $400 worth of bonuses if you pre-order now. And if you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses!
The 21 Day Journey - If you're ready to create a felt sense of safety in your body, increase your energy, and build the foundation for deeper trauma healing, join me inside the 21-Day Journey. Over the course of 21 days, I’ll guide you through a sequence of gentle, somatic-based practices designed to help you reconnect with your body, calm your nervous system, and begin healing from the inside out.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

The Biology Behind It: Shutdown Before Stress May 27, 2025

Did you know that your body could literally be "rusting from the inside out" when stuck in trauma? This biological reality explains why so many develop chronic fatigue, autoimmunity, and other mysterious health conditions.

In this mini-episode, Dr. Aimie goes into the biology behind why trauma creates chronic illness, building on her discussion from Episode 122 about addressing trauma stored in the body. She answers a listener’s question about why her clients seem to struggle with chronic health issues and what can actually be done about it.

You’ll learn more on:

What oxidative stress is (and how being in survival state can cause it to accumulate)
Why chronic illness can show up decades after traumatic experiences
Specific steps you can take to reduce oxidative stress
A simple technique to shift out of shutdown throughout the day
Why talk therapy alone isn't enough

If you're struggling with chronic fatigue, autoimmunity, or other unexplained health issues, this episode offers practical insights for addressing these symptoms at the cellular level.

Ready to address trauma at the cellular level? Head over to Episode 122: Shutdown Before Stress for the complete trauma healing sequence, and grab Dr. Aimie's essential resources.

Shutdown Before Stress: The Misstep in Trauma Healing That Often Gets Missed May 20, 2025

Healing begins when we stop pushing and start listening to what our body is trying to tell us.

In this episode, Dr. Aimie walks through the science of how trauma is stored in the body and what that means for the sequence of healing, and what can go wrong when we don’t follow the steps in the right order..

You’ll learn the key differences between stress and trauma responses, why therapy can sometimes leave you feeling worse, and how to work with your body’s natural healing process instead of against it.

Dr. Aimie breaks down why attempting to process trauma without following the correct steps can make you feel worse. She'll guide you through the steps for trauma healing, explaining why addressing shutdown responses in the body must happen before working with the stress response. Skipping this order often leads to frustration and can even retraumatize you.

What You’ll Learn:

Why over 90% of people live “in their heads” (and what that means for healing)
How to tell if the body is in trauma shutdown vs. stress
What the Critical Line of Overwhelm is and its link to chronic illness
How stored trauma may be behind chronic symptoms
The essential healing sequence that works with the nervous system for lasting trauma recovery
And more!

Whether you’re a practitioner or someone navigating your own healing journey, this episode provides insights and practical tools to help you reconnect with your body’s wisdom and begin the path to healing.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal - at the time of this recording, The book Insider’s Circle is open and pre-orders have gone live. You will receive over $400 worth of bonuses if you pre-order now. And if you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses!
The Essential Sequence - my free guide that maps out the 3 steps for safely opening up stored trauma in the body, whether that is presenting as health issues, patterns of a chronic functional freeze or frequent triggers.
21 Day Journey - Let me guide you through The Essential Sequence with 21 days of structured somatic self-practices that you can learn for yourself, or apply in your work in those you help. It allows you access to do the deeper work with me because you have these skills of immediately creating inner safety.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

Finding Your Why: How to Break Free from Burnout and Build Meaningful Work with Dr. Eric Arzubi May 13, 2025

“I was more afraid of regret than I was of failing.” — Dr. Eric Arzubi

Imagine having a corner office on Wall Street by age 30, but feeling like something important was missing. In this episode, Dr. Aimie sits down with Dr. Eric Arzubi, who had this exact experience. Despite his success, he felt a deep pull toward something more meaningful. That pull eventually led him to leave finance behind, become a psychiatrist, and take on the challenge of transforming mental health care in Montana through trauma-informed telehealth.

Dr. Arzubi shares his inspiring journey of walking away from financial security to follow a calling, revealing how the fear of lifelong regret ultimately outweighed the fear of change. Through his story, you'll discover why the search for meaningful work can be driven by different emotions and how creating "safe enough" spaces provides the foundation for career change.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to know if fear is trauma or just healthy caution when facing change
Why nervous system safety is key for successful career changes
Steps for transitioning into a meaningful career
Solving mental health access gaps with innovative telehealth solutions
How to navigate pushback when changing careers or implementing new ideas
And more!

Whether you or someone you know is contemplating a career change, this episode offers practical advice for recognizing whether your anxiety is a trauma response or a signal that it's time to move toward a more meaningful path.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal - at the time of this recording, The Insider’s Circle Book Club is open and pre-orders have gone live. You will receive over $400 worth of bonuses if you pre-order now. And if you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses!
The Essential Sequence Guide - A guide that provides step-by-step instructions for creating safety in your nervous system while making significant life changes, like career transitions, without triggering trauma responses. It’ll give you the insights you need to make lasting change.
A Guide For The Chronic Freeze Response - A guide that helps you recognize when your nervous system is stuck in “safe" mode and provides specific ways on how to support your body and create the change you want to create.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

The Biology Behind It: Why You’re Antidepressants May Not Be Working May 08, 2025

Did you know that, according to research, only 50% of people experience relief from antidepressants? Why could this be?

In this mini-episode, Dr. Aimie explores why antidepressants often fail to provide relief for many people, expanding on her discussion in Episode 120. She answers a listener's question about what may be causing her to continue to experience brain fog and feeling flat despite increased medication dosage.

You'll hear more on:

What is really driving the mental health epidemic
The five steps of how the body experiences a trauma response
The missing piece in depression treatment (it’s NOT what you think!)
How stored trauma and persistent depression symptoms are connected
What can create brain inflammation
How lifestyle factors like poor sleep can trigger the same response as emotional trauma

If you're taking antidepressants but still struggling with symptoms, this episode offers a deeper understanding of the underlying biology and practical strategies to address brain inflammation for more effective healing.

To hear the full episode and grab the links Dr. Aimie mentioned, head over to Episode 120: Why Antidepressants Don’t Work for Everyone to find out more!

Why Antidepressants Don’t Work for Everyone: The Hidden Role of Trauma in Anxiety and Depression May 06, 2025

Are you or those you work with struggling with chronic fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, or emotional numbness, even when lab tests come back “normal”? In this episode, Dr. Aimie looks at how unresolved trauma stored in the nervous system can drive physical and emotional symptoms which are often mistaken for depression, anxiety, or autoimmune issues.

Through the real life story of Michelle, a teacher who no longer felt like herself, you’ll learn about the five-step trauma response everyone follows, and why conventional approaches often miss the mark.

Whether you’re a practitioner seeking deeper insight into trauma-informed care, or someone navigating your own healing, this episode reveals why trauma is not just psychological, but biological. You’ll gain a fresh perspective on your or your clients symptoms and allow you to begin exploring more effective, long-term paths to healing.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How stored trauma leads to chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and gut issues
Why emotional disconnection and brain fog are signs of a stuck trauma response
What your body does in the first moments of threat
The biological difference between stress and trauma
Why antidepressants may not work for trauma-driven conditions
And more!

Guides, Tools & Resources:

Steps to Identify and Heal Trauma: A Roadmap for Healing - Find out what trauma is, how to recognize it, and get simple steps to help you heal in this 23-page guide. It’s great for anyone who wants to understand trauma better or support others on their healing journey
The Essential Sequence - free guide that shows you the difference between stress and trauma states of our nervous system. In just 3 steps, it walks you through what your body needs when it has stored trauma or is in a freeze response.
Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal - at the time of this recording, The Insider’s Circle Book Club is open and pre-orders are going live soon.
Brain Inflammation Protocol – The complete protocol for if you have anxiety, depression, prior head injuries and want to address the brain inflammation that’s keeping you stuck.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

The Biology Behind It: Transforming Trauma into Joy & Purpose May 02, 2025

How can a single moment impact your life? Can that moment still affect you not only emotionally but physically years later?

In this mini-episode, Dr. Aimie dives into the biology behind how trauma gets physically stored in the body, expanding on her conversation with Gregg Ward from Episode 119. She unpacks Greg's story of accidentally causing a fatal car accident at age 18 and how this moment shaped his entire life path and physical health.

You’ll hear more on:

How trauma physically show ups in the body during the freeze response
The 3 defense strategies that are triggered by trauma
What moral injury is and how it affects the nervous system
Practical steps for moving through grief and regret
And more!

If you're carrying regret, grief, or trauma that is staying in your body, this episode offers hope and practical insights for moving through these experiences toward healing.

To hear the full episode listen to Episode 119: Transforming Trauma into Joy & Purpose with Gregg Ward

Transforming Trauma Into Joy & Purpose with Gregg Ward Apr 29, 2025

What happens when a single moment changes the direction of your entire life? Can regret become a force for good?

In this episode, we’ll hear one man’s journey through the aftermath of accidentally causing his high school sweetheart's death in a car accident at 18 years old and how that trauma has shaped his entire life.

Dr. Aimie is joined by Gregg Ward who shares how this terrible accident caused his greatest pain while also pushing him to become a better person. He describes how the trauma showed up in his body, his methods for trying to cope, and the path that eventually led him toward healing and purpose.

This conversation goes deeper into how trauma lives in the body, how moral injury can affect someone, and how finding purpose can eventually transform regret and grief into meaning, purpose and joy.

We'll discuss:

What happens to the body right after trauma occurs
What moral injury is and its role in trauma
How trauma can disrupt your life but also give it new direction
Finding purpose by honoring what was lost instead of just trying to feel better
How trauma stays in your body for years
Connecting with others who have experienced similar traumatic events
Why physical movement helps heal trauma when talking about it isn't enough
How finding happiness after trauma is possible – even when you think it’s hopeless
And more!

Whether you're living with regret, supporting someone through their grief, or working professionally with those carrying hidden pain, this episode shows you how one can move through seemingly unbearable experiences and eventually find peace, joy and purpose on the other side.

Gregg Ward is the founder of the Center for Respectful Leadership, an award-winning best-selling author, TEDx Speaker, executive coach, and master facilitator & culture change consultant.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

Steps to Identify and Heal Trauma: A Roadmap for Healing Trauma - Find out what trauma is, how to recognize it, and get simple steps to help you heal in this 23-page guide. It’s great for anyone who wants to understand trauma better or support others on their healing journey.
Biology of Trauma book - How the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. At the time of this recording, you can join us in The Insider’s Circle Book Club and pre-orders are now available!
Foundational Journey - If you want to be safely guided through The Essential Sequence, and lay your foundation of regulation in this online 6 week course, join me and my team of mentors for this journey into your inner world with practical somatic and parts self-practices.

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Biology Behind It: How to Navigate Your Own Chronic Illness & Healing Journey Apr 25, 2025

Are you a practitioner struggling to balance patient care with your own health needs? In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie looks at the biology behind the Spoon Theory and how practitioners can manage their own health while helping others heal. She answers a listener’s question about why she feels drained after certain client sessions and the actionable steps she can take to keep her energy levels up.

Dr. Aimie’s will build on her conversation with Helga Byrne from Episode 118, where they discussed navigating professional responsibilities while managing personal health challenges.

You’ll hear more on:

What the Spoon Theory is
How trauma impacts the body’s mitochondria
What happens to the your cells when you go into overwhelm
Why practitioners experience brain fog and fatigue while helping others
How your nervous system sends signals to either boost or reduce your energy levels throughout the day
Practical ways to manage your “spoons” of every daily

If you're struggling to manage your energy while caring for others, this episode will provide insights on how to maintain energy levels while still being an effective practitioner.

If you’d like to go deeper into this topic, listen to the full conversation with Helga Byrne on Episode 118: How Practitioners Can Navigate Their Own Chronic Illness & Healing Journey.

How Practitioners Can Navigate Their Own Chronic Illness and Healing Journey Apr 22, 2025

Are you trying to work caring for others while navigating your own chronic health symptoms? In this episode, we’ll take a look at one woman's decade-long battle with a chronic illness and the actions she took to build and maintain her practice.

Helga Byrne, worked years in corporate, but wanted a more meaningful life. Becoming a licensed therapist, she spent years struggling with a chronic health issue without having an answer. Eventually, it was discovered it was chronic Lyme disease, but that didn’t bring an overnight solution.

How do we manage being a professional in the healing field when we have our own chronic health issues? What happens when our physical health issues get triggered by long days or difficult clients?

In this conversation, Helga joins Dr. Aimie to share the struggles and strategies Helga implemented to effectively run her business while navigating brain fog and extreme fatigue. She’ll also share insights on common identity challenges, the challenge of finding practitioners who believed her symptoms, how to identify what gives you energy, and changes you can make to your life, relationships and work.

They’ll discuss:

How trauma can be created by medical rejection
How chronic illness can create isolation
Using the "spoon theory" for managing energy
Creating different ways to earn income when you can't see clients full-time
The healing power of accepting your illness instead of waiting to "get better someday"
Why working with clients can be energizing even during chronic illness
Why learning to say "no" can protect your limited time and energy
How finding a supportive community can change your outlook on your illness
How your own health struggles can help you better understand and connect with clients
And more!

Whether you are a practitioner, parent or other caregiver, this episode will give you great insights into how you can structure your life, work and schedule around your body's needs while showing up for others effectively.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

The Essential Sequence - free guide that shows you the difference between stress and trauma states of our nervous system. In just 3 steps, it walks you through what your body needs when it has stored trauma or is in a freeze response.
Foundational Journey - If you want to be safely guided through The Essential Sequence, and lay your foundation of regulation in this online 6 week course, join me and my team of mentors for this journey into your inner world with practical somatic and parts self-practices.
Brain Inflammation Protocol – The complete protocol for if you have anxiety, depression, prior head injuries and want to address the brain inflammation that’s keeping you stuck.
Tackling Brain Inflammation [Video Library] – 27 videos from experts on how to recognize brain inflammation, how to get tested and what nutrients and supplements can support you

Related Podcast Episodes for Practitioners:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Biology Behind It: How Movement Can Heal Stored Trauma, Grief & Emotions Apr 18, 2025

Can your body be stuck in trauma or grief? In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie is answering a listener’s question about why her physical symptoms are still bothering her a year after a loved one’s death. She dives into why the normal approach to self care won’t work and how creating safety can allow the trauma and grief to move through the body instead of staying stuck.

Dr. Aimie goes into the biology behind why movement is needed for overwhelming grief and trauma, building on her conversation with Paul Denniston from episode 117. She shares more on why “emotions need motion” and how movement practices work on a physiological level to release the trauma and grief trapped in the body.

You’ll hear more about:

How grief pushes the body from a stress response into a trauma response
The three coping strategies triggered by grief
Where grief and trauma get stored physically within the body
The action steps you can start taking today to move through your own trauma or grief
And more!

If you feel like you’re ready to let go of the trauma and grief that your body has been holding onto, then this episode is a must listen to!

For more on this topic, listen to the full conversation with Paul Denniston in Episode 117: Movement For Healing Stored Grief & Emotions

Check out The Essential Sequence which is a free guide that shows you the difference between stress and trauma states of our nervous system. In just 3 steps, it walks you through what your body needs when it has stored trauma or is in a freeze response.

How Movement Can Heal Stored Trauma, Grief and Emotions with Paul Denniston Apr 15, 2025

“Emotions need motion” - Paul Denniston

Grief is an emotion that many of us try to avoid. But what happens when we don't let it out? In this episode, we explore how hidden grief can get stuck in the body, causing tight shoulders, stomach pain, and nonstop anxiety.

Paul Denniston, founder of Grief Yoga, joins Dr. Aimie to explain that grief doesn't simply disappear when ignored. Instead, it hides in our muscles and body, making them hurt or feel uncomfortable.This conversation sheds light on how movement and even laughter can let the feelings out of our bodies in a safe way.

We'll talk more about:

How grief physically manifests in the body
Why movement is essential for trauma healing
How to recognize if what you're feeling is grief (even if it looks like anxiety or anger)
The power in creating dedicated time and space for grief expression
Learning how to sit with grief safely so it doesn't feel too overwhelming
How laughter can be used to access deeper grief
How practitioners can hold space for others' grief without becoming overwhelmed themselves
The physical and emotional benefits of moving grief through the body
And more!

Whether you're a practitioner working with grief, someone supporting a loved one through loss, or navigating your own healing journey, this episode shares insights into transforming pain through movement practices that incorporate breath, sound, and embodied awareness.

Paul Denniston is the founder of Grief Yoga®, which uses yoga, movement, breath, and sound to release pain and suffering and connect to love. His intention with Grief Yoga is to combine many different forms of yoga in order to help heal grief.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

The Essential Sequence - free guide that shows you the difference between stress and trauma states of our nervous system. In just 3 steps, it walks you through what your body needs when it has stored trauma or is in a freeze response.
Biology of Trauma book - How the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. At the time of this recording, you can join us in The Insider’s Circle Book Club and pre-orders will be going live soon.
Foundational Journey - If you want to be guided through The Essential Sequence laid out in the guide and the book, join me and my team for this 6 week journey into your inner world with practical somatic and parts self-practices to lay your foundation to do the deeper work safely. These are the daily practices I have found that change one’s biology and health symptoms the fastest.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Biology Behind It: The Body Keeps Score Apr 11, 2025

Preventing people from moving when something terrible happens is what makes trauma a trauma.

In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie dives into the biology behind why not being able to move (either physically or internally) can create trauma. She looks more closely at the moment in the trauma response that she calls "hitting the wall" - the pivotal point where we feel powerless and our physiology shifts from a stress response to a trauma response.

Dr. Aimie also explains that our neuroception (nervous system's perception) determines whether we take action or shut down, and this process isn't based on reality but on our perceived capacity against perceived danger. So when we feel overwhelmed, our nervous system prevents movement as a way to protect us.

You'll hear more about:

The five steps of trauma response and why "the wall" is the most significant
How our nervous system can block our own movement
The biological factors that influence our capacity to respond vs. shut down
And more!

If you're interested in understanding why you might "hit the wall" in everyday situations and how to support your body's capacity to respond differently, then this episode is for you!

For more on this topic, listen to the full conversation with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk in Episode 116: The Body Keeps Score: How Trauma Rewires Your Nervous System

The Body Keeps Score: How Trauma Rewires Your Nervous System with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk Apr 08, 2025

In response to overwhelm, the body tries to keep one safe in different ways. Sometimes our body feels so shaken and shocked that it makes our mind need to disconnect from the pain of it. This is called dissociating.

Yet, the body still remembers what happened. The impact to our biology doesn’t go away just because we don’t understand or remember something. The impact is how the body keeps track of everything from out past. When we understand that our body is reacting because it is still holding onto something from the past, it can help us uncover what needs to be healed.

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk joins Dr. Aimie in this episode to explore the profound nature of trauma - how it affects the body in ways that make it keep score. He explains why trauma is not just about the events but about how those experiences become engrained in our biology, creating patterns that persist long after the danger has passed. This in turn can make trauma something that is truly "unbelievable, unbearable, and overwhelming." Our bodies are built to move when we're in danger. When we can't move during traumatic events, it changes how our brain works. This conversation looks at why this happens. It also explains how difficult experiences in childhood create patterns in our minds - like an inner roadmap - that shape how we see the world and connect with people as adults.

They’ll talk more on:

Why trauma leaves people unable to articulate their experiences
How dissociation works as a way to survive during overwhelming events
Why the lack of movement during an event is what makes it traumatic
The physical toll of living with a dysregulated nervous system
Why healing must address the basic housekeeping functions of the body
How trauma blocks our capacity to experience pleasure and worthiness
And more!

If you're working with trauma professionally, supporting someone on their healing journey, or navigating your own recovery, this episode is excellent for understanding how the body keeps score while offering practical actions to reclaim agency, embody healing, and create a life worth living through curiosity and collaboration.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

Steps to Identify and Heal Trauma: A Roadmap for Healing Trauma - Find out what trauma is, how to recognize it, and get simple steps to help you heal in this 23-page guide. It’s great for anyone who wants to understand trauma better or support others on their healing journey.
Biology of Trauma (the book) - How the Body Holds Fear, Pain, and Overwhelm, and How to Heal It. With the foreword written by Dr. Gabor Mate, it is a book intended to change the conversation about how to heal on the deepest level, not just our mind, not just our body, but also our biology. Please join me for The Insider’s Circle where you can pre-order your copy and receive monthly readings with Dr. Aimie.
Foundational Journey - If you want to be safely guided through The Essential Sequence, and lay your foundation of regulation in this online 6 week course, join me and my team of mentors for this journey into your inner world with practical somatic and parts self-practices.

Related Podcasts:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Biology Behind It: 3 Biochemistry Findings Behind Mood & Mental Health Struggles Apr 07, 2025

Are you or someone you know feeling stuck in trauma patterns despite years of therapy and personal work? In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie is answering a question about whether there might be a biological component hindering a persons attachment repair progress.

Dr. Aimie will buliding off of her conversation with Dr. Jason Loken in Episode 115. She'll be diving deeper into the 3 common biochemical imbalances that can keep people trapped in nervous system dysregulation.

You'll hear more about:

How under-methylation works and it's symptoms
How a copper excess can create a toxic environment for the nervous system and is strongly connected to postpartum anxiety and depression
How pyroluria makes the nervous system hypersensitive and reactive

Ready to discover if biochemistry might be holding back your healing journey? Listen to the full conversation with Dr. Loken on Episode 115: 3 Biochemistry Findings Behind Mood & Mental Health Struggles.

Other resources mentioned in this episode: 3 Most Common Biochemical Imbalances - Discover the common biochemical imbalances that are frequently at the core of mood and trauma patterns. Learn how these imbalances are identified and addressed to help improve emotional well-being.

The Biochemistry Behind Mood & Mental Health Struggles with Dr. Jason Loken Apr 01, 2025

Are you or those you help seemingly doing all "right things" but still feeling stuck? That competitive drive, those controlling tendencies, or that persistent anxiety might actually be rooted in our biochemistry.

In this episode, Dr. Aimie sits down with Dr. Jason Loken to explore how hidden biochemical imbalances can create patterns of depression, anxiety, and behavioral challenges that talk therapy alone cannot resolve. Dr. Loken shares how under-methylation, a copper-zinc imbalance, and pyroluria can fundamentally affect your physical and mental well-being.

They’ll also discuss why certain traits run in families, how a copper-zinc imbalance can affect postpartum mental health, and why some children struggle with focus and emotional regulation. Dr. Loken breaks down the science behind these biochemical patterns, explains how these biochemical imbalances can be identified, and shares actionable steps for addressing the root cause of these imbalances.

They’ll talk more about:

How under-methylation is connected to depression and anxiety
The behavioral traits commonly associated with under-methylation (competitiveness, control issues, obsessive compulsive tendencies, etc.)
How to properly test for methylation imbalances
How a surge in copper levels during pregnancy can lead to postpartum mood disorders
Why "managing stress better" is nearly impossible with certain imbalances
How pyroluria strips the body of key nutrients that help create the feel good chemicals like serotonin and dopamine
The connection between these biochemical imbalances and autoimmune conditions
And more!

Whether you're a practitioner looking for more comprehensive approaches to mental health, a parent concerned about your child's behavior, or someone personally struggling with persistent symptoms, this episode offers valuable insights into how balancing your biochemistry might be the key to finally feeling like yourself again.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

3 Most Common Biochemical Imbalances - Discover the common biochemical imbalances that are frequently at the core of mood and trauma patterns. Learn how these imbalances are identified and addressed to help improve emotional well-being.
Biology of Trauma (the book) - How the Body Holds Fear, Pain, and Overwhelm, and How to Heal It. Please join us in the Insider’s Circle where you can pre-order your copy and receive monthly readings with Dr. Aimie.

Related Podcasts:

Related Youtube Videos:

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Biology Behind It: The Science Behind Why We Can’t “Get Over” Loss Mar 31, 2025

Are you or someone you know struggling with the weight of grief, feeling disconnected, exhausted, or immobilized? In this short episode, Dr. Aimie will expand on her conversation with Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor from episode 114. She will dive deeper into the neurobiology of grief and its impact on the body.

You’ll hear more on:

The three survival mechanisms of grief-related trauma
Why grief can trigger overwhelming fatigue, digestive issues, and feelings of heaviness
The connection between grief, the gut, and the nervous system
Practical steps to support and repair the body during the grieving process

If grief feels unbearable, understanding the biology behind it can provide insights and strategies to support healing. If you want to learn more listen to Episode 114: The Science Behind Why We Can’t “Get Over” Loss and How to Grieve

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Biology Behind It: How Mold and Lyme Create A Sensitive and Reactive Personality Mar 30, 2025

Are you or someone you know struggling with unexplained anxiety, fatigue, or reactivity? In this short episode, Dr. Aimie dives deep into the conversation she had with Dr. Neil Nathan in episode 113 about how hidden infections like mold toxicity and Lyme disease can create a "biology of threat" within your body.

She'll explore:

How mold and Lyme can trigger physiological symptoms that mimic trauma responses
The 3 interconnected systems that keep your body in constant threat mode
Practical steps to regulate your nervous system and reduce sensitivity

Ready to learn more on how mold toxicity and Lyme disease can affect not just the body but the mind as well? Listen to Episode 113: Hidden Triggers: How Mold and Lyme Create A Sensitive and Reactive Personality with Dr. Neil Nathan

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Biology Behind It: Unlocking Your Brain’s Hidden Power Mar 29, 2025

Are you ready to unlock your brain’s hidden power? Today, Dr. Aimie will be taking a closer look at the key takeaways from her conversation with Dr. Greg Kelly. She will be going into the biology behind the brain’s capacity and what you can do to improve yours.

She’ll talk about:

Removing stressors that are taking up brain capacity
Why creating more brain capacity is key long-term
Simple tools to increase your capacity

If you want to know more about how you can reduce stressors and increase mental bandwidth, listen to Episode 111: Unlock Your Brain’s Hidden Power: Reduce Stress and Stop Burnout

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Biology Behind It: How to Reduce Brain Fog & Mental Fatigue Mar 28, 2025

Of all the different aspects of trauma biology, brain inflammation is the one that will hold you back when it comes to the therapy, trauma work and personal development you’re trying to do. In this short episode, Dr. Aimie will share her top takeaways and action steps from episode 110 with Dr. Datis Kharrazian. She’l go into the biology behind brain inflammation in therapy and trauma work.

You’ll hear more on:

How brain inflammation shuts the body down
The 3 levels that keep your body stuck
The necessary repair tools for brain inflammation

Ready to clear your mind of brain fog? Listen to Episode 110: Clear Your Mind: How to Reduce Brain Fog & Mental Fatigue

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Biology Behind It: End Your Addiction Now Mar 27, 2025

Is your biology making it easier to fall into addiction? Today, Dr. Aimie is taking a closer look at this question and other key takeaways from her conversation with the late Dr. Charles Gant around addiction.

You’ll hear more on:

Biological factors that may push someone towards addiction
The role of the freeze response in addiction
The 3 main biochemical imbalances that are seen in addiction

Want to hear more about the connection between your biology and addiction? Listen to Episode 109: End Your Addiction Now: How Pioneer Work Outperforms Traditional Treatment

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Biology Behind It: How The Body Stores Trauma in the Fascia and Lymphatic System Mar 26, 2025

Did you know your body's connective tissues might be trapping trauma and toxins? In this short episode, Dr. Aimie is sharing valuable insights from her episode with Dr. Christine Schaffner. She talks about the biology behind how trauma manifests in the body through the extracellular matrix, fascia, and lymphatic system.

You’ll hear more on:

How these connective tissues work
The healing sequence to follow to start your healing journey
Which system to address first when looking at stored trauma

If you want to more fully understand this topic, head over to Episode 108: How The Body Stores Emotional Trauma in the Fascia and Lymphatic System with Dr. Christine Schaffner

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Science Behind Why We Can't 'Get Over' Loss And How to Grieve with Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor Mar 25, 2025

“ In order to think about grief, first you have to think about love and bonding, because that is what gets lost. That is what gets broken.” Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor

Understanding why grief feels so physical, why someone still reaches for the phone to call someone who's gone, or why certain memories can trigger intense emotions years after a loss can provide valuable insight for those helping others who are experiencing grief or for those who want to know more about grief. And today, we’re diving into the neuroscience behind grief. In this episode, Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor joins Dr. Aimie to discuss how grief isn't just an emotional response but a complex learning process as our brains adapt to a fundamentally changed reality. She introduces the critical distinction between grief and grieving, highlighting how our attachment patterns influence our grief journey. Her fascinating research on yearning reveals that this powerful sensation activates the same brain regions involved with other basic survival needs, explaining why the feeling can be so intense and overwhelming

The conversation also goes into how avoidance and rumination can interfere with natural healing, and that the intensity and frequency of grief waves will change over time as part of the grieving process.

You’ll learn:

The brain regions that activate when you yearn for someone who has died
Why yearning is more like hunger or thirst than addiction
The difference between grief (response) and grieving (adaptation process)
How rumination and avoidance can interfere with natural healing
The importance of staying grounded and connected to the present
How to prepare your brain and support systems for future grief experiences
The crucial differences between depression and grief, and why they require different approaches

Whether you're currently navigating grief, supporting someone who is, or simply preparing for inevitable losses, this episode will help you understand why healing isn’t “getting over” a loss, but an ever evolving process that fundamentally changes our reality.

Connect with Dr. O’Connor: Website

Guides, Tools & Resources: The Essential Sequence - A free guide that shows you the difference between stress and trauma states of our nervous system. In just 3 steps, it walks you through what your body needs when it has stored trauma or is in a freeze response.

Foundational Journey - If you want to be safely guided through The Essential Sequence, and lay your foundation of regulation in this online 6 week course, join me and my team of mentors for this journey into your inner world with practical somatic and parts self-practices

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Comment Etiquette: I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Please share your constructive feedback by using personal name or initials so that we can keep this space spam-free, and let's keep the discussion positive!

Hidden Triggers: How Mold and Lyme Create A Sensitive and Reactive Personality with Dr. Neil Nathan Mar 18, 2025

“If you have a new onset of anxiety or depression that doesn’t even make sense to you, think of a more physical cause.” - Dr. Neil Nathan

Do you have issues with focus, concentration, or even finding the word you want to use? If so, you might be dealing with the hidden effects of mold toxicity and Lyme disease.

In this episode, Dr. Aimie sits down with Dr. Neil Nathan to discuss how mold toxicity and Lyme disease can create a "biology of threat" in the body that can trigger and maintain a state of hypervigilance and reactivity. This is not the only issue mold toxins and Lyme infections can cause. They can create unique inflammatory responses that affect the brain, nervous system, and immune function, often manifesting as unexplained anxiety, depression, cognitive issues, and physical symptoms that are often misdiagnosed as mental health disorders. Dr. Nathan also introduces "the big three" factors keeping the body stuck in threat mode: limbic activation, vagal dysregulation, and mast cell activation. He’ll share how these become dysregulated when faced with mold toxicity and Lyme disease, causing the body to shut down as a protective mechanism. This explains why you may experience seemingly inexplicable sensitivities and reactions despite doing all the "right" emotional and psychological work for trauma recovery.

Join them as they break down the science behind the body’s response to mold toxicity and Lyme disease, if it’s possible to reverse it, and actionable steps you can take to start the healing journey.

You’ll learn more about:

[05:05] How “out of the blue” anxiety, depression, or other symptoms might actually be caused by mold or Lyme
[10:00] What makes the inflammation associated with these internal stressors unique
[16:46] Why the “big three” need to be addressed together in sensitive patients
[17:38] How mold toxicity and Lyme can lead to chronic neurological and autoimmune conditions
[20:33] The internal trauma response that can be created by mold toxicity and Lyme
And more!

Dr. Neil Nathan is a Board Certified Family Physician who has been practicing medicine for over 50 years. As he studied and learned a wide variety of alternative concepts, his practice gravitated into primarily helping to diagnose and treat those patients who have not been helped by conventional medicine. He’s worked with thousands of patients with complex medical illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, mold toxicity, chronic Lyme disease, autism, and chronic pain.

Episode 106: How Mast Cell Activation, Histamines & Mold Toxicity Place You in a High-Risk Trauma Category

Guides, Tools & Resources:

The Essential Sequence - free guide that shows you the difference between stress and trauma states of our nervous system. In just 3 steps, it walks you through what your body needs when it has stored trauma or is in a freeze response.

Foundational Journey - a guided 6 week journey into your inner world with a structured sequence of somatic and parts interventions with live online classes. One of the things that happens in just the first 21 days of the Foundational Journey is that people experience a 26% decrease in daily physical pain, speaking to what Dr Schubiner was just talking about, these neural secret pains, can turn off and on, and it's not actually necessarily due to the the injury the body itself. It is a neural circuit and we’re managing the pain just by working with the nervous system, looking at the habitual component of it and continuing with essential parts work.

Connect with Dr. Neil Nathan: Website

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Comment Etiquette: I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Please share your constructive feedback by using personal name or initials so that we can keep this space spam-free, and let's keep the discussion positive!

The Survival Paradox: The Protein That Can Cause Disease & What You Can Do About It with Dr. Isaac Eliaz Mar 11, 2025

Have you ever felt like your body is stuck in survival mode, holding onto stress and tension no matter how hard you try to let it go? What if this instinct to survive is also what drives chronic inflammation, emotional pain, and even long-term illness?

Today, Dr. Isaac Eliaz joins Dr. Aimie to explore the concept of the survival paradox.This process is what keeps your body on high alert and affects everything from your energy levels to your ability to heal and can keep your body stuck in a freeze response. Together, they’ll discuss the survival paradox’s deep connection to trauma, the protein, Galactin-3, that can either drive health or inflammation, and more.

You’ll hear more about:

What the “Survival Paradox” is and how it shapes your body’s response to trauma and stress.
The connection between chronic inflammation and unresolved trauma
Simple ways to start healing your body from the inside
How acceptance can unlock your healing potential
And more!

Our guest, Dr. Isaac Eliaz, is a pioneer in integrative medicine, a world-renowned expert in trauma healing, and the author of The Survival Paradox. For decades, Dr. Eliaz has been bridging the gap between ancient healing wisdom and cutting-edge science, exploring how our biology and emotions are deeply intertwined. His work focuses on the biochemical pathways of trauma, including the role of survival proteins like galectin-3, and how they impact inflammation, healing, and overall health.

If you’ve been wanting to reduce your stress levels, overcome your chronic health issues or start healing yourself, then this episode is a must listen to! Let’s dive in!

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Clear Your Mind: How to Reduce Brain Fog & Mental Fatigue Feb 25, 2025

Have you ever felt like stress is draining your energy, focus, and resilience—no matter how much you try to manage it? What if stress isn’t just about what’s happening around you, but about how your brain and body process it behind the scenes?

In this episode, Dr. Greg Kelly joins Dr. Aimie to dive into the hidden biology of stress and uncover how it consumes your mental bandwidth, disrupts your brain’s energy supply, and impacts your ability to think clearly and recover from challenges. You’ll discover how your brain’s prediction systems influence your stress response—and, more importantly, how to work with them to prevent burnout and build lasting resilience.

Dr. Kelly is an expert in integrative and functional medicine with years of experience researching how the brain and body handle stress. He has worked extensively on strategies to enhance resilience, combining his deep knowledge of neurobiology, nutrition, and the body’s natural stress-response mechanisms.

If you’re ready to stop feeling like stress is always one step ahead of you, this conversation will give you the tools to take back control and create more space for clarity, focus, and well-being in your life.

In this episode, we will be talking about

"The last straw" concept as it relates to stress
The 2 biggest contributors to feeling stress overload (hint: it’s not physical)
Why predictability is key to managing stress levels
How building resilience starts with addressing the brain’s energy needs and reducing oxidative stress.
How the right supplements, like Ashwagandha, can support resilience and reduce stress
And more!

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Why Isn’t My Brain Working? How to Clear the Fog and Fatigue Feb 18, 2025

Are brain fog, fatigue, and mental exhaustion holding you back?

These symptoms aren’t just stress-related or signs of aging. They're often caused by hidden brain inflammation! In this episode, my guest, Dr. Datis Kharrazian, and I discuss neuroinflammation – What it is, what causes it, and how it affects brain function, mood, and overall health.

You’ll discover how factors like stress, diet, gut health, and past head injuries contribute to brain inflammation and what you can do to reduce it. You’ll learn practical lifestyle changes, nutrition tips, and brain-boosting strategies to improve focus, energy, and mental clarity.

You’ll hear more on:

How brain inflammation starts—and why it’s often caused by everyday factors like stress, diet, or past injuries
What you can do to calm inflammation naturally, including dietary changes, supplements, and specific lifestyle shifts
Why understanding your triggers —from food sensitivities to emotional stress — is the key to protecting your brain from long-term damage
How to optimize your brain health using tools like intermittent fasting, anti-inflammatory diets, and proper sleep routines

Whether you’ve experienced brain fog, recovering from an injury, or just want to preserve your brain function for the future, this episode will give you the tools and knowledge to take control of your brain health!

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

End Your Addiction Now: How Pioneer Work Outperforms Traditional Treatment Feb 11, 2025

Is our biology predisposing us to addictive tendencies?

Addiction isn’t just about willpower—it’s deeply rooted in biology. Today, we dive into how our own biology can make it easier to fall into an addiction and make it harder to break free. Why is that though? Because it gives us leverage points to both prevent or treat addictions.

Similar to trying to treat trauma just with therapy and not including the biology, addictions is a mind-body and biology condition and will require such an approach for the best outcomes.

The late Dr. Charles Gant, who was our guest for this episode, achieved an 83% success rate in addiction recovery—far surpassing conventional methods that have less than a 50% success rate. By targeting neurotransmitter imbalances, detoxifying the body, and optimizing nutrition, his method offers a revolutionary path to true healing beyond traditional treatment.

To honor him, this conversation highlights his outstanding efforts in understanding and overcoming addiction.

You’ll learn more about:

Why relapse is more often a result of unaddressed biological imbalances
How genetic vulnerabilities and neurotransmitter deficiencies contribute to addiction and coping patterns
What you can do to naturally to improve mood and focus
How detoxification can accelerate recovery and create long-term healing

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How Your Body Stores Emotional Trauma in the Fascia and Lymphatic System with Christine Schaffner Feb 04, 2025

How does trauma impact the “hidden spaces” of our body, making emotions and toxins deeply connected?

Welcome to today's episode, where we're diving into a fascinating frontier of healing that might just explain why traditional approaches to trauma and chronic pain sometimes fall short.

Whether you're a practitioner working with clients or patients or someone on your own healing journey, you've likely noticed that trauma and stress seem to leave their mark on the body in ways that talk therapy alone can't always reach. Maybe you've experienced or witnessed how emotional stress shows up as physical pain, or how physical treatments sometimes trigger unexpected emotional releases.

There's a reason for this, and one reason lives in a part of your body that, until recently, has been largely overlooked: fascia and extracellular matrix.

Don't worry if these terms are new to you – we're going to break down these complex systems into practical understanding that you can use. What's exciting is that this knowledge bridges the gap between physical and emotional healing.

To help us understand this topic, I’m joined by my friend Dr. Christine Schaffner, a board-certified naturopathic physician and an expert in treating complex chronic conditions from her clinic in Seattle, where she uses innovative therapies that focus on the body’s natural ability to heal.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

How trauma is stored in the fascia and extracellular matrix
How fascia impacts everything from chronic pain to emotional resilience
Why lymphatic health needs to be part of trauma recovery
Why a detox can cause emotional reactions
How to safely approach detox
Practical simple steps to support your body’s healing process that you can do at home.

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Invisible Adoption and Attachment Pain: When High Achievement Masks Childhood Wounds with JJ Virgin Jan 28, 2025

What are common beliefs we form about ourselves that leave us unable to connect, trust and receive love later as adults?

Have you ever wondered why success doesn't automatically translate to feeling fulfilled?

Or why, despite all our achievements, there's still that nagging feeling that we need to prove ourselves? Today's episode sharing an adoption story might just explain why.

Today, JJ Virgin joins me to share a deeply personal story that is part of her reason for her remarkable professional success. In this episode, JJ talks openly about the challenges of growing up feeling like she had to rely only on herself, how those feelings drove her to professional success, and the breakthroughs she’s experienced that have helped her heal old wounds, become a proud mom and find love.

Yet, this conversation isn’t just for those who have been adopted— though it will help you understand yourself better if you have and help you understand anyone in your life who has been. Rather, this episode is about recognizing the unconscious pain that we carry from our childhood.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How early experiences shape our beliefs about love, trust, and self-worth
The conundrum of relying only on ourselves
Simple ways to build trust when we haven’t been able to trust others
How to better support those in your life who have a history of being adopted

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How Mast Cell Activation, Histamines & Mold Toxicity Place You in a High-Risk Trauma Category with Beth O'Hara Jan 21, 2025

Have you ever wondered why you are so reactive - to people, foods, smells, sounds and stress - while other people around you seem completely fine?

You are going in overdrive or even going into overwhelm, and think you just must be having a bad day or looking for what triggered you.

The answer might surprise you. A specific cell of your immune system, mast cells, could be actually causing trauma responses in your body, putting you into emotional states, that have less to do with the people around you and more with a compound those cells release, histamine.

Today we're tackling a commonly overlooked underlying reason for anxiety. We will be answering the question, How do mast cell activation and mold toxicity keep us stuck in our responses and triggers to trauma?

Before we dive in, I want to dedicate this episode to the loving memory of our guest Beth O'Hara, who passed away in July 2024.

Beth was a pioneering functional naturopath who transformed countless lives through her work with Mast Cell 360, helping people understand and heal from complex cases of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), mold toxicity, and related conditions. She was a friend to me and I am sad to not have more time and conversations with her.

In this episode, you'll discover:

How to recognize if histamine is driving your anxiety
Why mold exposure can keep your body stuck in trauma responses long after exposure
How mast cells bridge your immune system and emotional overwhelm
Why and how mast cells will block your ability to create inner safety
Practical tools to decrease reactivity and build resilience

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How Anxiety, Depression & Trauma Reactions May Be From Mold and Heavy Metals with Kirkland Newman Jan 14, 2025

How does mold and stored trauma in the body create a feedback cycle that makes us susceptible to the other?

Studies are confirming that common mental health symptoms, like depression and anxiety, are associated with brain inflammation. I want to share with you some two often overlooked sources of brain inflammation and emotional fragility, toxins from mold exposure and Lyme infection. More importantly, the feedback cycle that they create with stored trauma in the body.

This is important because we have a mental health crisis with unprecedented numbers of anxiety, depression and related effects like, burnout. While we usually assume a person, place or situation is causing us stress, we want to consider the increasing amount of mold exposure and undetected chronic Lyme disease. Many are unaware of the association between the two and without knowing to investigate, get on a recommended mood and sleep medications that cause problems and are difficult to get off of later, and are addressing the real problem.

My good friend Kirkland Newman, is my guest for this episode. She is a journalist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, who faced postpartum depression and couldn’t find answers in the traditional healthcare approach. So she did her own research and created Mindhealth 360 an integrative Mental Health website to be a resource on information for others also trying to find mental health solutions.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How trauma responses from adverse childhood events cause brain inflammation
How brain inflammation can pre-dispose you to a long-haul syndrome with mold or Lyme
What mold does to our nervous system to lead to anxiety and depression
How we might know if we have mold or Lyme toxins
How to approach our trauma work or therapy when we also have mold or Lyme
The different modalities we want to integrate for therapy

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How Trauma Fuels Addiction & The 4 Pillars for Recovery with Joe Polish Jan 07, 2025

Have you ever wondered if you have an addiction? Maybe you have openly struggled with one or know someone with one?

As an addiction medicine physician, there are more people than the studies estimate who live with an addiction, either because they don’t know yet or because no one is asking them the questions to have it be documented.

People pull me aside at social events and want to ask me if they have an addiction to their prescription pills for sleep, anxiety or pain or to things like work, exercise and adrenaline.

I wanted to share this specific episode on addiction and its antidote connection because the risk for addictions is higher than ever.

Our modern world - with increased isolation, social media dependency, and decreased authentic community - creates conditions that make addiction more likely. The increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and overwhelm in our society mean more people are vulnerable to using addictive behaviors as coping mechanisms. In fact, it is a hidden epidemic. Many people are "functional addicts" without recognizing it because society normalizes various addictive behaviors. This makes it critical for each of us to understand the underlying patterns that drive addiction. Whether it is to be mindful of our own vulnerability or to navigate recovery with better success than the traditional approaches, addiction is something we all need to understand now.

I'm honored to share a powerful conversation with Joe Polish, founder of Genius Network® and Genius Recovery. Joe's journey from nearly losing everything to addiction to becoming one of the world's most connected entrepreneurs offers hope and practical wisdom for anyone touched by addiction - whether personally or through loved ones. We will be answering the question, “How does creating genuine connection and safety accelerate healing from addiction?”

In this episode, you'll discover:

How addiction is a survival strategy to disconnect from the pain of stored trauma in the body
The four essential pillars for sustainable recovery: community, biochemistry, environment, and trauma work
Why unlearning harmful patterns is often more important than learning new ones
Practical tools to move from shame into courage
How to build genuine connections that will buffer us from an addiction and support long-term healing for those in recovery

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Addiction & 6-Step Felt Sense Polyvagal Plan to Revolutionize Traditional Treatment with Janet Winhall Dec 31, 2024

What does it mean that our behaviors, conscious and unconscious, serve as state propellers, actually giving us exactly what we need in the moment, whether energy or numbing and disconnecting?

By answering this question in this episode, you will not only come to understand yourself better, and why you reach for that second or third cup of coffee or binge watch T.V. shows, but it will give you new eyes to understand addictions and their recovery. It will be a window into your own inner world and felt sense of safety or danger.

We will explore emotional regulation and the states of the nervous system through the lens of addictions. One of the reasons I chose to become an addiction medicine physician was because of what I would be able to learn about trauma and the nervous system, and how the body adapts to survive and function despite inner pain.

That is why it was important for me to bring you this episode with my friend and guest, Dr. Janet Winhall, an author, teacher and psychotherapist. Author of ‘Treating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why current pathologizing model for treating trauma and addiction is failing
The important distinction between neuroception and interoception
How behaviors and substances can be state regulation strategies
Why it’s important to include body-mind connection in addiction recovery treatment
How to connect with your body and allow yourself to feel without numbing or disassociating
How chronic conditions may be treated with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model
Practical strategies on how to apply the Felt Sense practice in everyday life

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Strategies for Empaths: How to Navigate Sensory Overload, Shame & Trauma with Dr. Judith Orloff Dec 17, 2024

Why are empaths more susceptible to experiencing trauma than most?

Are you a sensitive person? Are you an empath with a more sensitive and perceptive system?

What is happening is that our nervous system is more sensitive, receiving information that others don’t, feeling things that others don’t, which means having an uncontrollable body response to imperceptible changes in the environment.

Like being in a noisy crowd and not able to turn it off, our sensitivity can lead to overwhelm. Which leads to the hard truth, while being sensitive may be a superpower sometimes, it more often than not is overwhelming for our system and causes a trauma response in our body. Pretty soon we can be having emotional meltdowns, or physical health symptoms that are embarrassing or ones that we think are random.

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Judith Orloff to explore the ways in which this can lead to a greater susceptibility to trauma, as well as how to embrace the unique gifts that heightened sensitivity brings.

Dr. Orloff is a UCLA trained psychiatrist and has been called “the godmother of the empath movement”. She synthesizes traditional medicine with cutting-edge knowledge of intuition, energy, and spirituality, and believes in the power of integrating this wisdom.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why highly sensitive people are more prone to trauma
The different types of overwhelming situations an empath might encounter
The hidden needs of empaths
Why empaths are more vulnerable to physical health symptoms
How this level of sensitivity can actually be a superpower
Practical strategies for empaths, like sensory inventories and boundary setting, to not just survive but thrive

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Brain Inflammation: Addressing The Overlooked Gatekeeper To Trauma Release with. Dr Austin Perlmutter Dec 10, 2024

What can we do about the brain inflammation that holds us back in fog, fatigue and trauma responses?

To help answer that question and share brain inflammation with you is my guest, Dr. Austin Perlmutter, is a board-certified internal medicine physician, New York Times bestselling author, published researcher, and the executive director for Big Bold Health, a food-as-medicine company focused on helping people rejuvenate health through better immune function.

In the evolving field of trauma therapy, we're increasingly recognizing that healing isn't just about processing memories or changing thought patterns. The application of The Biology of Trauma lens is that it is just as much about addressing the impact trauma has had on our biology, which now keeps us stuck in our trauma responses.

One crucial aspect of this biological impact is brain inflammation. It is one of the most common yet most overlooked gatekeepers of trauma healing. Brain inflammation creates many of the symptoms that people attach to their trauma responses, yet often is what is triggering those trauma responses. Yes, you heard me right. It is not just people, places that can trigger our trauma response. It is also a specific immune cell in our brain - microglia.

In this episode, you’ll learn why:

Good insights from therapy seem to fade by the next day
Small stresses feel overwhelming to your brain
What you eat affects how well you can process emotions
Relationship conflicts leave you mentally exhausted
Your diet can dysregulate you just as much as your partner
Your mind feels clearer in nature than in therapy

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

3 Power Stories: How to Reclaim Your Mental & Physical Health Through Biology of TraumaⓇ with Dr. Aimie Apigian Dec 03, 2024

As you know, this is a very special episode. We're both at the two year anniversary and the 100th podcast episode, and what a milestone. I'm even surprised and shocked at how much content I've been able to put out into the world through this podcast, and I'm very grateful and humbled and honored that I get to do that.

To celebrate this special episode, I wanted to bring in some amazing women around the world who have really been doing this inner journey and work with their nervous system. And I invited these three because they are both so unique and different from each other, and yet, they've all had incredible shifts and insights as they have learned about their nervous system and learned how to work with it, develop a very different relationship with their body and have tools for repair that has allowed them to experience more regulation in their life, and we're going to hear about how that's opened things up for them.

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Stress In The Body: Trauma-Informed Medicine & Why Dysregulation Should Be Included In Every Assessment with Dr. Jorina Elbers Nov 26, 2024

Why should medicine consider trauma as a diagnosis of inclusion and not just when nothing else is found wrong?

The failure to recognize and treat the stored trauma that drives many patients' health challenges has profound and far-reaching consequences. It perpetuates a cycle of ineffective care. It worsens patient outcomes and undermines the overall effectiveness of the healthcare system. As a medical physician and also one who has been this type of patient, this episode and the Trauma-Informed Medicine Project coming out of this was really important to me.

One of the key problems is that trauma manifests in diverse ways across multiple bodily systems, making it difficult to identify as the common thread. Patients may present with a range of symptoms such as migraines, chronic pain, digestive issues, sleep problems, and mood disorders.

Rather than recognizing these as interconnected signs of nervous system dysregulation stemming from trauma, the medical system often compartmentalizes the symptoms, referring patients to various specialists to treat each one in isolation. This leads to a "medical merry-go-round" where patients bounce from one provider to the next, undergoing test after test, without ever getting to the root of their issues.

Which is why I bring in Dr. Jorina Elbers, a board certified physician in neurology with a masters in epidemiology and former assistant professor and pediatric neurologist at Stanford University. She has authored over 25 research articles and book chapters, and really focuses on what's going on in the nervous system in regards to stress and trauma and how to recognize it. She is currently the director of the Trauma Recovery Project at the Heart Math Institute and runs her own trauma sensitive neurology clinic.

In this episode, you will hear Dr. Elbers journey of how she discovered the critical link between trauma, stress, and neurological disorders. You will hear how she started asking better questions of her patients, uncovering stories of family trauma from her patients and just what to do especially when labs and tests show nothing wrong.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to ask better questions that lead to discovering the true causes behind seemingly inexplicable diagnoses
What tools can healthcare practitioners integrate into consultations to uncover patient’s trauma history and why this is so important
The importance of including trauma in differential diagnoses, especially when conventional medical tests don’t reveal a clear cause.
How to move away from treating symptoms on a neurotransmitter level and into treating the whole nervous system
The autonomic nervous system and heart rate variability
Medical trauma from procedures and treatments that actually contribute further to symptoms and chronic conditions

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Survival Mechanisms: How Early Attachment Trauma Shapes Your Breathing & Behavior Patterns with Dr. Aimie Apigian Nov 19, 2024

In this episode, I want to teach on an important topic that is either commonly misunderstood or just missed, muscle bracing patterns that have their origins in our attachment style.

I am teaching on how to recognize attachment bracing adaptations to answer the one question How does our attachment create bracing patterns in our body to protect us from pain?

This is important because these same bracing patterns will affect both our breath and our freeze response - our shut down in the face of certain emotions.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to recognise bracing patterns
Which emotions bracing helps protect us from
How bracing patterns developed during our attachment years to protect our physiology
How bracing patterns affect the breath
The relationship between bracing patterns and the freeze response

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

A Gut Stuck In Survival Mode: Restoring Gut Microbiome Balance With Nervous System Regulation with Steven Wright Nov 12, 2024

How do we restore the gut microbiome that has been affected by trauma, stress and nervous system dysregulation?

In this episode, we’ll focus on how we can get our gut and nervous system back into a space where they can feel safe enough to relax and process the trauma and stress our body is carrying.

Steven Wright is my guest for this episode. Because of his story and life experience with trauma, stress and nervous system dysregulation since infancy affecting his gut, he has had to learn solutions to fight for his health. He is truly a health engineer to understand nervous system and gut connection and solutions. and founded a business based on what he has learned.

I really wanted to have Steven on because he really had to go to a deeper level than most have ever needed to in order to find solutions for a gut impacted by trauma and nervous system dysregulation. Being born with a birth defect that resulted in something called visceral hypersensitivity, he has experienced anxiety, panic attacks and depression, obesity and IBS… and is here to share his story and what he learned that can help us with our gut and nervous system connection.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How early life experiences program survival mechanisms into our nervous system
How those survival programs become health dysfunctions
The 3 nutrients that are power houses for the gut-nervous system connection
The optimal ways, types and dosages for the body to absorb these supplements properly
Why you still may be struggling with gut issues despite a clean diet
How to choose properly functioning digestive enzymes

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Pain as Protection: Why Your Body Creates Chronic Pain & The 3 Questions to Ask to Release It with Georgie Oldfield Nov 05, 2024

Does the overwhelm and experience of trauma create a pre-existing state in our nervous system that sets the stage for chronic pain conditions?

In this episode, we will be talking about chronic pain as a message from our body. Part of an unconscious protective response learned by nerve pathways rather than a physical abnormality.

While chronic pain can be traced back to an injury or event, the science suggests chronic pain is caused by our brain’s attempt to protect us from unbearable emotions. In fact, this purpose of protection is at the root of many common complaints, including back pain, sciatica, migraines, fibromyalgia and many other symptoms.

I have an incredible guest for this episode, Georgie Odlfield, a physiotherapist and chronic pain specialist, who has been a real leader in this space. Georgie is a TEDx speaker and the author of Chronic Pain: Your Key to Recovery. She is a woman, steady and strong in her leadership in trauma-informed care for chronic pain.

I first came across her work when I sought out training in psychosomatic medicine while in preventive medicine residency. I had just switched out of general surgery and knew that I wanted to lean in more into the root cause of conditions that I had only previously been taught to treat with a pill or surgery. This is how I came across these leaders in the space, and have been happy to see Georgie provide such value and community for those with chronic pain and practitioners who work with chronic pain.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How chronic ongoing pain or recurring symptoms can actually be neuroplastic mind body symptoms
How to ask questions that will help you get to the root of your chronic pain symptoms and release them
Why somebody is more likely to develop chronic pain after having an acute injury and the predisposing factors for this
How chronic pain can be the body’s protective response to keep us from falling apart emotionally
How to communicate with your body, and not just hear but also understand the answers it’s giving you

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Trauma and Toxins: Methylation & Unblocking Your Body's Detoxification Pathways with Dr. Albert Mensah Oct 28, 2024

Does trauma affect our methylation process and our body's capacity to detox?

Trauma doesn't just live in our minds; it resides in our cells, influencing fundamental biological processes. One of these processes is detoxification, our body's natural ability to eliminate harmful substances. When trauma is stored in the body, it affects the biology of our detoxification pathways, making it harder for us to rid ourselves of toxins.

A build-up of toxins can impede our progress in trauma therapy and healing. It's a two-way street: trauma affects our ability to detoxify, and toxins affect our ability to process and release trauma.

I am very excited about our guest today since he has been a leader in implementing mental health nutrition at the clinical level. It is hard to be a leader, and I want to acknowledge the effort he has put in to create a different experience for his patients.

Albert Mensah has been a family practice physician for over twenty years now. He received his medical degree from Finch University of Health Sciences, Chicago Medical School, and then completed his residency at Swedish Covenant, leading him to follow a very different path than conventional medical, making his approach to body and biochemical imbalances very unique.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The science behind trauma-toxin connection and provide practical insights on what to do about it
Learn to recognize methylation imbalances and its health issues
Understand how to support your body's detox pathways
Learn nutritional and diet tools

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Nutrition for Trauma Recovery: 3 Superfoods To Calm Adrenaline & Anxiety with Luis Mojica Oct 22, 2024

How can we better manage anxiety by decreasing adrenaline levels through our food and eating habits?

In this episode, we will be talking about the major hormone of stress and trauma - adrenaline. This episode will help you better understand the important role of adrenaline in stress, dsyregulation and stored trauma. Moreover, it will give you knowledge of how to learn more about your adrenaline levels based on your eating habits and the nutritional tools for balancing adrenaline.

My good friend Luis Mojica, a somatic therapist, nutritionist and a musician is my guest for this episode.

Like me, he started noticing how his biology and nutrition were affecting somatic work, got curious and started asking questions and testing his theories on himself.

Luis came into this work through personal experience, having endured a lot of relational trauma in his personal life, he realized he used to binge eat thousands of calories in one sitting just to suppress his anxiety and social fear, until one day, by mistake, he played the guitar.

This is when he discovered co-regulation and parasympathetic response, and he set off to research other modalities that could also create the same feeling of safety and was led to the type of trauma work he does now.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

To track cravings back to childhood when we used food for internal regulation
How eating certain types of foods can help us metabolize adrenaline
How compulsive eating helps us regulate our nervous system
What foods lead to experiencing perceived threats and chronic PTSD because of their effect on the adrenal glands
How can we metabolize excess adrenaline using food
Somatic practices that can help with accessing stored trauma in our stomach, managing cravings and digestive issues

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Is Lithium the Answer to a Regulated Nervous System, Depression & Addiction Treatment? with Dr. James Greenblatt Oct 15, 2024

Can lithium influence nervous system dysregulation?

In this episode, we are looking at lithium’s role on the nervous system. You will find that it needs to be central to the conversation for mental health, addiction, and the trauma healing journey, particularly its stabilizing effects on the nervous system.

I have brought in a guest whose work I have high respect for and helped me see the possibilities beyond mood medications for myself. Dr. James Greenblatt has been in clinical practice since 1988 and is the founder and pioneer in the field of integrative and functional psychiatry.

In this episode, you’ll learn the role of lithium in helping a dysregulated nervous system become more flexible, regulated and stable:

Lithium's role in impulsivity
The interface between lithium and the immune system
The use of lithium for depression, suicidal thoughts and addiction
Why you should understand your family’s mental health history prior to considering lithium treatment
What other symptoms might indicate the need for a lithium treatment
How lithium interacts with other minerals like copper and zinc

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How Chaos of Early Childhood Trauma Affects Our Adult Nervous System with Dr. Tian Dayton Oct 08, 2024

Does growing up in chaos impact our nervous systems even as adults?

In this episode, we are looking at early childhood dynamics and how it’s expressed in adulthood through unconscious behaviors and coping mechanisms.

I have brought in a guest who is especially dear to my heart and has played a very significant and pivotal role in my own journey. Dr. Tian Dayton specializes in addiction and trauma, especially when it comes to speaking to the adult child of an alcoholic.

Dr. Dayton is also a leading voice in psychodrama, and she has a very incredible way of combining movement and the body with it, which gives her patients the opportunity to access different times in their past, be able to role play with them and give them a voice that they did not have before.

In this episode you'll learn:

The kind of coping mechanisms we develop in response to early trauma
The importance of integrating movement and emotional expression in therapy
The importance of physical touch and intimacy in early childhood development
How perceived sense of danger can lead to a collapse in the nervous system
What kind of environments provide the structure needed for trauma resolution

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

The Neuroscience of Chronic Pain: How Our Brain Predicts And Creates A Biology of Pain with Dr. Howard Schubiner Oct 01, 2024

What 2 Neuroscience Features Will Reinforce chronic pain and make it habitual?

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Howard Schubiner, board certified in pediatrics, adolescent medicine, internal medicine and a leading voice in the mind body medicine field.

We’ll be discussing how the brain regulates and generates a wide range of chronic symptoms, from pain to fatigue to anxiety and how to understand when these symptoms are mind-body related.

His research and clinical experience led him to develop therapies that help to effectively "unlearn" these chronic symptoms by addressing the underlying neural circuits and emotional factors driving these psychophysiological conditions.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Predictive processing and the brain’s role in chronic pain
The role of emotional injuries and neural circuit pain in chronic conditions
How pain can become habitual and reinforced by fear and conditioned responses
Why you should treat the brain like a child and the principle of graded exposure
How Internal Family Systems can be used to address fear and anger towards sensations and pain

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Beyond Talk Therapy: The Biochemical Basis of Behavior & Changing Our Responses with Dr. Robert Lustig Sep 20, 2024

How can we change our biochemistry to change our trauma responses?

In this episode, we are looking at thoughts and behavior through hormones, metabolism and biochemistry.

I have brought in a distinguished guest, Dr. Robert Lustig, a pioneering neuroendocrinologist. A neuroendocrinologist is someone who studies and works with the intersection of the nervous system with the endocrine system, or hormones. His work has been instrumental in understanding metabolic disorders and their role in stress and mood.

He had a big influence on me as I came into functional medicine in search of answers for my own health issues during my surgery residency. His work on metabolic chronic health issues, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, was fascinating, especially coming in with my background, with a Masters degree in biochemistry. It helped to make sense of what I was experiencing in my own physiology, health and mood at the time.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Whether the global epidemic of chronic health problems are a result of separate issues or part of a single larger root issue in our stress resilience and physiology.
The four "brakes" of the amygdala in fear conditioning
How our metabolism influences serotonin and our stress and mood regulation
The intersection of our metabolism, cortisol, and insulin on depression
How our thoughts and actions are created at the cellular level by biochemistry and proteins

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Tapping, EFT and Energetic Boundaries For Inner Child and Trauma Recovery with Jennifer Partridge Sep 13, 2024

How can tapping on specific points on the body help regulate the autonomic nervous system and promote holistic wellness?

I'm really excited for this episode because we're talking about acupuncture and meridian points on our body as a tool to work with our trauma.

We're going to hear the powerful story of Jennifer Partridge, a friend of mine, who found EFT tapping and it changed her life and helped to reverse her colitis. The outcome was so profound that she made it her life's purpose to empower others through tapping and the gift of emotional mastery that it brings.

Jennifer is a world renowned tapping expert, author and speaker. Not only will she explain how to use tapping to reduce physical symptoms and relax the nervous system, but she'll also explain how she uses tapping to enliven the system and tap into your purpose.

In this episode, you will learn about:

The possibilities with tapping and reducing various physical health problems
How to integrate Chinese medicine, energy healing and Western medicine
How trauma affects the autonomic nervous system and why this leads to chronic health issues
Methods to create a safe environment that allow us to access and work through buried traumas
How tapping techniques can help with inner child work
Understand the importance of setting energetic boundaries to prevent the absorption of others’ stress and emotions

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Authenticity & Somatic Experiencing: How to Access Deeper Intimacy After Trauma with Dr. Peter Levine Sep 06, 2024

How can authenticity help us heal from trauma and achieve deeper, more intimate relationships?

Dr. Aimie Apigian is joined by Dr. Peter Levine, the pioneer of Somatic Experiencing, to discuss how trauma disrupts our connection to our authentic selves, which in turn affects our ability to form deep, meaningful relationships. Together, they will explain how we can begin to restore deep intimacy and connection with others through the practice of somatic healing. Allowing for genuine intimacy and presence in our lives after having experienced trauma.

In this episode, you will learn about:

How trauma disrupts our authentic self and impacts our relationships
The significance of authenticity and human connection when it comes to healing this trauma
How to achieve greater intimacy through authenticity
How a dysregulated nervous system impacts our ability to achieve our goals and strategies how to manage this
The connection between the flow state and authenticity
The importance of authenticity and self-awareness in personal growth

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Hidden Triggers For Insomnia & Solutions For a Stressed Subconscious Nervous System with Dr. Michael Breus Aug 30, 2024

How does unresolved trauma disrupt our sleep patterns, and what can we do about it?

I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Michael Breus, a double board-certified clinical psychologist and clinical sleep specialist. We’ll be discussing the profound effects of trauma on our sleep, exploring how our nervous system processes life experiences and their lasting impact on our rest. Dr. Breus will explain how trauma can disrupt sleep patterns, examine unique case studies from his practice and explore practical solutions for overcoming these challenges.

In this episode, you will learn about:

How past traumas continue to affect sleep long after the event
The importance of a felt sense of safety for falling asleep
The link between freeze response, escapism and sleep and how to stop numbing in order to sleep
How to discover your chronotype and improve your sleep cycle based on it
How nightmares prevent emotional processing and how dream therapy can help individuals work through trauma
How trauma can make us feel 'wired and tired'
2 practical techniques for calming the mind and body before sleep

For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Is Trauma Genetic or Epigenetic? Insights with Dr. Bruce Lipton Aug 23, 2024

What is the role of genes and epigenetics in trauma at the cellular level?

Joining us today is none other than Dr. Bruce Lipton, an internationally recognized leader in bridging science and spirit. Dr. Lipton will share his pioneering insights into how our perceptions and environment can reshape our biological responses, especially regarding trauma and together we’ll explore the foundational concepts of epigenetics, the role of the environment in gene expression, and how our consciousness plays a crucial role in trauma development.

In this episode, you will learn about:

Do genes or environment determine our cellular behavior
How identical cells in different environments perform
How positive or negative thoughts alter the chemical composition of our blood
How chronic trauma affects our epigenetics making us more susceptible to diseases
The cause of cancer through the eyes of epigenetics and
Practical tools to apply the principles of epigenetics and consciousness to your life to promote an innate state of healing

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Stress & Freeze Response: How to Achieve & Sustain High Performance with Olympian Louise Tjernqvist Aug 16, 2024

How can we effectively harness our stress response and work with our freeze response to achieve sustained, high and healthy performance?

Our focus today is on Olympian level of performance. In a world that gives us the message that we need to manage our stress, actually, that may not be what we want to do. We are going to look at our stress physiology through the lens of high performance, because let’s face it, trauma work and personal development can be like Olympian performance for us. It’s hard, it’s long, and we want to know how to use our stress response to help us accomplish the changes we want in our life.

In this episode, you will learn:

The 2 important measures of performance: activation physiology and recovery capacity
The importance of mastering both stress activation and recovery
The role of routines and biological rhythms in optimizing performance
Overcoming the guilt and discomfort associated with taking time to rest
How the messages behind physical health symptoms like shingles or adrenal fatigue are not messages just of stress and what those messages are
What relationship you need to have with your freeze response for optimal performance
Techniques to increase your ability to handle high-stress situations without compromising your well-being

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Cellular Resilience And Post-Traumatic Growth with Ari Whitten Aug 09, 2024

How can we build resilience to stress and trauma at a physiological level in addition to psychological level?

I am joined by Ari Witten, a natural health expert and founder of The Energy Blueprint. Ari is the best-selling author of "The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy" and "Eat for Energy: How to Beat Fatigue and Supercharge Your Mitochondria for All-Day Energy." With a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, certifications in corrective exercise and performance enhancement, and extensive graduate-level training in clinical psychology and human nutrition, Ari brings a wealth of knowledge on human energy optimization. His expertise in cellular processes and physiological resilience is unparalleled.

In this episode, we will explore:

Whether physiological resilience is actually more important than psychological resilience
How trauma responses occur not just on a psychological level, but also on a cellular and mitochondrial level
The difference between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic growth
Can the right amount of stress actually build resilience instead of breaking us down
How your environment and lifestyle factors affect trauma and resilience
Practical strategies to enhance physiological resilience, including regular exposure to manageable stressors like exercise, sun exposure, and cold plunging

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Breaking Free: How to Get Out of the Stress-Trauma Cycle by Using the Science of Anxiety with Emma McAdams Aug 02, 2024

Is it possible to use our anxiety as a way to help us?

In this episode, I am joined by Emma McAdams, a licensed marriage and family therapist who has worked in settings such as juvenile corrections, adventure therapy programs, high schools, and wilderness therapy programs. Together, we will discuss the difference between stress and anxiety, why anxiety actually isn’t a bad thing, and what to do when you start to feel anxiety in your body. You’ll hear more about:

The behavioral patterns at the root of anxiety
The different forms of avoidance and how they contribute to anxiety
What’s actually causing your anxiety (hint: it’s not the TRIGGER!)
How to know you are being affected by hidden anxiety
The kinds of messages that you can get from anxiety
What to do if you wake up in the middle of the night and feel anxious
And more!

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Using Biological Rhythms to Recover From Trauma with Dr. Leslie Korn Jul 26, 2024

How can we use the body’s natural biological rhythms to recover from trauma?

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Leslie Korn, a clinical fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard University. She has been in private practice for 40 years, integrating psychotherapy and integrative medicine. Together we will discuss awareness and effective utilization of the body’s natural rhythms, such as circadian rhythm, digestive rhythm, and sleep rhythm. This episode helps us understand that trauma disrupts our biological rhythms, and aligning with them is part of the trauma healing journey.

You’ll also hear more about:

What happens to the body’s biological rhythms after trauma
How natural rhythms can be used for trauma recovery
The role of allostatic overload in trauma
A big missing piece in trauma recovery we need to bring back in
Which rhythm we can utilize that is more effective than antidepressants
The important rhythm of relationships and community
And more!

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Trauma, Toxins and Autoimmunity: Simple Solutions To Prevent Or Reverse with Dr. Tom O'Bryan Jul 19, 2024

If you have had trauma, early life trauma, what should you know about decreasing your risk for autoimmunity?

I have a distinguished guest for this episode, a leading expert in functional medicine, Dr. Tom O'Bryan, who holds teaching positions with the Institute of Functional Medicine and the National University of Health Sciences. Often referred to as the Sherlock Holmes for chronic disease, Dr. O'Bryan is a chiropractor who has dedicated his career to uncovering the underlying mechanisms that trigger immune responses.

What you will learn in this episode:

The science of autoimmunity and dysregulated immune responses
The influence of environmental toxins after trauma for the risk of autoimmunity
The significance of predictive autoimmunity and early detection
The role of you gut microbiome in regulating inflammation
Whether you need to eat organic or not for decreasing your autoimmune risk
Practical steps and specific changes to make today to prevent or reverse autoimmunity after a history of trauma

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Why We Choose and Stay in Unhealthy Relationships After Complex Trauma with Dr. Frank Anderson Jul 12, 2024

How do our early experiences shape our ability to love, be loved and feel loved?

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Frank Anderson, a Harvard trained psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and author of To Be Loved, a memoir of his upbringing and life, Transcending Trauma, and coauthor of the Internal Family Systems training manual. Together we will discuss the relational trauma of not feeling loved in our early life, our own self-love, receiving love, and giving love to others.

You’ll also hear more about:

How trauma blocks love
The different types of trauma we can experience as children
How attachment trauma is related to neglect, not just abuse
The importance of distinguishing between attachment and connection
Why it can feel unsafe to connect with others authentically
Two reasons why it will feel dangerous to feel good after early relational trauma
Why we stay in unhealthy relationships
And more!

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How Chronic Health Challenges and Your Work Impact Each Other with Sally Riggs Jun 28, 2024

Is your health impacting the way you show up for work?

In this episode, I am joined by Sally Riggs, an entrepreneur, psychologist, and COVID long-haul coach. Together, we’ll discuss the interconnectedness of work and health and the strategies and principles you can use to keep going when your body is struggling with long-term health issues.

You’ll hear more about:

The impact chronic health challenges have on work and how work impacts health
Using polyvagal theory to optimize your work and health
The most common mistake made when working with the nervous system to improve health and work
The #1 component for a business and what can sabotage it
What will prevent your business from making a bigger impact in the lives of others
How hidden emotions can negatively impact your work and health
And more!

How to Transform Yourself During Grief by Empowering Others with Melissa Dlugolecki Jun 21, 2024

How do we navigate the hidden challenges that can arise when experiencing grief?

Today, I am joined by Melissa Dlugolecki, a mother who lost her daughter at around 4 months of age. In the episode, Melissa shares the journey of losing her daughter, the surprising challenges that popped up during her grief journey, and how she’s been able to get emotionally where she is today.

You’ll hear more on:

Navigating grief as a family
Hidden dangers that can occur in relationships while navigating grief
The role of community in grieving
What it looks like to be committed to our grief
Rebuilding your world after a life-changing loss
How to prevent getting stuck in grief
Finding purpose after pain
And more!

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

The Effects of Relational Adaptations From Insecure Attachment Styles with Dr. Diane Poole-Heller Jun 14, 2024

Are your attachment pains and patterns impacting not only your relationships, but also your nervous system and overall health?

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Diane Poole-Heller, an internationally recognized speaker, author, and expert in the field of attachment theory and trauma resolution. Together, we will discuss attachment and how it influences the way your form and maintain relationships, communicate (or don’t!), and what you can do to start moving towards a secure attachment and healthier relationships!

You’ll hear more about:

Defining attachment based on your biology
How the nervous system gets confused when connection isn’t always safe
The markers and milestones that indicate you’re moving towards a secure attachment
What it means when you ghost people
Why you can’t just think your way out of your attachment and relationship patterns
Building new relational skills for connection and authenticity
And more!

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Polyvagal Theory: Become an Active Operator of Your Nervous System During Grief with Deb Dana Jun 07, 2024

Grief is something that everyone feels, but how they process it depends on their past history. So how do we know which way we experience grief?

There are challenges each of us must face and overcome based on our past experiences. These experiences will help decide what our grief looks like and if we will get stuck in grief. Today, Deb Dana, a polyvagal therapist, joins me to discuss grief, but in particular, what are Dorsal Days and how do we work these days to create life after loss!

You’ll hear more about:

The three organizing principles of the nervous system and how they influence our unique way through grief
What not to ask someone who is grieving
Asking this key question to become an active operator of your nervous system
The surprising equation our nervous system uses to create our grief reactions
Why dysregulation is a normal response and the key to returning to regulation
The profound impact of our preexisting state on the grief response
The most important thing to provide your nervous system during times of grief
The role of glimmers in grief

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Fear, Attachment & Relational Trauma: Solutions For The Hyper-Sensitive Gut with Dr. Aimie Apigian May 30, 2024

Are the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) connected to trauma?

In this episode, I dive into what I’ve been learning about a hypersensitive and hyperreactive gut looking through the lens of IBS. I answer where IBS comes from, its origins, and the REAL solutions to fixing it. Forget what you think you know about Irritable Bowel Syndrome, because the truth might just shock you!

You’ll learn more about:

Common misconceptions around IBS and mental health
The specific emotion during our attachment years that is connected with IBS
What “global high intensity activation" is and its role in gut hypersensitivity
The right way to address the hypersensitivity and hyperreactivity of the gut.
Personalizing interventions to help IBS symptoms (and get your life back!)
And more!

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Why Stored Traumas Become Syndromes & Somatic Solutions with Peter Levine May 24, 2024

How is trauma work different when there is a syndrome involved?

Today, I’m delighted to bring you another episode featuring Dr. Peter Levine. Dr. Levine is the Developer of Somatic Experiencing® and the Founder of both the Ergos Institute of Somatic Education and Somatic Experiencing International. Together, we will discuss how stored trauma can lead to syndromes and the somatic solutions that can help.

You’ll hear more on:

The main element in your body that drives all syndromes
Why somatic work is one of 3 pillars of stored trauma
What every physician should know about syndromes
The role of childhood trauma in chronic syndromes
What dysautonomia is (and its role in syndromes)
The key to somatic work with any and all syndromes
And more!

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Early Attachment Shocks: How Unexpected Stressors Can Cause Developmental Trauma & What To Do May 10, 2024

What is the impact of an early heart shock on our mind and body?

Most of the time we don’t even know we’ve experienced a heart shock. But even if we don’t know we’ve experienced one, it has already made an impact on our lives. In this episode, I discuss what a heart shock is, the impact it can make on our body and mind and why it’s so important that you be the hero of your own story.

You’ll learn more about:

How early life heart shocks affect attachment and survival
The deep impact heart shocks have on the body
How heart shocks change the nervous system and neuroception
The connection between early life heart shocks and adult diseases
Recognizing the "part" of us affected by early life shocks

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Gaps In Trauma-Informed Care: Boundaries, Attachment and Generational Impact with Thomas Hübl May 03, 2024

Why is it essential for you to do your own trauma work while also understanding the impact of collective trauma?

In this episode, I am joined by Thomas Hübl, a renowned teacher, author, and international facilitator whose lifelong work integrates the core insights of the great wisdom traditions and mysticism with the discoveries of science. Together, we will discuss how each person can create attuned and co-regulated relationships that are necessary for being trauma informed.

We talk more on:

Attachment’s role in our emotional responses as adults
The impact of intergenerational and ancestral trauma on attachment
Strategies to stay regulated and connected in relationships
Moving from distancing behaviors to being fully present in relationships
The role of flow, stagnation and embodied practices in attachments
And more!

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Understanding the Trauma Connection Between Attachment, Autoimmunity, and Fatigue with Dr. Aimie Apigian Apr 26, 2024

What is the connection between attachment, autoimmunity and fatigue? The answer… your nervous system!

Many practitioners have noticed there has been an uptick in those who are experiencing autoimmunity. What's causing this uptick? In this episode, I’m discussing how the nervous system, and more specifically the freeze response, is connected to attachment, autoimmunity, and fatigue.

You’ll hear more about:

The 3 normal stress responses
How the freeze response is a component of the stress response both mentally and physically
How the freeze response contributes to autoimmune conditions and fatigue
Why working on your nervous system
Common symptoms of the freeze response
What role do early attachment relationships and traumatic events play in shaping an individual’s stress responses
Ways to increase your awareness of your stress responses and explore strategies for managing them effectively

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

A Blueprint for Healing: Lessons from a Pioneer in Mind-Body Medicine Dr. James Gordon Apr 19, 2024

Is it possible to heal trauma on your own or does it take a village? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. James Gordon, a Harvard educated psychiatrist and Founder and CEO of the nonprofit, The Center for Mind-Body Medicine. We will discuss the devastating impact untreated trauma can cause, the importance of relationships in your healing journey, and why you need to find a self care strategy that works for YOU!

Here’s what you will learn in this episode:

The Three P's of trauma healing
How self care makes changes in your physiology and your nervous system
What you will experience if you work on healing yourself first
The power in realizing trauma is a universal experience (and how this can help you heal!)
How doing the work can transform your life
Why you need to be intentional in your own healing
And more!

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How Attachment Shapes Our Biology and Behavior with Dr. Aimie Apigian Apr 12, 2024

How do we begin to have secure attachments as adults?

We develop our attachment style in childhood and there are 3 different types of attachment. But how do we know what our attachment style is and how it impacts our life? One of them, secure attachment, iI’ve only seen a few times in my life. The other two styles are what most of us tend to be and that’s ok! But how can we move from these styles into secure attachments? That’s the question I’ll be answering on today’s episode.

You’ll hear more about:

The basics of attachment styles and their impact on our lives
How our nervous system influences our attachment patterns
The journey from insecure to secure attachment
The role of somatic work, parts work, and addressing biology in healing attachment issues
Insights into "earned secure attachment" and what it means to work towards it
And more!

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

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Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Struggling with Sleep? How to Regain Restful Nights with Suzie Sink Apr 05, 2024

How to create the safety in my nervous system to sleep well?

In this episode, I am joined by Suzie Senk, functional medicine practitioner, holistic sleep specialist, speaker and author. Together we discuss not only the importance of sleep but how trauma (and an unsafe sleeping environment) can adversely affect the quality of your sleep.

You'll hear more about:

Understanding why individuals who have trauma experience a tougher time falling and staying asleep
The importance of consistency in achieving better sleep
What you should — and shouldn’t have — in your bedroom if you have trauma
Exploring the role EMFs play in sleep health
Discovering the ONE thing you need to know to get better sleep
And more!

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Bonus Episode: Cuál es la mejor forma de ayudar a nuestras familias a recuperarse de su trauma? (Episode 16 Replay in Spanish!) Apr 03, 2024

Hoy en Biología del Trauma, escuchamos a Heather, una graduada del viaje en línea de 21 días hacia una vida tranquila. Después de ver el impacto positivo de abordar su trauma, Heather continuó con su programa de capacitación de mentores para dirigir ejercicios somáticos y guiar a otros en su viaje de curación. En este episodio, abordamos cómo ayudar a su familia a recuperarse del trauma.

¿Quieres saber más información sobre este episodio? ¡Dirígete a nuestro para obtener más información! Descargo de responsabilidad: Al escuchar este podcast, usted acepta no utilizarlo como consejo médico para tratar ninguna condición médica ni en usted ni en los demás. Consulte a su propio médico sobre cualquier problema médico que pueda tener. Este descargo de responsabilidad completo también se aplica a cualquier invitado o colaborador del podcast. Bajo ninguna circunstancia Trauma Healing Accelerated, ningún invitado o colaborador del podcast The Biology of Trauma, ni ningún empleado, asociado o afiliado de Trauma Healing Accelerated serán responsables de los daños que surjan del uso del podcast.

Gabor Mate: Healing Trauma and Chronic Illness Through Connection (Part 2) Mar 29, 2024

How can we repair the disconnection from trauma that causes disease?

In part two of this series, we continue our conversation on trauma and chronic illness with Gabor Maté. Gabor has spent his career exploring the connections between trauma, childhood development, and stress. Together, we discuss how trauma disconnects us from ourselves and others and creates dysregulation that drives illness. We explore how our bodies speak to us, and why trauma isn’t what happens to you, but your response to it. Reconnection and regulation are possible!

You’ll hear more about:

How disconnection is a survival adaptation
The mistake I made and what I learned from it
Why 80% of autoimmune disorders happen to women
Changing our relationships in the world to heal our diseases
Gabor’s personal practice of staying connected to himself
And more!

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Gabor Mate: The Biology Piece We Have Missed In Trauma & Depression (Part 1) Mar 22, 2024

Is there a missing biology link between trauma and chronic illness?

In this episode, I am joined by the one and only Gabor Maté. Gabor has spent his career exploring the connections between trauma, childhood development, and stress. It was his work that inspired me to pursue addiction medicine. Together, in part one of this series, we will discuss the lessons we’ve both learned around trauma and chronic illness. We talk more about:

Why chronic health conditions can be a sign of trauma & dysregulation
How most chronic illnesses are less genetics and more trauma-driven
The role copper plays in trauma and depression
How trauma makes your body more susceptible to toxins
The benefits of starting with regulation for chronic illness
And more!

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Betrayal Trauma Recovery: How To Heal From The Hurt with Debi Silver Mar 15, 2024

How do you start to heal from the hurt of a betrayal?

Betrayal is one of the most painful emotions you can experience as a person. Betrayal is not limited to just romantic relationships, it can be felt in all types of different relationships. Today, my good friend and colleague, Debi Silber, joins me to discuss the 5 stages of betrayal and how you can start to heal from the hurt.

You’ll hear more about:

The symptoms of betrayal trauma
Why betrayal can trigger a trauma response
Why trauma work is an integral part of healing
The coping mechanisms you might use to avoid the pain
How to know if you’re stuck — and the steps you can take to become the best version of yourself

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Are The Trauma Parts Of You Making You Sick? with Dr. Richard Schwartz Mar 08, 2024

Why are your trauma parts possibly making you sick? Dr. Richard Schwartz began his career as a systemic family counselor and academic. This work led him to discovering that family therapy alone did not achieve full symptom relief and is what led him to developing Internal Family Systems (IFS). In this episode, we will discuss if your trauma parts are making you sick and what you can do about it!

You’ll hear more about:

What parts work is and its importance in trauma healing
The role of protector parts and how they can affect physical health
How the battle between parts can lead to physical symptoms and health issues
The power of connecting with self to improve your health
And more!

For more information about this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How to Apply Energy Psychology to the 7 Stages of Addiction Recovery with Dr. David Feinstein Mar 01, 2024

How can we apply energy psychology to the seven key stages of the addiction recovery process?

My guest this episode is Dr. David Feinstein, a clinical psychologist who serves as national director for the Energy Medicine Institute. Dr. Feinstein sent me his manual on energy healing for the addiction recovery process and I knew I wanted to interview him. In this episode, we will discuss the difference between energy psychology and energy medicine, how energy psychology supports addiction recovery and how it can help with the big emotions that can come up during that process, and the seven stages of addiction recovery.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Energy Medicine: A New Tool in Autoimmunity & Trauma Work with Donna Eden Feb 23, 2024

Which meridian is the first one to balance in people with autoimmunity during their trauma recovery?

In this episode, I am joined by Donna Eden, a practitioner of Energy Medicine who applies energy work, medicine, and psychology to help those on the autoimmune path. Together we will discuss emotions that need to shift if people have autoimmunity, the first steps in balancing meridians and what that means, and tips for healers who work with those who have autoimmune issues and are trying to heal their trauma.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

What It Takes to Safely Guide Another Through Trauma Work with Licia Sky Feb 16, 2024

How do I need to be to safely guide myself or another through the trauma healing journey?

In this episode, I am joined by Licia Sky, an artist, singer-songwriter, and bodyworker who works with traumatized individuals and trains mental health professionals to use Embodied Self Experience in movement, theater exercises, writing, and voice as tools for attunement, healing, and connection. Together we will discuss embodiment, what it is and which emotions we need to do it, along with becoming a strong leader for others going through a trauma journey. Finally, we will discuss attunement and trust within the healing journey.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Is False Anxiety Causing You Stress? with Dr. Ellen Vora Feb 09, 2024

What is causing us false anxiety (anxiety that isn’t caused by anything that is wrong)?

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Ellen Vora, board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, yoga teacher, and author of The Anatomy of Anxiety. Together we will discuss something that could save your life - stress and anxiety, and especially false anxiety. We are talking about stress and trauma, mood medications and managing withdrawals of anxiety, how trauma is “brain indigestion,” and where to start addressing your anxiety.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How to Parent Adopted Children with Early Life Trauma with Robin Karr-Morse Feb 02, 2024

How do we love our adopted children to help them overcome trauma and create change?

In this episode, we will be talking about parenting children with trauma surrounding their early life experiences, specifically focusing on adoption. We will be debunking some common myths surrounding adoption, look at how adoption trauma can be expressed in behaviors, and the importance of relationship repair. Our guest this week is childhood expert, therapist, and author of Scared Sick: The role of childhood trauma in adult diseases, Robin Karr-Morse.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Parenting in a Traumatizing World: The answer Our Children Need with Dr. Gordon Neufeld Jan 26, 2024

What is the best protection we can give our children as we raise them in a traumatizing world?

In this episode, we will be talking about parenting and the crisis of confidence so many parents face when it comes to knowing what our children need. As parents who do not want to pass along their own traumas to their children, we want to set them up to be happy and know inside themselves that the opinions and powers of others aren’t what dictates their worth. Dr. Gordon Neufeld is a developmental psychologist known for his work in with attachment and is joining us today. We will discuss the roots of attachment, several elements of parenting that are key to know, and how to raise those children in a traumatizing world.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

ACEs: How the Body Holds and Hides Pain with Dr. Vincent Felitti Jan 19, 2024

What do ACEs show us about escapes from our pain?

In this episode we are going to talk about ACEs - Adverse Childhood Experiences - with Dr. Vincent Felitti. We will look at the history of ACEs, what they taught us about coping mechanisms, and how we hide our pain.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Hormones: A Portal Into Our Stored Trauma with Dr. Aimie Apigian Jan 12, 2024

In this episode we’re going to talk about women’s health - specifically around how trauma affects womens’ hormones. We will discuss how if you feel something is off, it probably is, the wrong advice doctors are giving about hormones, and the times in our lives when we are more prepared to deal with past traumas due to hormonal changes. We will also cover why the term “estrogen dominance” is misleading and the two main hormones that are really affecting you (and they aren’t estrogen and progesterone!).

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

3 Food Groups That Affect Autoimmunity with Palmer Kippola Jan 05, 2024

What is the role of trauma in autoimmunity that leads us to a clear path forward for prevention or recovery?

This is the question that I answer in today’s Biology of Trauma Podcast. In this episode we are talking about autoimmunity and trauma. Trauma in all its forms - emotional, toxins, foods toxins, etc. - and the role it might play in switching on or off these so-called incurable conditions, such as MS or Hashimoto’s. My guest Palmer Kippola and I will talk about the three big root causes that influence autoimmunity, three main food groups to look at in relation to autoimmunity, and six environmental factors that we can control in relation to autoimmunity.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Mirroring in Trauma: Mastering How You Hold and Guide Others with Dr. Aimie Apigian Dec 29, 2023

How do you use mirroring when wanting to hold the container for someone to safely go into their freeze response for healing?

This is the question that I answer in today’s Biology of Trauma Podcast. This episode is an excerpt from one of my professional development training sessions for those who become mentors and lead the breakout groups in the Foundational Journey. During this session, I chat with those group members about what mirroring is, how to use it to excite, subside, or maintain whatever the emotional state is, and how mirroring someone’s own words back to them creates a connection. I will also explain what to do when someone goes into a freeze state and how to be a safe place for that person.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Sexual Grief: More Than Just Sexual Trauma with Edy Nathan Dec 22, 2023

* Trigger warning for suicide and sexual trauma*

Today’s Question: What role does sexual grief play in the trauma-healing journey?

This is what we answer in today’s episode. Together with my good friend, Edy Nathan, who is an author, public speaker, and licensed therapist in New York City, we take a deep dive into understanding what sexual grief is. In defining the sexual grief effect, Edy brings to light the profound impact of sexually traumatic experiences on individuals. This grief is not static; it evolves, shifts shape, and manifests uniquely in each person. By applying techniques from internal family systems and somatic parts work, we learn to engage in intentional, transformative conversations with the different parts of ourselves.

Head over to the Dr. Aimie's website to learn more about this episode: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Trauma Behind Chronic Pain with Dr. Les Aria Dec 15, 2023

What is the role of the autonomic nervous system specifically in chronic pain? That is what we cover in this episode on the trauma behind chronic pain! In this episode, I talk about chronic pain with Dr. Les Aria, a pain psychologist in practice for 19 years and co-founder of Menda health, a digital pain recovering platform, where he serves as the chief science officer. I invited him to this podcast episode because of his unique ability to explain chronic pain through the Polyvagal Lens.

Please head over to the website to learn more about this episode.

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast:

Is Neuroplasticity Good or Bad in Trauma? with Dr. Aimie Apigian Dec 08, 2023

In this episode, I break down neuroplasticity and discuss the role it plays in the trauma-healing journey. I discuss how our nervous system, often stuck in patterns due to prolonged symptoms, can be retrained and redirected toward a healthier, more positive state. I also share insights from professionals who have currently in the advanced level of training in my Biology of Trauma Certificate Training Program and have used this information on their clients.

Ultimately, this podcast episode answers the question – how to use neuroplasticity to help you on the trauma healing journey?

Head over to our website to learn more about this episode.

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

5 Supplements That Support Trauma Healing with Dr. Aimie Apigian Dec 01, 2023

In this episode, I explain five important supplements and how they help our bodies respond to trauma and aid us in the trauma healing process. I guide you to what symptoms and conditions each supplement addresses so you know which supplement you should take. This is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the multifaceted approach required for effective trauma therapy through the effective use of supplements.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

How Unresolved Anger Affects Autoimmune Conditions with Dr. Keesha Ewers Nov 17, 2023

In this episode, Dr. Keesha Ewers joins me to discuss the connection between the freeze response and autoimmunity. We look at the body’s freeze response during traumatic experiences and how those triggers lead to a pattern of nervous system reactivity. We also dive deeper into the freeze response and why it is more common in children. These traumatic experiences can lead to the formation of beliefs and adaptive behaviors that persist into adulthood.

We take a deeper look at unresolved anger, specifically unexpressed anger turned towards oneself, and how it is associated with autoimmune conditions. The question we want to answer is: How is the freeze response behind autoimmunity?

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

How to Heal Bracing and Hypervigilance with Cat Dillon Nov 10, 2023

In this episode, featuring Cat Dillon, we discuss her experiences with bracing and hypervigilance as a result of childhood trauma. Cat Dillon’s personal journey of healing from the chronic bracing patterns and tension that began in her childhood and culminated in a panic attack while driving across a bridge was a turning point that led her to explore and understand her body’s needs better, ultimately guiding her towards a path of trauma healing. The insights provided in this episode are meant to resonate with listeners who may have similar experiences of trauma and stress, providing them with a sense of understanding and potential strategies for healing.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Link Between Nervous System, Physical Presence and Self-Expression with Bo Eason Nov 03, 2023

In this episode, Bo Eason, former NFL player, speaker, and author, and I discuss the role of physicality and self-expression in effective communication, parenting, and relationships. This episode answers this one question: What’s the connection between the state of your nervous system, your physical presence, and your ability to communicate well?

Want to hear more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

5 Agreements to Keep Group Trauma Work Safe with Dr. Aimie Apigian Oct 27, 2023

This week's episode of the Biology of Trauma podcast explains the "five agreements" that we teach in our 21 Day Journey course. The episode answers the question: What are the five agreements that allow us to do group trauma work safely?

Want to hear more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Can Adoption or Childhood Trauma Cause Bipolar Disorder? with Dr. Christina Bjorndal Oct 20, 2023

In this enlightening conversation with Dr. Christina Bjorndal, we explore the intricate connections between mental wellness diagnosis, traumatic experiences, and the journey to healing. In this episode, we delve into the challenges and stigmas of mental health labels and discuss how early life experiences, the ego, and shadow beliefs can contribute to stored trauma that require a holistic approach to overcome. We will answer two questions: Is a bipolar label related to early childhood trauma, and if so, is there a different solution to a bipolar label than psychiatric medication?

Want to hear more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

How Quickly Can Lifelong Patterns Change? with Dr. Aimie Apigian Oct 13, 2023

In this episode of the Biology of Trauma podcast, we are looking at how we change lifelong patterns in our body, how long it takes to notice a shift in those patterns, and what we need to do to make those changes stick. This episode is broken down in two parts: 1) I begin with an overview of the first part of my Foundational Journey - the 21 Day Journey and what participants can expect, and 2) I welcome participants of the 21 Day Journey program to share their personal experiences and transformations. Our main question for this episode is: How quickly can lifelong patterns in our body change?

Want to hear more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis With Energy Healing with Donna Eden Oct 06, 2023

In this enlightening episode of the Biology of Trauma podcast, Dr. Aimie delves into the mysterious and transformative world of energy medicine. With the guidance of Donna Eden, a pioneer in the field of energy medicine, listeners will gain insights into the profound potential of energy medicine for healing and transformation. Donna shares her personal journey of overcoming multiple sclerosis and other health challenges using energy medicine, emphasizing the importance of understanding and balancing our body's energies. The episode aims to answer the question: How do we apply energy medicine for trauma healing?

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Unlocking the Role of Disguised Grief in Health with Dr. Joan Rosenberg Sep 29, 2023

In this episode, Dr. Joan Rosenberg joins me to explore the complex relationship between emotions, particularly disguised grief, and our overall well-being. Dr. Rosenberg is a psychologist and the author of 90 Seconds to a Life You Love: How to master your difficult feelings to cultivate lasting confidence, resilience, and authenticity. The episode is divided into two sections: the first delves into the concept of disguised grief and its impact on health, while the second offers strategies to manage emotional responses. Dr. Rosenberg shares her unique perspective on why we should lean into unpleasant feelings and how they serve protective purposes. The episode aims to answer the question: How do our emotions, particularly disguised grief, affect our biology and overall health?

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Solutions for Low Serotonin and GABA in Trauma with Trudy Scott Sep 22, 2023

In this episode, Dr. Aimie Apigian and Trudy Scott delve into the complex relationship between trauma, neurotransmitters, and biochemistry. Trudy Scott, a certified nutritionist and founder of the Anxiety Nutrition Institute, shares her expertise on how low levels of serotonin and GABA can significantly affect those with PTSD symptoms. The episode aims to answer the question: What to do about low serotonin and low GABA in trauma?

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Chronic Conditions: What to do When the Protocols Aren’t Enough with Dr. Aimie Apigian Sep 15, 2023

The reality is, most of us have a chronic health issue in addition to trauma. Trauma and health issues go hand in hand. In this podcast episode, we are diving into the important question of: What to do when the protocols aren’t enough for resolving a chronic health issue?

In today's episode, we will look at what happens when trauma becomes the operating system for the body and what to do about it. When a chronic health issue is present, we can go wrong! You can’t out-supplement trauma, and your health professional isn’t going to have the tools to recognize when trauma is the roadblock for your body.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

How Does Trauma Manifest in the Body with Gabor Mate Sep 08, 2023

When there are physical symptoms involved, that is what you will learn about how unresolved trauma manifests physically in the body, and we must be careful to start in the right way. In this episode, I have with me Dr. Gabor Mate, who is a leader in seeing the body expressing stress and trauma, a family medical physician who also worked in palliative care and addiction medicine, and the author of When the Body Says No and Hungry Ghosts. We will be answering the big question - How does unresolved trauma manifest physically in our bodies and how can understanding this connection lead to profound healing? So, where do we start?

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Where to Start With Trauma in a Holistic Model? with Dr. Aimie Apigian Sep 01, 2023

“Once we know better and have the ability to be intentional about the process, either for ourselves or our clients, it has to be a holistic integrative approach and to start the opening up in a specific way.” We have talked a lot on this podcast about different ways to work on our stored trauma in the body, but the number one question is - Where do we start? Having been through my own personal journey of healing my body by addressing and releasing trauma, I learned the hard way that my body will let me know when what I’m doing isn’t helpful. It shows itself through relapses in fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and heaviness.So through all of the different modalities to heal trauma and heal the body, How can we start healing in a holistic way, and not just attacking symptoms?

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

How to Integrate Somatic and Parts Work - Part 2: Mind-Body Dialog Questions with Dr. Aimie Apigian Aug 25, 2023

Welcome back as we continue with part two of our series on integrating somatic and parts work. If you missed part one, go check it out in Episode 36 and then come back. In this episode, we ask the question - What are the specific mind-body dialogue questions that help us connect to a part of us associated with a body sensation? To help us answer this question, I have invited three special people to share their specific mind-body dialogue questions that have helped them connect to themselves as they notice body sensations.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

How to Integrate Somatic and Parts Work Part 2: Mind-Body Dialog Questions with Dr. Aimie Apigian Aug 18, 2023

Have you thought about how you should integrate somatic work and parts work and how that integration actually happens? Then you are in luck! That’s what we are covering today. In the 21 Day Journey, we start off with parts work - what is it you are actually feeling in your body. This helps us incorporate and mix the two so we are doing somatic parts work, rather than focusing on either one on its own. Today, we will answer the question: How do we integrate the two by connecting to the part behind a body sensation and how does that help us?

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

5 Ways How Polyvagal Theory Helps With Trauma Work with Stephen Porges Jul 28, 2023

Last week’s episode (Episode 34) was Part 1 in my discussion with Dr. Steve Porges, founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium and professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, focusing on what the polyvagal lens says about attachment, freeze, and functional diseases (like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and even COVID) and the first step - becoming a witness to our body and safety.

In Part 2, we will pick up the last minute of the previous episode and then go into five specific things that show the influence the polyvagal lens has on trauma work and what we can do when trauma has made it unsafe to feel safe.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Polyvagal Lens on Attachment, Freeze and Functional Diseases with Dr. Stephen Porges Jul 21, 2023

Throughout the Biology of Trauma Podcast, we discuss everything that goes into the biology of trauma, including emotional, psychological, and physiological components. Today, we will be focusing on the physiology of the nervous system with our guest, Dr. Stephen Porges. We are going to bridge the worlds between medicine, functional medicine, neuroscience, and trauma therapy. The big question we will answer is What does the polyvagal lens say about attachment, freeze, and functional diseases?

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

When Trauma Is Hijacking Your Body: The 3 Essential Pillars For The Healing Journey with Jude Weber Jul 14, 2023

Learning to recognize the disease-trauma connection is a huge part of getting to work healing yourself. This week I am excited to have Jude Weber, a practitioner of Biology of Trauma™ and EFT on the podcast. Jude’s journey has taken many twists and turns for her to be here today. This is the real life story of how nervous system dysregulation was the root cause of her eczema, eating disorders, and relationship troubles.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

What are the Ways the Body Communicates Stored Trauma? with Dr. Aimie Apigian Jul 07, 2023

Have you noticed the difference between how your body feels during times of stress versus times of trauma? Maybe not! When we are stressed, we feel energy. We are figuring things out and getting things done. But trauma mode is different. In this episode taken from one of my Masterclasses, we are going to discuss the three surprising ways our bodies communicate trauma. Not listening to our body’s “check engine light” comes at a cost, so let’s dive in and see where we can make changes.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Am I Tired, Or Is This Trauma? The Roots Of Fatigue with Dr. Evan Hirsch Jun 30, 2023

If you have ever found yourself asking why you feel so tired all the time, you might not be asking the right question. In order to get to the right question, I am sharing an interview I did with Dr. Evan Hirsch, a good friend and colleague physician of mine who has had a remarkable journey recovering from chronic fatigue. In this episode, we will look into the right question: Am I tired, or is it trauma?

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Attachment Adaptations From Age 0 – 6 Months with Dr. Aimie Apigian Jun 23, 2023

Attachment and neurodevelopment is one of those topics people ask me about all the time! Today, I'm going to let you listen in on one of my master classes on attachment. The big question we have to ask – What attachment adaptations come from age 0 - 6 months? What if we have gaps or injuries in the first six months of life? Attachment is so much more than just relationships.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

What is the Physiology and Neurobiology of the Trauma Response? with Dr. Aimie Apigian Jun 16, 2023

We hear the word “trauma” thrown around all the time, but what does it actually mean? The answer lies in our physiology, in our neurobiology. Today, I will be discussing the foundational biological aspects of trauma you need to know to understand your trauma responses, as well as what you can do about it.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Practical Tips For Better Sleep to Help With Trauma Work with Misty Williams Jun 09, 2023

Sleeping is when you heal. In this episode, we are going to be diving into Practical Tips For Better Sleep For Trauma Work. Sleep is an essential part of healing when working on trauma; yet stored trauma in the body can make it very difficult to get sleep. You will hear me discuss the topic with Misty Williams at the Biology of Trauma Summit 2.0.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

How Does Brain Fog and Inflammation Affect Somatic Trauma Work? with Dr. Aimie Apigian Jun 02, 2023

“A brain inflamed is a brain in overwhelm.” Do you know how head injuries affect one’s ability to do trauma work or somatic work? Do you know how to recognize brain inflammation and what kind of work that requires? Today, we are going to look at that with a first-hand account by Tori. Tori wasn’t always stuck in her trauma work. She was a marathon runner, a successful accountant, and managed her health issues well enough. But after she suffered a few head injuries, the past ten years have been very difficult. We are going to answer the question: How does brain fog and inflammation affect somatic trauma work?

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Doing Trauma Work Safely: The 1 Thing You Need To Do Before Processing Your Past with Dr.Aimie Apigian May 26, 2023

Have you ever begun a trauma-healing journey, jumping straight to the healing part only to find that you have wasted time, money, and created more confusion than you solved? This is most likely because you skipped the first step. Today I will be sharing openly some of the mistakes that I’ve made, the lessons learned, and the main question we will focus on today: What is the one thing you NEED to do before processing trauma?

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Why is it so Hard to Slow Sown? Could it be Stored Trauma? with Dr. Ameet May 19, 2023

“Sometimes, the very thing we need is the very thing that is hard to do.” In Part 1 of our discussion with Dr. Ameet, we talked about the biology piece of addressing stored trauma. We focused on the liver and other vital organs, so make sure you give Part 1 (Episode 24) a listen. In Part 2, we are talking about somatic work and why slowing down and connecting with our bodies is essential.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

What Professionals Need to Know About The Liver for Trauma Work with Dr. Ameet May 12, 2023

In this episode, Dr. Ameet will help answer the question of: What do professionals need to know about the liver for trauma work? The episode will cover the foundational principles of the mind-body connection, and then will take a deep dive into 4 organs and how they are impacted by trauma, as well as how they affect the body’s trauma response itself.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

What is The Parasympathetic State and Why Does it Matter? with Dr. Aimie Apigian May 05, 2023

Whether for you or your work, it is crucial to know what is going on in the body and nervous system. In this episode, you will learn about the vagus nerve, parasympathetic state, and its connection to stored trauma. Today, we will answer the question: What is the parasympathetic state and why does it matter?

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Role Trauma Plays in Highly Sensitive People with Dr. Natasha Fallahi Apr 28, 2023

Have you ever wondered if you could turn being a highly sensitive person into your superpower? My guest today is Dr. Natasha Fallahi, a chiropractic functional medicine physician who specializes in mind-body medicine to treat the whole patient, and she has done just that! Since many people identify with being an empath and/or a highly sensitive person, it is critical to know what is going on in the body and your nervous system and to know that they are related to stored trauma. This show will teach us the role trauma plays in highly sensitive people.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

What if You’re Not Sure if You’ve Had Trauma? with Dr. Aimie Apigian Apr 21, 2023

“Trauma? I don’t have trauma, right?” Have you said this to yourself or heard others say it? Today, we are going to break it down so you can figure it out. My guest today is Rhonda, a 23-year veteran of the police department from Chicago, Illinois. Rhonda will break down for us how she went from The Energizer Bunny to healing her body’s stored trauma after a serious health crash with the help of my 21 Day Journey.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Connection Between Money, Loneliness, and Trauma with Kiné Corder Apr 14, 2023

There is a lot of suffering when it comes to money. My guest today is going to help us answer the question: What is the connection between money, loneliness, and trauma? My guest is Kiné Corder, founder of Presidential Lifestyle, where she helps professionals get their mentality right around money to alleviate the suffering from this piece of their trauma story. Kiné came into my life and helped me become even more aware of how much my mentality, actions, and decisions around money were a result of childhood experiences and trauma.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Which Trauma Tools Can Increase a Counselor’s Revenue Without Advertising? with Dr. Aimie Apigian Apr 07, 2023

“Biology of Trauma helped me grow through life, not just go through life.” Which trauma tools can increase a counselor’s revenue without advertising? To answer this question on the Biology of Trauma™ Podcast, I have invited Manisha Bilimoria, a counselor living and working in Sri Lanka and an alumnus of my 21 Day Journey, among other courses, to share her inspiring story of her own unknown health issue, financial distress, and more importantly her willingness to do her own trauma work in order to make a difference in the pain and fear we see around us.

Want to find out more information about this episode? Head to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

What Truth do Trauma Professionals Need to Know About Grains? with Dr. Peter Osborne & Dr. Tom O'Bryan Mar 31, 2023

"Food is not supposed to be a battle." What is the truth you need to know about grains and gluten? To help answer this question for you on the Biology of Trauma™ Podcast, I interview two Functional Medical experts, Dr. Peter Osborne and Dr. Tom O’Bryan about the impact grains and gluten have on your body. Whether for you, your clients, or someone you know, this is the truth you need to know.

Want to find out more information about this episode? Head to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

How Did This Pastor Move From Cancer, Burnout, and Depression to Living His Best Life in the Middle of a War? with Dr. Aimie Apigian Mar 24, 2023

Have you ever experienced a complete and intense burnout? Today on the Biology of Trauma™ Podcast, one of Dr. Aimie’s Biology of Trauma™ Professionals, Marc, joins her to share his story of how a complete and intense burnout changed his life and perspective.

Want to find out more information about this episode? Head to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

What is the Best Way to Help Our Families Heal From Their Traumas? with Dr. Aimie Apigian Mar 17, 2023

Today on Biology of Trauma, we hear from Heather, a graduate of the online 21-day journey to calm aliveness. After seeing the positive impact of addressing her trauma, Heather continued with her mentor training program to lead somatic exercises and mentor others on their healing journey. In this episode, we tackle how to help your family heal from trauma.

Want to find out more information about this episode? Head to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

My Story: Bring The Fight Back To Trauma Work with Dr. Aimie Apigian Mar 10, 2023

Today on The Biology of Trauma, I share more of my story and why I chose to work in the field of trauma. It has to do with my grandfather and my father's stories...

Want to find out more information about this episode? Head to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

How to Not Traumatize Your Infant with Common Parenting Practices (Part 2) with Bette Lamont Mar 03, 2023

Today on Biology of Trauma, we explore the neurological repercussions of modern parenting practices in part 2 of our discussion with Bette Lamont. With the development of modern convenience, our culture has sought to make child-rearing convenient, forgetting that we are shepherding the emergence of a soul from predetermined activities that will prompt brain development. By neglecting or rushing the intuition of development, you deprive the child of the opportunity to develop integral cognitive functions and form the bonds that will help them grow into healthy and stable adults.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Why Does Trauma Make it Difficult for Us to Say, “I Don’t Know?” (Part 1) with Bette Lamont Feb 24, 2023

Have you ever struggled to acknowledge that you don’t know something because you feared the repercussions? This trauma response often stems from lessons learned in early development. Today on The Biology of Trauma, Bette Lamont joins us from the NeuroDevelopmental Movement to discuss how trauma plays a role in children's development out of the fear of the repercussions of not knowing.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Where Do We Begin with Stored Trauma? (Part 2) with Alex Howard Feb 17, 2023

Today on Biology of Trauma, Alex Howard joins us for part two of our discussion on addressing stored trauma. I learned quickly through my clinical work that before you can address the biological aspect of trauma, you must stabilize the nervous system.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

What is My "Why?" (Part 1) with Alex Howard and Dr. Aimie Apigian Feb 10, 2023

Today on Biology of Trauma, Alex Howard, The founder of the Optimum Health Clinic, joins me for a Fireside chat. In this episode, I share my story of how I transitioned from working as a general surgeon to a trauma practitioner. My hope is that my journey will provide some hope and show you that there is a clear path forward through overwhelm to being your best self.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Addressing Unresolved Emotions to Help With Progressive MS? (Part 3) with Dr. Arielle Schwartz Feb 03, 2023

Today on Biology of Trauma, we conclude our series with Dr. Arielle Schwartz on identifying trauma and addressing the freeze response. In this episode, we hear a story of hope from Laura Bautista, a 21-day journey graduate who recovered from MS by healing her trauma.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

What is One Thing the Freeze Response Needs for Healing? (Part 2) with Dr. Arielle Schwartz Jan 27, 2023

Today on Biology of Trauma, we continue our analysis of the freeze response with Dr. Arielle Scwartz, Ph.D. There are three key phases to overcoming the freeze response, and in this episode, we discuss how time plays a crucial role in trauma healing. Shifting from a performance relationship to a listening relationship with your body allows you to tap into your own physical intuition. Instead of overextending yourself out of fear, your body can intuit when it is time to rest and act and allows you to slow down, giving you the time to overcome your freeze response.

Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Can Stored Trauma Cause Self-Sabotage in the Body? (Part 1) with Dr. Arielle Schwartz Jan 20, 2023

Today on Biology of Trauma, Dr.Arielle Schwartz, Ph.D., joins us to discuss stored trauma in the body and how it inevitably leads to self-sabotage. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and author of 6 books addressing a mind-body approach to overcoming PTSD. She details just how much of your behavior is influenced by unconscious signals perceived by the nervous system and how building awareness of your body heals your mind.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Identifying & Treating Copper Excess to Reverse Postpartum Depression (Part 3) with William Walsh Jan 13, 2023

Today on Biology of Trauma is our final interview with William Walsh as we continue our conversation on copper excess, undermethylation and Pyroluria. We discuss how difficult it is to identify and treat neurochemical imbalances correctly. Many mood disorders are being misdiagnosed as trauma. Environmental stress can exacerbate a neurological condition but ignoring the biological aspect keeps patients suffering longer.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Disclaimer:By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

The Role of Methylation & Epigenetics in Mental Health Outcomes (Part 2) with William Walsh Jan 06, 2023

Today, on Biology of Trauma, I welcome back William Walsh as we continue our conversation on epigenetic conditions and depression. Depression is generally presumed to be a serotonin deficiency, but that is just one of 5 distinct neurochemical imbalances. In this episode, we explore these five forms of depression and how each requires its own specialized treatment.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

How Genetics & Epigenetics Affect In-Utero Development (Part 1) with William Walsh Dec 30, 2022

Today on Biology of Trauma, I am joined by William Walsh, founder of the Walsh Institute. His mission is to bridge the gap between biochemistry and depression. In this episode, he expands on the interconnected relationship between genetics and epigenetics in utero.

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Overcoming the Freeze Response & Experiencing More Joy (Part 2) with Irene Lyon Dec 23, 2022

Trauma is often defined as an event, but the freeze response can develop from the most subtle inconsistencies from your childhood. Today is part two of my interview with Irene Lyon, a somatic practitioner and nervous system expert. She explains how trauma is not always obvious and how you can overcome your freeze response without even knowing the original cause.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

Recognizing and Overcoming the Freeze Response (Part 1) with Irene Lyon Dec 16, 2022

On today’s episode, I am interviewing Irene Lyon, a nervous system specialist using somatic work to promote neuroplasticity in those suffering from trauma. She explains how people are becoming functionally frozen from even the most innocuous events throughout their childhood. We now understand that, even in infancy, trauma disrupts our developing nervous systems often as a result of the disillusionment of the mother and child bonding process.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

The Long–Term Effects of Brain Inflammation with Dr. Peter Kan Dec 09, 2022

In this episode of The Biology of Trauma, we discuss brain inflammation with Dr. Peter Kan, a chiropractic neurologist working to heal the gut and the brain. Without proper brain function, even the simplest tasks can become difficult to focus on. And often, what is described as brain fog, is caused by neural inflammation. Many of these symptoms can be attributed to normal aging, but are becoming more and more common in younger patients due to lifestyle factors. Often, we attribute head injuries to physical trauma, but your brain cannot distinguish between physical and psychological trauma, and both will set off the same neurological protocol. Like most neurological conditions, it can be difficult to catch in the early stages, so we are coming together to highlight common warning signs that you may be experiencing and how to address them.

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What Professionals Need to Know About the Chronic Freeze Response with Dr. Peter Levine Dec 09, 2022

Welcome to the first episode of The Biology of Trauma podcast! Today we are getting to the root of the freeze response with Dr. Peter Levine, founder of Somatic Experience. Together we dive into exactly what causes a freeze response and why we evolved to have the mechanism in the first place.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

Welcome to The Biology of Trauma with Dr. Aimie Apigian Dec 06, 2022

People are done dancing around the topic of trauma. They're ready to face this square-on. None of the current systems are getting to the root of the issue in the current model. Their biology has been affected on a cellular level, and that is now what's preventing the important work that they're trying to do.

The Biology of Trauma podcast is the missing piece to that puzzle. It's a practical living manual for the human body in a modern, traumatizing world. Join your host medical physician and attachment, trauma, and addiction expert, Dr. Aimie as she challenges the old paradigm of trauma and illuminates a new model for the healing journey.

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