The Biology of Trauma® With Dr. Aimie

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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.

Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma

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

Show notes

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.

Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma

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

Show notes

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.

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