The Biology of Trauma® With Dr. Aimie

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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/

Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma

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

Show notes

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/

Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma

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

Show notes

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/

Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma

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

Show notes

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/

Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma

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

Show notes

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/

Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma

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

Show notes

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/

Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma

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

Show notes

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/

Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma

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

Show notes

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!

Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma

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

Show notes

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/

Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma

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

Show notes

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/

Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma