What if the reason you keep saying "I'm fine" isn't about denial or stubbornness—but about your nervous system being programmed to avoid looking at problems because looking feels too dangerous?

In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie Apigian explores the powerful story Dr. Tom O'Bryan shared about Ray—a beloved janitor who said "I'm fine" for three years until the day he finally agreed to testing, pulled over on his way home, and died. This tragic story reveals something critical about trauma: avoidance isn't just psychological, it's a biological survival response. And it's creating a dangerous feedback loop where the very act of avoiding health problems generates more cellular damage through oxidative stress.

This episode unpacks why trauma makes us afraid to look at our health, how this avoidance creates the exact biology that makes our problems worse, and most importantly—how to break free from the "I'm fine syndrome" through baby steps and biology repair.

In this episode you'll hear more about:

• The "I'm fine syndrome": How Ray's story illustrates the deadly cost of health avoidance, and why so many people refuse testing even when symptoms are clear—it's not about money or time, it's about fear
• The first step of trauma: Understanding that avoidance is actually Step 1 of the body's instinctual trauma response (the startle), where blocking our threat assessment tells our body danger is real and escalates the survival response
• The oxidative damage cascade: Dr. Tom's powerful mousetrap analogy—976,000 mousetraps on a football field, one ping pong ball creating a cascade reaction of "pop, pop, pop"—exactly what's happening inside your cells when you avoid addressing health problems
• The avoidance-damage feedback loop: How saying "I'm fine" while avoiding health assessments creates more oxidative stress, which damages cells and DNA, which creates more danger signals, which makes you want to avoid even more—a vicious cycle driving disease development
• Why glyphosate matters for your future family: The shocking research showing 74% of men at fertility centers have glyphosate in their blood, with 300% higher levels in their semen, causing oxidative damage to sperm DNA that leads to 40% increased miscarriage rates and contributes to the autism epidemic (1 in 12 boys in California)
• The trauma-toxin connection: How stored trauma and toxic chemicals create the same biology—both generate oxidative stress that damages your mitochondria, immune system, and DNA, which is why trauma and toxins always go together as "sisters" or "best friends"
• Base hits win the ball game: Dr. Tom's strategy for men (and everyone) who feel overwhelmed—allocate one hour per week to learn about ONE health topic, make ONE change, and watch how baby steps transform your health in six months without trying to hit home runs
• The essential supplements for oxidative stress: What Dr. Tom takes when flying (GS packs with 22 nutrients) and what Dr. Aimie uses (vitamin C, NAC, and injectable NAD) to combat radiation exposure and cellular damage from travel and daily life
• The Total Tox Burden and Oxidative Stress Profile: The two tests everyone should know about to assess their cellular damage and toxic load before trying to start a family—and why being proactive prevents a lifetime of grief
• Why "I'm fine" is actually "I'm frozen": Understanding that health avoidance is your nervous system's way of protecting you from feeling powerless, but recognizing this pattern is the first step to building the courage to look and take action
• The three phases of safe detoxification: Why you must resource your body first, open drainage pathways second, and only then use active binders—jumping straight to celery juice or fasting can actually retraumatize your system
• The antioxidant repair toolkit: Starting with the fundamentals (vitamin C at 1,000mg, selenium at 200mcg, NAC at 2,000mg daily) plus lifestyle tools like red-light therapy, outdoor morning walks, colorful fruits and vegetables, and optimizing sleep in complete darkness
• The energy to leave toxic relationships: Why people can't leave toxic environments until they have the biological energy to do so—supporting the body's detoxification and energy production creates the capacity to clear out emotional toxins too
• 77% and 1 in 12: The devastating statistics that should wake us up—77% of military-age Americans are ineligible to serve due to obesity or cognitive decline, and 1 in 12 boys in California are diagnosed on the autism spectrum by age four, both driven by our toxic environment and the biology of trauma

Your body isn't broken—it's trying to protect you from the pain of looking at what feels dangerous. But here's the truth: every moment you avoid looking at your health while saying "I'm fine," you're accumulating more oxidative damage. You're literally rusting from the inside. The good news? You don't have to take the whole mountain in one step. Baby steps—or as Dr. Tom says, base hits—win the ball game. Start with one hour a week. Start with basic antioxidant support. Start with getting curious instead of afraid. Your body has been waiting for you to look with compassion instead of fear.

🎧 Want the full context? This mini episode expands on concepts from Episode #147: The Hidden Biology of Holding On: Toxins, Trauma & True Freedom. Go back and listen to that full episode for Dr. Tom's complete framework on how oxidative stress links childhood trauma to adult disease, why glyphosate is devastating our children's brain development, and how to protect your family's genetic potential.

📖 Want to go deeper? The Biology of Trauma, Chapter 17 (page 299) provides detailed guidance on repairing oxidative stress and supporting your body's natural antioxidant defenses. Download the free guide on oxidative stress repair at biologyoftrauma.com/book

🔬 Ready to look? Learn more about the Total Tox Burden and Oxidative Stress Profile tests Dr. Tom mentioned, and explore other Biology of Trauma episodes on how to safely support your body's healing at biologyoftrauma.com

Our bodies hold onto trauma, toxins, and pain for biological reasons—not willpower. Dr. Aimie Apigian shares her bathtub breaking point and the 3-phase Biology of Trauma® framework that changed everything: how to prepare, open channels, and safely release what our nervous systems have been protecting us from.

After her third collarbone break in a 2017 car accident, Dr. Aimie found herself back in depression, chronic fatigue, and developing chronic pain—despite years of therapy and functional medicine work. Crying in a bathtub, she realized her body wasn't broken; it was scared to let go. This episode reveals her discovery of the hidden connection between emotional toxins, psychological toxins, and biochemical toxins—and why our nervous systems hold on to all three. You'll learn the exact six-step process that moves through preparation, opening drainage pathways, and active release, plus why forcing detoxification before our bodies feel safe makes symptoms worse, not better.

This framework bridges somatic healing, nervous system regulation, and functional medicine for both individuals struggling with stored trauma and practitioners helping clients who feel stuck. Whether we're dealing with chronic pain, autoimmunity, insomnia, or anxiety that won't shift, or we're therapists or health professionals seeking trauma-informed approaches, this episode explains how to create a biology of letting go. Dr. Aimie shows us how to work with our bodies' protective wisdom instead of fighting against it—so we can finally experience the freedom, authenticity, and healing our nervous systems have been waiting to feel safe enough to allow.

In this episode you'll learn:

• [03:32] Why Your Body Holds On: The relationship with the past that serves survival and the parts that aren't ready to let go
• [07:00] The Body Trauma Loop: Nervous system pattern of looping between stress and overwhelm that keeps you stuck holding on
• [12:37] Holding On to Regrets: How regret creates bracing and collapse in the body and why it's one of the hardest things to release
• [14:58] When Life Didn't Go as Supposed: The deep sadness of holding on to how things were meant to be instead of what is
• [19:21] The Biggest Myth About Letting Go: Why letting go isn't a decision you make but a biology your body needs to feel safe enough to create
• [20:33] Three Types of Toxins We Hold: Emotional toxins, psychological toxins, and biochemical toxins all accumulate the same way in your body
• [23:32] Why Bodies Hold Biochemical Toxins: When you have a biology of holding on emotionally, you also hold mold, metals, parasites, and environmental toxins
• [28:00] Three Phases of Letting Go: Preparation, opening channels, and deep cleaning—why skipping preparation makes everything worse
• [31:52] What Happens When You Detox Wrong: Fatigue, mood issues, sleep problems, and brain fog all worsen when deep cleaning happens without open channels
• [34:11] The Six-Week Process: Creating safety, building support, working with breath, pacing the release, feeling emotions, and active detoxification
• [38:45] Opening Drainage Pathways: Why poop, pee, and sweat matter for letting go and how constipation keeps trauma stuck
• [41:00] Always Do Phases One and Two: Why you should always be resourced with open channels even when not actively detoxifying

Main Takeaways:

• Letting Go is Biology, Not Decision: Your body holds on because it doesn't believe letting go is safe yet, not because you lack willpower or haven't decided to move forward with your mind
• Emotional and Biochemical Toxins Connect: When you hold emotional toxins from regrets and psychological toxins from limiting beliefs, your biology also holds biochemical toxins like mold, heavy metals, and parasites
• The Body Trauma Loop Keeps You Stuck: Nervous systems that loop between stress and overwhelm without reaching calm aliveness create a biology of holding on rather than releasing
• Deep Cleaning Without Preparation Retraumatizes: Doing intensive trauma work or detoxification before opening your channels and creating safety brings pain to the surface without allowing it to leave, making symptoms worse
• Regrets Create Bracing and Collapse: Holding on to regrets shows up as simultaneous bracing in shoulders and collapse in chest and heart, demonstrating how past pain lives in present body
• Dysregulation Multiplied by Time Becomes Chronic Conditions: Twenty years of nervous system dysregulation creates autoimmunity, chronic pain, and long-haul syndromes through accumulated toxin burden that body won't release
• Three Phases Must Follow Sequence: Preparation creates safety, opening channels allows ventilation, and deep cleaning releases what's ready—skipping steps or reversing order causes more harm than healing
• Always Resource and Keep Channels Open: Even when not actively detoxifying, you should always be doing phases one and two to prevent accumulation and stay ready for life's hard experiences

Notable Quotes:

"If it makes you sick 20 years later, that wasn't stress—that was trauma. You see childhood through adult eyes now, but that's not how you lived it."

"Trauma becomes our biology. Then our biology blocks our healing, joy, and authenticity." 

"The more emotional toxins we hold, the more biochemical toxins our body holds—mold, plastics, heavy metals, parasites."

"Deep cleaning without release retraumatizes us. We surface the trauma but don't let it leave. It makes things worse." 

"Once we recognize we're holding on, the choice becomes clear: stay small and safe, or let go safely and live freely." 

Episode Takeaway:

Letting go isn't about willpower—it's biology our nervous system needs to feel safe to create. When we hold emotional toxins, our body creates a biology of holding on. That same biology holds biochemical toxins: mold, heavy metals, parasites. Our bodies don't distinguish between toxic emotions and toxic chemicals. Both require the same three-phase process to release safely. Preparation creates safety so our nervous system considers letting go. Opening channels provides ventilation so what surfaces can actually leave. Deep cleaning happens last because without preparation, pain surfaces with nowhere to go. This is why intensive trauma work or aggressive detox makes fatigue, mood, and pain worse. The key insight: always do phases one and two, even when not actively detoxifying. Keep our drainage pathways open to prevent accumulation. When we're emotionally or physically constipated, toxins build up instead of moving through. Letting go becomes a way of being—creating a biology that releases rather than holds on.

Resources/Guides:

• Visit biologyoftrauma.com for more resources on the Biology of Trauma® framework

• 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 1: What Professionals Need to Know About the Chronic Freeze Response with Dr. Peter Levine

• Episode 57: ACEs: How the Body Holds and Hides Pain with Dr. Vincent Felitti

 

our 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😌

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.

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/

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/

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/

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 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/

 

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/

 

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/

 

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/

 

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/

 

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/

 

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:

• Episode 118: How Practitioners Can Navigate Their Own Chronic Illness and Healing Journey

• Episode 128: How Attachment Trauma Drives Anxiety, Autoimmunity & Chronic Illness

Related YouTube videos:

• Trauma: Genetic vs. Epigenetic Insights with Dr. Bruce Lipton | Dr. Aimie Apigian

 

Your host: Dr. Aimie Apigian, double board-certified physician (Preventive/Addiction Medicine) with master's degrees in biochemistry and public health, revolutionizes trauma healing by revealing how our cells—not just our minds—store trauma. Her book "The Biology of Trauma" (foreword by Gabor Maté) transforms our understanding of how the body experiences and holds trauma. After adopting a child during medical school sparked her journey, she developed an integrative science-based sequence for the healing journey. Through her practitioner training, podcast, YouTube channel, and international speaking, she bridges functional medicine, attachment and trauma therapy, proving that repairing trauma's impact on the mind, body and biology is possible.

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 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/

 

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/

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 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.

 

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/

 

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.

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/

 

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/

 

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/

 

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/

 

You push through exhaustion, telling yourself it's just stress. Your body sends signals you can't ignore: chronic fatigue, unexplained pain, digestive issues, mood swings. What if these are messages about the emotional wounds that remain unresolved from your past?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Partha Nandi for a conversation on chronic health issues, share five key insights that transform how we understand trauma's biological impact. This episode gives you the core concepts from the new book, The Biology of Trauma, about how trauma impacts your body, your own biology maintains the survival state and the repair tools needed for healing.

 

Key Topics & Timestamps:

• [00:50] Why I Wrote This Book: For the high-performing person who doesn't realize their body is accumulating trauma until a health crisis forces recognition
• [01:18] The 2014 Wake-Up Call: From marathon runner to unable to get out of bed during surgery residency - the moment everything changed
• [03:01] Trauma as Biology, Not Psychology: How adverse childhood experiences become measurable disease patterns decades later
• [04:29] The Biology of Being Stuck: Understanding functional freeze and why growth becomes impossible in trauma states
• [06:14] Science-Based Healing Pathways: Creating biology of safety through mitochondrial support, antioxidants, and repair tools
• [08:26] What Makes This Book Different: Bridging Western medicine with trauma healing using specific biomarkers and measurable changes
• [10:30] Beyond Trauma-Informed Awareness: Why awareness without actionable tools still fails patients and what to do instead
• [17:00] Insight #1 - Internal Response Matters: Trauma isn't the event - it's your body's five-step sequence during overwhelm
• [19:01] Insight #2 - The Critical Line: Your invisible boundary between experiences that grow you versus break you
• [21:23] Insight #3 - Cellular Trauma Reality: How mitochondria literally change shape and function during overwhelm
• [23:51] Insight #4 - Essential Sequence: Safety, support, then expansion - why most people skip the crucial first step
• [26:54] Insight #5 - Biology as Healing Ally: How the same systems holding trauma become your greatest recovery resource

 

Main Takeaways:

• Trauma Becomes Biology: Adverse experiences create measurable changes in cellular function, mitochondrial energy production, and nervous system regulation that can manifest decades later

• Cell Danger Response: When overwhelm crosses a critical threshold, mitochondria physically change shape and switch to survival energy systems, creating chronic symptoms

• Universal Trauma Response Pattern: All overwhelming experiences follow the same five-step sequence - startle, stress, powerlessness, freeze, shutdown - regardless of the trigger

• Biological Markers Matter: Heart rate variability, mitochondrial function, and inflammatory markers provide objective evidence of trauma's cellular impact

• Critical Line of Overwhelm: Everyone has an invisible threshold between experiences that grow us versus break us, which shifts daily based on current capacity

• Essential Sequence for Healing: Recovery requires three phases - safety, support, then expansion - with most approaches failing by skipping biological safety first

• Integration is Required: Trauma affects mind, body, and biology simultaneously, requiring coordinated intervention across all levels for lasting change

• Personalized Repair Approach: Effective healing identifies individual biological blocks rather than applying generic protocols to complex trauma presentations

• Cellular Recovery is Possible: The same mitochondria that hold trauma patterns can restore optimal function when given proper conditions and support

 

Notable Quotes

"I wrote it really for the person who I used to be. I used to be the person who, despite all of my education, despite even being a very, I would say, high performing person, I didn't realize how much trauma my body was holding and I didn't realize it until I got very sick."

"Your cells experience trauma too. You can't therapy or supplement your way out when your cells and body systems are stuck in survival mode."

"Your mitochondria literally change shape, becoming round and rigid instead of long and flexible, and they switch to a backup energy system that produces less energy but can function under threat."

"When you cross that critical line of overwhelm, your cells engage their own emergency break called the cell danger response. Just like your nervous system shuts down for protection, your cellular powerhouses, your mitochondria shift from efficient energy production to barely surviving."

"Most people skip the safety phase though and jump straight into deep processing, and this often retraumatizes them."

"Your symptoms are messengers, your reactions are information, and your healing journey becomes a collaboration with the incredible wisdom your body has been holding all along."

"It gives me a language to explain myself, my trauma, and my experience to others." - Early Reader

 

Episode Takeaway

The Biology of Trauma book reveals how adverse experiences rewire cellular function through the cell danger response, causing mitochondria to shift into survival mode and creating chronic health problems years later. Understanding trauma's biological reality at the cellular level provides both validation for mysterious symptoms and specific repair tools. When mitochondria are stuck in survival mode, psychological interventions alone cannot restore optimal cellular function - healing requires addressing biological dysfunction through targeted mitochondrial support, reducing cellular inflammation, and following the essential sequence of safety, support, and expansion at the cellular level. This integrated approach bridges the gap between understanding trauma's impact and having actionable tools to address it, offering hope for those whose symptoms have resisted conventional treatment by targeting the root biological mechanisms where trauma actually lives.

 

Resources Related To This Episode

Resources/Guides:

• The Biology of Trauma book - Available now everywhere books are sold. Get your copy

Related Episodes:

• Episode 122: Shutdown Before Stress: The Misstep in Trauma Healing That Often Gets Missed

• Episode 129: Why You're Still in Survival Mode (Even After Years of Therapy and Healing Work)

Related YouTube videos:

• Why Your Body Is Wired for Danger: Understanding Trauma's Impact on Your Nervous System

• Mitochondria's Role in Trauma Work with Gabor Maté 
  

Your host: Dr. Aimie Apigian, double board-certified physician (Preventive/Addiction Medicine) with master's degrees in biochemistry and public health, revolutionizes trauma healing by revealing how our cells—not just our minds—store trauma. Her book "The Biology of Trauma" (foreword by Gabor Maté) transforms our understanding of how the body experiences and holds trauma. After adopting a child during medical school sparked her journey, she developed an integrative science-based sequence for the healing journey. Through her practitioner training, podcast, YouTube channel, and international speaking, she bridges functional medicine, attachment and trauma therapy, proving that repairing trauma's impact on the mind, body and biology is possible.

 

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!

 

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/

 

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/

 

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/

 

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 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/

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/

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/

 

 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/

 

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/

 

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/

 

What if healing from trauma wasn't just about your nervous system, but also your immune system? What if science could show us that your body is capable of renewal—faster than you think?

In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie Apigian is joined by Dr. Jeffrey Bland, founder of the Institute for Functional Medicine and one of the leading voices in integrative health. Together, they discuss why trauma isn't just psychological—it's biological, affecting the nervous, immune, and metabolic systems in ways that can keep people stuck in cycles of fatigue, pain, and emotional struggle.

Dr. Bland shares groundbreaking research on immune rejuvenation, including how certain ancient foods like tart buckwheat can reverse signs of immune aging in as little as 90 days. Paired with Dr. Aimie's insights on trauma biology, this conversation offers hope that no matter your past, your biology is not a life sentence.

In this episode you'll hear more about:

• Why trauma acts like a "dimmer switch" on joy and vitality

• The powerful crosstalk between the immune and nervous systems

• How trauma biology accelerates immune system aging—and how to reverse it

• Clinical trial results showing a 47% reduction in immune age in 90 days

• Why the immune system renews every 90–120 days and what that means for healing

• The three pillars of immune rejuvenation: polyphenols, microbiome integrity, and Omega-3s

• Why trauma healing is about applying the right tools at the right leverage points
  
  

Trauma doesn't just live in your past—it can live in your cells. But the science shows us that your immune system and nervous system can both be renewed. This episode is a reminder that healing is possible, and your body knows the way forward.

🎧 Want the deeper dive? This conversation builds on the foundational concepts from Episode 139: Breaking the Body Trauma Loop: Why Healing Takes More Than Willpower (And How to Actually Transform) where Dr. Aimie explores why trauma healing requires biological repair, not just mindset shifts.

* 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.

 

 

 

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:

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

 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.

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! 

 

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.

 

 

 

 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.

 

 

Traditional healing approaches often focus on managing symptoms or returning to who you were before. But what if healing could take you beyond recovery to discovering capacities you never knew you had? What if your patterns of responding to stress  getting stronger over time isn't a sign of failure, but your nervous system following predictable patterns that can be redirected?

In this episode, I share excerpts from my book, The Biology of Trauma. I share a section from Chapter 8 on the "Body trauma loop" - explaining how the body holds on to trauma from our past. 

More importantly, we discover how the same neuroplasticity that automated these survival patterns can create new ones - through specific neuroscience principles. 

 

Key Topics & Timestamps:

[04:31] The Body Trauma Loop: Understanding why incomplete trauma responses compound over time like collecting rocks while hiking

[06:56] Danger-Colored Glasses: How neuroception gets programmed to see threats everywhere, even in safety

[09:03] Neuroplasticity and Trauma: Why "neurons that fire together, wire together" applies to both harmful and healing patterns

[10:56] Book Community Insights: Early readers share experiences with the first three chapters - difficulty putting it down, compelling writing style, and wishing they had this resource decades ago

[14:21] Consistency Over Intensity: The key principle for rewiring neural pathways and creating lasting change

[19:02] The Seabiscuit Story: Finding hope in the journey from broken to magnificent

[21:27] True Expansion: Moving beyond healing symptoms to discovering who you can become

[25:41] From Healing to Living: The shift from "what needs fixing" to "how can I be more alive"

[29:35] Community Transformations: Real stories of cellular-level changes and newfound aliveness

[34:32] Four-Year Journey Wisdom: Taking healing one step at a time and trusting the process

[36:47] Reader Feedback: Deeper understanding even after taking multiple courses

 

Main Takeaways:

• The Body Trauma Loop: Incomplete trauma responses compound over time, making reactions stronger through accumulated cellular danger and nervous system dysregulation

• Neuroplasticity Works Both Ways: The same mechanism that automates trauma patterns can create healing patterns through consistent daily practices

• Consistency Changes Everything: Small daily actions rewire neural pathways more effectively than big one-time efforts - it's about what you can do today that you can also do tomorrow

• Danger-Colored Glasses: Neuroception can get stuck viewing everything as a threat, even normal cues of safety, keeping you trapped in activation or overwhelm

• True Expansion Has No End: Healing is like a spiral staircase where each step takes you higher and deeper, with no limit to how far you can go

• Safety Must Come First: Your nervous system needs felt safety before it can release stored trauma - forcing expansion crushes growth

• From Fixing to Living: The ultimate shift is from asking "what's wrong with me?" to "how can I be more alive?"

 

Notable Quotes

"Whatever is repeated will be habituated to save us energy from having to think about how to do the same process in the future."

"Small hinges move big doors. The small choices made consistently change the big doors in our life."

"How can I be more alive? How can I be more present? As we identify what is holding us back from being more alive in the ways we want, we discover the next layer of the spiral staircase."

"I believe not only that trauma is curable, but that the healing process can be a catalyst for profound awakening, a portal opening to emotional and genuine spiritual transformation." - Peter Levine

 

Episode Takeaway

The healing journey doesn't have to be a lifelong struggle. When you understand that trauma responses are automated through neuroplasticity - the same process that helps you learn to drive or brush your teeth - you can harness this same mechanism for healing. 

The key is consistency over intensity, following the right sequence of safety-support-expansion, and recognizing that your body has an innate capacity to heal when given the proper conditions and understanding. 

True expansion moves beyond just pushing through or managing symptoms to discovering who you can become when no longer held back by the past.

 

Resources Related To This Episode

Resources/Guides:

• Biology of Trauma book - Bonuses are available with Pre-order only.

• Go Deeper With Dr. Aimie with The Biology of Trauma Book (available only until September 22nd):

• • Guided Seeker: Get the Workbook + Mastercourse to go with the book - walking you through each chapter's key concepts

  • Accelerated Implementer: Everything above + live half-day online group intensive with Dr. Aimie for implementation support

  • Fast Track Professional: Everything above + one full day in-person with Dr. Aimie at her home to identify your biggest personal block to your next level of healing and regulation as a professional and guide for others 

• 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 Episodes:

• Episode 135: The Hidden Difference Between Stress and Trauma In How The Body Keeps Score 

• Episode 134: The Biology of Overwhelm: Why Small Demands Feel Impossible 

Related YouTube Episode:

• Why You're Still in Survival Mode (Even After Years of Therapy and Healing Work) | Dr. Aimie Apigian

  About Dr. Aimie Apigian

Dr. Aimie Apigian is a double board-certified physician in preventive and addiction medicine who bridges the gap between Western medicine and somatic healing practices. After her own health crisis in 2014 while in medical residency, she discovered how stored trauma was affecting her biology. She has since dedicated her career to helping others understand and heal the biological impacts of trauma through her courses, clinical practice, and her new book "The Biology of Trauma."

 

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!

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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.

 

 

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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.

 

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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.