The Biology of Trauma® With Dr. Aimie

In this episode, I want to teach on an important topic that is either commonly misunderstood or just missed, muscle bracing patterns that have their origins in our attachment style.  I am teaching on how to recognize attachment bracing adaptations to answer the one question How does our attachment create bracing patterns in our body to protect us from pain?  This is important because these same bracing patterns will affect both our breath and our freeze response - our shut down in the face of certain emotions.  In this episode, you’ll learn: How to recognise bracing patterns Which emotions bracing helps protect us from How bracing patterns developed during our attachment years to protect our physiology How bracing patterns affect the breath The relationship between bracing patterns and the freeze response For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How do we restore the gut microbiome that has been affected by trauma, stress and nervous system dysregulation? In this episode, we’ll focus on how we can get our gut and nervous system back into a space where they can feel safe enough to relax and process the trauma and stress our body is carrying. Steven Wright is my guest for this episode. Because of his story and life experience with trauma, stress and nervous system dysregulation since infancy affecting his gut, he has had to learn solutions to fight for his health. He is truly a health engineer to understand nervous system and gut connection and solutions. and founded a business based on what he has learned.   I really wanted to have Steven on because he really had to go to a deeper level than most have ever needed to in order to find solutions for a gut impacted by trauma and nervous system dysregulation. Being born with a birth defect that resulted in something called visceral hypersensitivity, he has experienced anxiety, panic attacks and depression, obesity and IBS… and is here to share his story and what he learned that can help us with our gut and nervous system connection.  In this episode, you’ll learn: How early life experiences program survival mechanisms into our nervous system  How those survival programs become health dysfunctions The 3 nutrients that are power houses for the gut-nervous system connection The optimal ways, types and dosages for the body to absorb these supplements properly Why you still may be struggling with gut issues despite a clean diet  How to choose properly functioning digestive enzymes  For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Does the overwhelm and experience of trauma create a pre-existing state in our nervous system that sets the stage for chronic pain conditions? In this episode, we will be talking about chronic pain as a message from our body. Part of an unconscious protective response learned by nerve pathways rather than a physical abnormality. While chronic pain can be traced back to an injury or event, the science suggests  chronic pain is caused by our brain’s attempt to protect us from unbearable emotions. In fact, this purpose of protection is at the root of many common complaints, including back pain, sciatica, migraines, fibromyalgia and many other symptoms.  I have an incredible guest for this episode, Georgie Odlfield, a physiotherapist and chronic pain specialist, who has been a real leader in this space. Georgie is a TEDx speaker and the author of Chronic Pain: Your Key to Recovery. She is a woman, steady and strong in her leadership in trauma-informed care for chronic pain.  I first came across her work when I sought out training in psychosomatic medicine while in preventive medicine residency. I had just switched out of general surgery and knew that I wanted to lean in more into the root cause of conditions that I had only previously been taught to treat with a pill or surgery. This is how I came across these leaders in the space, and have been happy to see Georgie provide such value and community for those with chronic pain and practitioners who work with chronic pain. In this episode, you’ll learn: How chronic ongoing pain or recurring symptoms can actually be neuroplastic mind body symptoms How to ask questions that will help you get to the root of your chronic pain symptoms and release them  Why somebody is more likely to develop chronic pain after having an acute injury and the predisposing factors for this How chronic pain can be the body’s protective response to keep us from falling apart emotionally How to communicate with your body, and not just hear but also understand the answers it’s giving you For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Does trauma affect our methylation process and our body's capacity to detox? Trauma doesn't just live in our minds; it resides in our cells, influencing fundamental biological processes. One of these processes is detoxification, our body's natural ability to eliminate harmful substances. When trauma is stored in the body, it affects the biology of our detoxification pathways, making it harder for us to rid ourselves of toxins. A build-up of toxins can impede our progress in trauma therapy and healing. It's a two-way street: trauma affects our ability to detoxify, and toxins affect our ability to process and release trauma.  I am very excited about our guest today since he has been a leader in implementing mental health nutrition at the clinical level. It is hard to be a leader, and I want to acknowledge the effort he has put in to create a different experience for his patients. Albert Mensah has been a family practice physician for over twenty years now. He received his medical degree from Finch University of Health Sciences, Chicago Medical School, and then completed his residency at Swedish Covenant, leading him to follow a very different path than conventional medical, making his approach to body and biochemical imbalances very unique.  In this episode, you’ll learn: The science behind trauma-toxin connection and provide practical insights on what to do about it  Learn to recognize methylation imbalances and its health issues Understand how to support your body's detox pathways Learn nutritional and diet tools For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How can we better manage anxiety by decreasing adrenaline levels through our food and eating habits? In this episode, we will be talking about the major hormone of stress and trauma - adrenaline.  This episode will help you better understand the important role of adrenaline in stress, dsyregulation and stored trauma. Moreover, it will give you knowledge of how to learn more about your adrenaline levels based on your eating habits and the nutritional tools for balancing adrenaline.  My good friend Luis Mojica, a somatic therapist, nutritionist and a musician is my guest for this episode.  Like me, he started noticing how his biology and nutrition were affecting somatic work, got curious and started asking questions and testing his theories on himself.  Luis came into this work through personal experience, having endured a lot of relational trauma in his personal life, he realized he used to binge eat thousands of calories in one sitting just to suppress his anxiety and social fear, until one day, by mistake, he played the guitar.  This is when he discovered co-regulation and parasympathetic response, and he set off to research other modalities that could also create the same feeling of safety and was led to the type of trauma work he does now.  In this episode, you’ll learn: To track cravings back to childhood when we used food for internal regulation  How eating certain types of foods can help us metabolize adrenaline    How compulsive eating helps us regulate our nervous system What foods lead to experiencing perceived threats and chronic PTSD because of their effect on the adrenal glands How can we metabolize excess adrenaline using food Somatic practices that can help with accessing stored trauma in our stomach, managing cravings and digestive issues For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Can lithium influence nervous system dysregulation? In this episode, we are looking at lithium’s role on the nervous system. You will find that it needs to be central to the conversation for mental health, addiction, and the trauma healing journey, particularly its stabilizing effects on the nervous system. I have brought in a guest whose work I have high respect for and helped me see the possibilities beyond mood medications for myself. Dr. James Greenblatt has been in clinical practice since 1988 and is the founder and pioneer in the field of integrative and functional psychiatry. In this episode, you’ll learn the role of lithium in helping a dysregulated nervous system become more flexible, regulated and stable: Lithium's role in impulsivity  The interface between lithium and the immune system The use of lithium for depression, suicidal thoughts and addiction Why you should understand your family’s mental health history prior to considering lithium treatment What other symptoms might indicate the need for a lithium treatment How lithium interacts with other minerals like copper and zinc For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Does growing up in chaos impact our nervous systems even as adults? In this episode, we are looking at early childhood dynamics and how it’s expressed in adulthood through unconscious behaviors and coping mechanisms. I have brought in a guest who is especially dear to my heart and has played a very significant and pivotal role in my own journey. Dr. Tian Dayton specializes in addiction and trauma, especially when it comes to speaking to the adult child of an alcoholic. Dr. Dayton is also a leading voice in psychodrama, and she has a very incredible way of combining movement and the body with it, which gives her patients the opportunity to access different times in their past, be able to role play with them and give them a voice that they did not have before. In this episode you'll learn: The kind of coping mechanisms we develop in response to early trauma The importance of integrating movement and emotional expression in therapy  The importance of physical touch and intimacy in early childhood development How perceived sense of danger can lead to a collapse in the nervous system What kind of environments provide the structure needed for trauma resolution For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

What 2 Neuroscience Features Will Reinforce chronic pain and make it habitual? In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Howard Schubiner, board certified in pediatrics, adolescent medicine, internal medicine and a leading voice in the mind body medicine field.  We’ll be discussing how the brain regulates and generates a wide range of chronic symptoms, from pain to fatigue to anxiety and how to understand when these symptoms are mind-body related.  His research and clinical experience led him to develop therapies that help to effectively "unlearn" these chronic symptoms by addressing the underlying neural circuits and emotional factors driving these psychophysiological conditions.  In this episode, you’ll learn: Predictive processing and the brain’s role in chronic pain The role of emotional injuries and neural circuit pain in chronic conditions How pain can become habitual and reinforced by fear and conditioned responses Why you should treat the brain like a child and the principle of graded exposure How Internal Family Systems can be used to address fear and anger towards sensations and pain For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How can we change our biochemistry to change our trauma responses? In this episode, we are looking at thoughts and behavior through hormones, metabolism and biochemistry.  I have brought in a distinguished guest, Dr. Robert Lustig, a pioneering neuroendocrinologist. A neuroendocrinologist is someone who studies and works with the intersection of the nervous system with the endocrine system, or hormones. His work has been instrumental in understanding metabolic disorders and their role in stress and mood.  He had a big influence on me as I came into functional medicine in search of answers for my own health issues during my surgery residency. His work on metabolic chronic health issues, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, was fascinating, especially coming in with my background, with a Masters degree in biochemistry. It helped to make sense of what I was experiencing in my own physiology, health and mood at the time. In this episode, you'll learn: Whether the global epidemic of chronic health problems are a result of separate issues or part of a single larger root issue in our stress resilience and physiology. The four "brakes" of the amygdala in fear conditioning  How our metabolism influences serotonin and our stress and mood regulation The intersection of our metabolism, cortisol, and insulin on depression  How our thoughts and actions are created at the cellular level by biochemistry and proteins For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How can tapping on specific points on the body help regulate the autonomic nervous system and promote holistic wellness?  I'm really excited for this episode because we're talking about acupuncture and meridian points on our body as a tool to work with our trauma.  We're going to hear the powerful story of Jennifer Partridge, a friend of mine, who found EFT tapping and it changed her life and helped to reverse her colitis. The outcome was so profound that she made it her life's purpose to empower others through tapping and the gift of emotional mastery that it brings. Jennifer is a world renowned tapping expert, author and speaker. Not only will she explain how to use tapping to reduce physical symptoms and relax the nervous system, but she'll also explain how she uses tapping to enliven the system and tap into your purpose.  In this episode, you will learn about: The possibilities with tapping and reducing various physical health problems How to integrate Chinese medicine, energy healing and Western medicine How trauma affects the autonomic nervous system and why this leads to chronic health issues Methods to create a safe environment that allow us to access and work through buried traumas How tapping techniques can help with inner child work Understand the importance of setting energetic boundaries to prevent the absorption of others’ stress and emotions For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How can authenticity help us heal from trauma and achieve deeper, more intimate relationships? Dr. Aimie Apigian is joined by Dr. Peter Levine, the pioneer of Somatic Experiencing, to discuss how trauma disrupts our connection to our authentic selves, which in turn affects our ability to form deep, meaningful relationships. Together, they will explain how we can begin to restore deep intimacy and connection with others through the practice of somatic healing. Allowing for genuine intimacy and presence in our lives after having experienced trauma. In this episode, you will learn about: How trauma disrupts our authentic self and impacts our relationships The significance of authenticity and human connection when it comes to healing this trauma How to achieve greater intimacy through authenticity How a dysregulated nervous system impacts our ability to achieve our goals and strategies how to manage this The connection between the flow state and authenticity The importance of authenticity and self-awareness in personal growth For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How does unresolved trauma disrupt our sleep patterns, and what can we do about it? I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Michael Breus, a double board-certified clinical psychologist and clinical sleep specialist. We’ll be discussing the profound effects of trauma on our sleep, exploring how our nervous system processes life experiences and their lasting impact on our rest. Dr. Breus will explain how trauma can disrupt sleep patterns, examine unique case studies from his practice and explore practical solutions for overcoming these challenges. In this episode, you will learn about: How past traumas continue to affect sleep long after the event The importance of a felt sense of safety for falling asleep The link between freeze response, escapism and sleep and how to stop numbing in order to sleep How to discover your chronotype and improve your sleep cycle based on it How nightmares prevent emotional processing and how dream therapy can help individuals work through trauma  How trauma can make us feel 'wired and tired' 2 practical techniques for calming the mind and body before sleep For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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!