The Biology of Trauma® With Dr. Aimie

Why Trauma Therapy Made Me Sicker: The Missing Biology Behind Emotional Healing

Sep 12, 2025
Dr. Tom O'Bryan, a chronic disease expert known for his four-quadrant health approach, joins Dr. Aimie to explore why trauma therapy can sometimes exacerbate physical health issues. They discuss the critical link between emotional healing and cellular stress, revealing that trauma is not just a mental burden but also a biological one. The conversation covers how addressing toxicity and understanding personal limits can aid recovery, alongside the body's survival mechanisms such as dissociation and energy conservation that keep trauma locked in.
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ANECDOTE

Therapy That Triggered Illness

  • Dr. Aimie describes getting sicker after starting trauma therapy and discovering multiple health conditions like autoimmunity and chronic fatigue.
  • She links physical flare-ups during therapy to biology being triggered before she addressed underlying cellular issues.
ADVICE

Build Capacity Before Deep Trauma Work

  • Befriend your body and stay within both emotional and physical capacity when doing trauma work.
  • Build capacity gradually instead of exceeding your body's homeostatic limits.
INSIGHT

Cellular Capacity Over Mindset

  • Mindset alone doesn't determine resilience; cellular capacity does.
  • Your cells set a limit on how much stress you can hold without breaking.
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