Dr. Aimie Apigian: How Trauma Lives in the Body—and How to Finally Let It Go

In this powerful episode, Darin Olien sits down with Dr. Aimie Apigian, a double board-certified physician and leading expert in the biology of trauma, to dive deep into how our nervous systems carry the scars of early life experiences—and what we can do to finally heal.

Dr. Aimie shares her deeply personal story of adopting a traumatized child while in medical school, how it led her to challenge traditional medicine, and the revolutionary model she’s created for resolving trauma through biology—not just psychology.

This conversation is full of practical insights, emotional resonance, and hope for those who’ve struggled to find healing through conventional paths.

 

 

What You’ll Learn:

[00:00] Welcome to the SuperLife Podcast

[01:45] Who is Dr. Aimie Apigian?

[03:20] The biology of trauma vs. psychology of trauma

[06:05] The moment her adopted son changed her path forever

[08:30] Trauma is stored in the body, not just in the mind

[11:40] Fight, flight, freeze... and “functional freeze” explained

[15:30] How stored trauma becomes a health issue

[18:45] The body's role in trauma healing: polyvagal theory basics

[23:15] Trauma vs. chronic stress: understanding the distinction

[27:00] Why somatic therapy is critical and where to begin

[32:10] Dr. Aimie’s 3-step roadmap to trauma healing

[36:40] The role of the vagus nerve and nervous system regulation

[40:55] How trauma shows up in physical illness and fatigue

[45:15] Tools to move from freeze to flow

[49:35] Why high-performers often suppress their trauma

[53:20] Rewriting your biology: real healing is possible

[57:10] Parenting with regulated nervous systems

[1:00:20] The science behind how trauma affects DNA

[1:04:15] Final reflections: healing yourself is how we heal the world

[1:08:00] Where to find Dr. Aimie and her upcoming programs

[1:10:00] Closing thoughts from Darin

 

 

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

• Bite Toothpaste: Go to trybite.com/DARIN20 or use code DARIN20 for 20% off your first order.

• Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% of

 

 

Find More From Dr. Aimie Apigian:

• Website: www.biologyoftrauma.com

• Instagram: @draimie

• Follow her YouTube Channel

• Accelerate your trauma healing with her 21 Day Journey

• Pre-Order her upcoming book: The Biology of Trauma

 

 

Find More from Darin Olien:

• Instagram: @darinolien

• Podcast: SuperLife

• Website: https://superlife.com

• Book: Fatal Conveniences

 

 

Key Takeaway:

“The body doesn’t forget trauma—even when the mind does. True healing starts when we stop trying to 'think' our way out and start reconnecting with the biology underneath the story.”