The Biology of Trauma® With Dr. Aimie

What if the grief you've been pushing away is trying to tell you something? In this mini episode, I open the vault on my live Q&A with Biology of Freeze students. These are the real questions people ask when they're in the deep work. The answers might surprise you. A caregiver asked how to show up for her family while grief keeps pulling her under. A practitioner wondered why her autoimmune clients can't take action. I share the exact practice I use when grief hits like a wave. Spoiler: it's not positive thinking. It's not pushing through. It's pausing long enough to let that part of you feel heard. In this episode you'll hear more about: The grief practice no one taught us: Why ignoring emotions or "staying positive" abandons the hurting part. I share the phrase I say out loud when grief shows up. It starts with: "I'm having a feeling right now." How to stay present to pain without drowning: The physical gesture I use to stay connected instead of numbing. It's not about making it go away. It's about not leaving that part alone. What grief is really pointing to: Behind every wave is something you deeply value. Give it space. You'll get clarity on how you want to live. Generational trauma lives in the body: I break down how ancestral patterns show up in beliefs, sensations, and even DNA. The good news? All of it can be rewired. Why autoimmune clients can't take action: This isn't motivation. It's learned helplessness from early overwhelm. The roots often start before you could talk. Body work sending you into shutdown? If dental work or sauna leave you crashed for weeks, it might not be emotional. Your detox pathways might not keep up. Music as nervous system medicine: Not all calming music actually calms you. I explain what tempo range shifts your heart rate. Our grief isn't a problem to solve. It's a messenger pointing us toward what matters most. 🎙️ Check out this week's main episode, Episode 152: Am I Too Old or Stressed To Get Pregnant? The Real Reason with Dr. Ann Shippy 💭 Try this practice this week: When a feeling shows up, pause. Say out loud: "I'm having a feeling right now." Put your hand where you feel it. Ask that part: "What do you want me to know?" Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. It helps others find trauma-informed care.

The same nervous system patterns that keep us stuck in survival mode may also be telling our body it's not safe to create new life. In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Ann Shippy, a leading functional medicine physician and former chemical engineer who reveals the hidden biological barriers to conception. Get the full episode breakdown at Biology of Trauma® Podcast - Episode 152: Am I Too Old or Stressed To Get Pregnant? The Real Reason In this episode you'll learn: [00:01:20] Why the fertility narrative around age may be missing the bigger picture—and what's actually driving infertility rates [00:02:28] How one patient at 41 conceived easily after addressing heavy metals, microbiome imbalances, and hormonal dysfunction [00:04:16] The identity wound that infertility triggers—and why "am I enough?" surfaces when conception feels impossible [00:09:37] Why hope itself shifts biology and creates an environment welcoming to new life [00:10:45] How environmental toxins—even from healthy activities like golf—create hidden fertility barriers [00:11:48] The "time capsule" concept: How eggs and sperm collect information about stress, trauma, toxins, and nutrient status [00:13:55] The parallel between neuroception and fertility—both systems asking the same question about safety and capacity [00:16:41] Why infertility is fundamentally an energy problem—and how mitochondrial function determines whether the body says yes to new life [00:18:12] How pregnancy can deplete an already exhausted body and create chronic patterns of depletion [00:20:06] The first step Dr. Ann recommends for anyone wanting to conceive—even in their mid-forties

In a candid conversation with Jalon Johnson, a boundary-setting advocate, the duo explores the real reasons why saying no can feel threatening to our nerves. They delve into the mental gymnastics of rehearsing imaginary conversations and how past lessons shape our responses. Jalon shares a powerful reframe: 'no with a period is a complete sentence.' As they discuss emotional tolls and the necessity of self-care, they highlight that discomfort in asserting boundaries is a sign of growth and change.

Dr. Lorne Brown, a pioneer in integrative reproductive and hormone health with over 25 years of experience, discusses the fascinating interplay of trauma and Chinese medicine. He explains how the body stores trauma in three layers and why this often resurfaces around age 40, particularly during perimenopause. They explore menopause as a spiritual awakening and the importance of emotional flow, likening feelings to a song. Lorne also shares practical modalities like acupuncture and breathwork to help manage and metabolize emotions effectively.

Many high-achieving people look successful on the outside while part of them remains frozen in childhood survival patterns. Through the Biology of Trauma® lens, I share how trauma disrupts the natural flow and movement of life—and the healing roadmap that takes us from stuck to truly alive. If we've ever wondered why we can reach every external goal and still feel disconnected from our own life, this episode explains why. I share Elena's story, a 45-year-old Chief Operating Officer whose autoimmune diagnosis revealed what her body had been holding for decades. When her thirteen-year-old daughter had thoughts of suicide—and felt she couldn't talk to her mom—Elena finally understood: a part of her had been frozen since before she could walk. We'll explore how nervous system dysregulation shows up as professional success masking emotional unavailability. We'll see how trauma stops our natural movement through life—and discover the six-step roadmap from survival to authenticity, belonging, and flow. In this episode you'll learn: [00:00] Why successful people can still be frozen in survival patterns from childhood [02:15] How Elena's birth trauma created a freeze response before she could walk [06:40] The moment her daughter's crisis revealed decades of emotional unavailability [09:10] Trauma defined: the biggest disruptor of movement in our life [12:45] Why everything inside us is movement—and what happens when trauma stops it [16:05] The healing destination: authenticity, belonging, and flow as what it means to be alive [19:50] Why state shifts matter more than neuroplasticity on your healing journey [24:05] How neuroplasticity wires in whatever state you're in—including overwhelm [26:30] The six-step roadmap: from "I am alive" to connection with others [28:15] How Elena broke the generational cycle with her daughters Main Takeaways: Trauma Is the Biggest Disruptor of Movement: Trauma isn't just an event—it's the shock that stops us. It disrupts movement at every level: physical, emotional, relational, and through our life stages. Successful and Frozen Can Coexist: High achievement doesn't mean our nervous system is regulated. Elena built an impressive career while part of her remained that terrified little girl, hiding and staying still to survive. State Shifts Come Before Neuroplasticity: Whatever state we're in is what neuroplasticity wires in. If we're frequently in stress and overwhelm, our brain builds pathways that make that pattern automatic. We must shift our state first. The Destination Is Authenticity, Belonging, and Flow: These three elements define what it means to be truly alive—free to be ourselves, grounded in connection, and moving with ease through life. You Can't Skip the Sequence: The roadmap follows a specific order: recognizing we're alive, choosing to live, shifting our state, being here, wanting to be here, deserving to be here, and finally connecting with others. Each step prepares us for the next. Healing Breaks Generational Patterns: When Elena addressed her frozen patterns, her daughters noticed changes they never expected. The "resting bitch face" disappeared. Presence replaced absence. Notable Quotes: "Trauma becomes the biggest disruptor of movement in our life." "I can still see myself as a little girl, hiding with my dolls, quiet, still and absolutely terrified." "Whatever state we are in is what neuroplasticity wires in." "Being in calm alive can actually become a habit. Imagine that." "Your body's decision to freeze wasn't a failure—it was survival. But you don't have to stay frozen." "My 12-year-old girl didn't realize that I had grown up and that I am alive—which means that she did it. She made it. We're alive." Episode Takeaway: Frozen doesn't mean broken. Elena's story reveals what happens when trauma stops our natural movement through life—not just physical movement, but emotional presence, relational connection, and our ability to truly arrive in the life we've built. Her freeze response began at birth, reinforced through childhood, and showed up decades later as professional success masking emotional unavailability. Her daughters felt it. Her body felt it. Her autoimmune diagnosis confirmed it. The healing roadmap offers a way forward. First, we help that frozen part recognize we're alive—that survival happened. Then we consciously choose to live, rather than simply existing because we had no choice. We learn to shift our state into calm and aliveness, practicing until it becomes our new default. And finally, we move through the deeper work: being here, wanting to be here, deserving to be here, and opening to genuine connection with others. Neuroplasticity works for or against us depending on our state. If overwhelm has become our habit, our brain has built pathways that take us there automatically. But when we build the habit of calm aliveness first, neuroplasticity starts working in our favor. The destination isn't perfection—it's authenticity, belonging, and flow. Movement is possible. Coming home to ourselves is possible. 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 9: What is One Thing the Freeze Response Needs for Healing? (Part 2) with Dr. Arielle Schwartz Episode 87: Stress & Freeze Response: How to Achieve & Sustain High Performance with Olympian Louise Tjernqvist Episode 142: Why Stress Isn't Trauma: How to Spot Overwhelm and Start Healing Your Nervous System with Dr. Aimie Apigian Your 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.

What if the hardest part of our healing journey isn't the inner work—but showing up to family gatherings after we've changed and our family hasn't? In this raw, unscripted conversation, Dr. Aimie Apigian sits down with her friend Jalon Johnson to talk about something most healing resources won't touch: the exhausting reality of being around family when we're no longer willing to play the role they expect. This isn't a polished teaching episode—it's two people figuring out in real time how to navigate people-pleasing, unspoken guilt, and the mental gymnastics of anticipating everyone's reactions while trying to stay true to who we've become. From recognizing the coping mechanisms we didn't know were coping mechanisms, to the practical strategy of getting our own hotel room, this episode gets honest about what it really takes to walk the "healthy lonely road" when our family is still stuck in old patterns. In this episode you'll hear more about: The tradition trap and choosing ourselves: Why challenging family traditions makes us the "bad guy" even when those traditions are unhealthy, and how stepping outside the role we're "supposed to play" makes us a threat to people who haven't chosen us—they've just chosen the role The coping mechanisms we didn't recognize: Dr. Aimie's realization that she would start craving numbing foods a full week before family events, recognizing now that overeating specific foods was her way of avoiding the uncomfortable feelings of misalignment and unspoken expectations Titrating our presence—the hotel room strategy: Dr. Aimie's practical approach to family—not disappearing completely, but also not showing up in ways that leave us angry, resentful, and needing weeks to recover. Finding "what is enough" by getting her own hotel to reset her energy and maintain who she is without sabotaging the healing she's done "I'm not going, and I don't owe an explanation": Jalon's boundary of simply not attending when his body tells him rest is needed, recognizing it only has to make sense to him—and the powerful reframe: "I don't want the next gathering of the family to be everybody at my funeral" Boundaries expose, they don't create: Understanding that healthy boundaries will expose the conflict that was already underlying—the dysfunction was always there, we're just no longer pretending it isn't Our healing will change our relationships. That's not a warning, it's a guarantee. The question isn't whether our family will be uncomfortable with the new us—they will be. The question is: what boundaries will we set so we can stay true to ourselves without completely disconnecting from the people we love? This episode doesn't give us easy answers because there aren't any. But it gives us permission to get our own hotel room, to say "I'm not coming," and to recognize that choosing ourselves isn't selfish when the alternative is betraying everything we've worked so hard to heal. 🎧 This is Part 1 of Dr. Aimie's conversation with Jalon Johnson. Part 2 will tackle why saying no feels like pulling the pin out of a grenade and what might actually happen when we set that boundary. Subscribe so you don't miss it. 🎙️ Check out this week's main episode, Episode 149: Mind-Body Trauma Research: The Truth with Dr. Gabor Maté 💭 What's the boundary we've been afraid to set because we're worried about what others will say? Sit with that question this week. And if you need the reminder: it only has to make sense to us. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube—it takes two minutes and means more than you know. Thank you for being here.

Dr. Gabor Maté, a prominent physician and bestselling author, delves into the hidden connections between trauma and physical health. He discusses the alarming link between PTSD and ovarian cancer revealed in a Harvard study, which remains largely ignored. Gabor unpacks the extensive research that shaped his book, The Myth of Normal, highlighting the importance of mind-body unity. He also addresses misconceptions about his work, emphasizing that he is not blaming parents, but rather fostering understanding in trauma-informed care.

div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 standard-markdown"> What if your sugar cravings, need to clean, urge to call a friend, or desire to put on a movie while working aren't just procrastination—but your nervous system desperately trying to help you avoid drowning in emotions that feel too intense to face? In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie gets vulnerable about discovering a new level of chronic functional freeze in herself—sharing the exact moment she found herself staring at chocolate muffins on a grocery app, salivating, recognizing her body was scrambling to decrease the intensity of overwhelm. This episode reveals something critical about stored trauma: what looks like busyness or distraction is actually your biology's attempt to create distance when stress feels bigger than your capacity. And recognizing these patterns is the first step to having choice instead of falling into them unconsciously. In this episode you'll hear more about: The capacity equation: Why overwhelm and freeze kick in when the stress you're experiencing feels so much bigger than your current capacity—it's not a choice, it's your body going into protection mode to keep you from drowning The chocolate muffin moment: Dr. Aimie's raw account of craving chocolate muffins while on a carnivore diet, recognizing her nervous system was reaching for sugar to numb panic—and the biology of why sugar and gluten bind opiate receptors just like Vicodin to decrease emotional pain The pattern of disconnection: How chronic functional freeze shows up as avoidance of emotions through creating distance—sugar cravings first, then calling friends to focus on them instead of you, then cleaning and organizing anything to avoid sitting still with the stress Why high performers miss their freeze: How being productive and getting stuff done can mask storage trauma in your body—you look fine to everyone else while struggling internally with focus, efficiency, and feeling stuck trying to push through The distraction cascade: What happens when your nervous system can't get the chocolate muffins—it moves through the list: call a friend (focus on their needs), clean something (create busy work), put on a movie (split your attention), go to bed early (escape it all) The biology of avoidance behaviors: Understanding that reaching for distractions isn't weakness or poor discipline—it's your nervous system literally scrambling for anything that will decrease intensity so you don't feel like you're drowning in your inner emotions Why it looks healthy but isn't: How going to bed early, cleaning, and helping friends can appear like self-care and productivity when they're actually signs of freeze response—trying to run away and create distance from what feels too big From no choice to real choice: How recognizing these patterns as messages from your body creates space for different decisions—before awareness, you were falling into chocolate muffins and distractions; after awareness, you can see what your body really needs (to know you're going to be okay) The growth edge opportunity: Why being at your edge in overwhelm isn't doom and gloom—it's actually your opportunity to expand capacity so you can hold more stress without going into freeze, transforming your relationship with the freeze response entirely The patterns of pain and protection: Where to find the full framework in Chapter 9 of The Biology of Trauma, including disconnection, perfectionism, push-through philosophy, chronic fatigue, and autoimmunity as predictable patterns of stored trauma Your busyness isn't always about being busy. Sometimes it's your nervous system trying to save you from drowning. But here's the truth: when you can recognize the chocolate muffin craving, the urge to clean, the need to focus on someone else, or the desire to split your attention with a movie as messages from your body—not failures or weaknesses—you gain choice. You can ask, "What do I really need right now? What is my body trying to tell me?" That recognition is powerful. That's what transforms freeze from something that controls you into something you move through, knowing you'll be okay and that this edge is actually your growth edge. 🎧 Want the full context? This mini episode expands on concepts from Episode #148: Why You Can't Sit Still: The Hidden Biology of Busyness. Go back and listen to that full episode for the complete framework on recognizing and working with freeze responses in your body. 📖 Want to go deeper? The Biology of Trauma book, Chapter 9 (page 116) provides the complete patterns of pain and protection framework for recognizing chronic functional freeze in yourself and others. Get your copy at biologyoftrauma.com/book 🔬 Ready to recognize your patterns? Explore more Biology of Trauma episodes on understanding your nervous system's protection patterns and expanding your capacity at biologyoftrauma.com

Explore how trauma manifests in the body, causing a frantic need to stay busy. Discover why stillness can provoke fear for survivors and learn about somatic healing techniques. The story of Jess reveals how childhood trauma culminated in chronic busyness and a disconnect from her own emotions. Delve into the trauma response sequence and the role of the vagus nerve in managing safety. Finally, understand how healing involves creating new relational memories without erasing the past.

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