The Biology of Trauma® With Dr. Aimie

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/