The Biology of Trauma® With Dr. Aimie

Are you or someone you know struggling with the weight of grief, feeling disconnected, exhausted, or immobilized? In this short episode, Dr. Aimie will expand on her conversation with Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor from episode 114. She will dive deeper into the neurobiology of grief and its impact on the body. You'll hear more on: The three survival mechanisms of grief-related trauma Why grief can trigger overwhelming fatigue, digestive issues, and feelings of heaviness The connection between grief, the gut, and the nervous system Practical steps to support and repair the body during the grieving process If grief feels unbearable, understanding the biology behind it can provide insights and strategies to support healing. If you want to learn more listen to Episode 114: The Science Behind Why We Can't "Get Over" Loss and How to Grieve Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Are you or someone you know struggling with unexplained anxiety, fatigue, or reactivity? In this short episode, Dr. Aimie dives deep into the conversation she had with Dr. Neil Nathan in episode 113 about how hidden infections like mold toxicity and Lyme disease can create a "biology of threat" within your body. She'll explore: How mold and Lyme can trigger physiological symptoms that mimic trauma responses The 3 interconnected systems that keep your body in constant threat mode Practical steps to regulate your nervous system and reduce sensitivity Ready to learn more on how mold toxicity and Lyme disease can affect not just the body but the mind as well? Listen to Episode 113: Hidden Triggers: How Mold and Lyme Create A Sensitive and Reactive Personality with Dr. Neil Nathan Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Are you ready to unlock your brain's hidden power? Today, Dr. Aimie will be taking a closer look at the key takeaways from her conversation with Dr. Greg Kelly. She will be going into the biology behind the brain's capacity and what you can do to improve yours. She'll talk about: Removing stressors that are taking up brain capacity Why creating more brain capacity is key long-term Simple tools to increase your capacity If you want to know more about how you can reduce stressors and increase mental bandwidth, listen to Episode 111: Unlock Your Brain's Hidden Power: Reduce Stress and Stop Burnout Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Of all the different aspects of trauma biology, brain inflammation is the one that will hold you back when it comes to the therapy, trauma work and personal development you're trying to do. In this short episode, Dr. Aimie will share her top takeaways and action steps from episode 110 with Dr. Datis Kharrazian. She'l go into the biology behind brain inflammation in therapy and trauma work. You'll hear more on: How brain inflammation shuts the body down The 3 levels that keep your body stuck The necessary repair tools for brain inflammation Ready to clear your mind of brain fog? Listen to Episode 110: Clear Your Mind: How to Reduce Brain Fog & Mental Fatigue Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Is your biology making it easier to fall into addiction? Today, Dr. Aimie is taking a closer look at this question and other key takeaways from her conversation with the late Dr. Charles Gant around addiction. You'll hear more on: Biological factors that may push someone towards addiction The role of the freeze response in addiction The 3 main biochemical imbalances that are seen in addiction Want to hear more about the connection between your biology and addiction? Listen to Episode 109: End Your Addiction Now: How Pioneer Work Outperforms Traditional Treatment Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Did you know your body's connective tissues might be trapping trauma and toxins? In this short episode, Dr. Aimie is sharing valuable insights from her episode with Dr. Christine Schaffner. She talks about the biology behind how trauma manifests in the body through the extracellular matrix, fascia, and lymphatic system. You'll hear more on: How these connective tissues work The healing sequence to follow to start your healing journey Which system to address first when looking at stored trauma If you want to more fully understand this topic, head over to Episode 108: How The Body Stores Emotional Trauma in the Fascia and Lymphatic System with Dr. Christine Schaffner Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

" In order to think about grief, first you have to think about love and bonding, because that is what gets lost. That is what gets broken." Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor Understanding why grief feels so physical, why someone still reaches for the phone to call someone who's gone, or why certain memories can trigger intense emotions years after a loss can provide valuable insight for those helping others who are experiencing grief or for those who want to know more about grief. And today, we're diving into the neuroscience behind grief. In this episode, Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor joins Dr. Aimie to discuss how grief isn't just an emotional response but a complex learning process as our brains adapt to a fundamentally changed reality. She introduces the critical distinction between grief and grieving, highlighting how our attachment patterns influence our grief journey. Her fascinating research on yearning reveals that this powerful sensation activates the same brain regions involved with other basic survival needs, explaining why the feeling can be so intense and overwhelming The conversation also goes into how avoidance and rumination can interfere with natural healing, and that the intensity and frequency of grief waves will change over time as part of the grieving process. You'll learn: The brain regions that activate when you yearn for someone who has died Why yearning is more like hunger or thirst than addiction The difference between grief (response) and grieving (adaptation process) How rumination and avoidance can interfere with natural healing The importance of staying grounded and connected to the present How to prepare your brain and support systems for future grief experiences The crucial differences between depression and grief, and why they require different approaches Whether you're currently navigating grief, supporting someone who is, or simply preparing for inevitable losses, this episode will help you understand why healing isn't "getting over" a loss, but an ever evolving process that fundamentally changes our reality. Connect with Dr. O'Connor: Website Related Podcasts: Episode 42: Unlocking The Role of Disguised Grief in Health Episode 76: Navigating the Grief Journey: The Polyvagal Way To Become an Active Operator of Your Nervous System Guides, Tools & Resources: The Essential Sequence - A free guide that shows you the difference between stress and trauma states of our nervous system. In just 3 steps, it walks you through what your body needs when it has stored trauma or is in a freeze response. Foundational Journey - If you want to be safely guided through The Essential Sequence, and lay your foundation of regulation in this online 6 week course, join me and my team of mentors for this journey into your inner world with practical somatic and parts self-practices Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast. Comment Etiquette: I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Please share your constructive feedback by using personal name or initials so that we can keep this space spam-free, and let's keep the discussion positive!

"If you have a new onset of anxiety or depression that doesn't even make sense to you, think of a more physical cause." - Dr. Neil Nathan Do you have issues with focus, concentration, or even finding the word you want to use? If so, you might be dealing with the hidden effects of mold toxicity and Lyme disease. In this episode, Dr. Aimie sits down with Dr. Neil Nathan to discuss how mold toxicity and Lyme disease can create a "biology of threat" in the body that can trigger and maintain a state of hypervigilance and reactivity. This is not the only issue mold toxins and Lyme infections can cause. They can create unique inflammatory responses that affect the brain, nervous system, and immune function, often manifesting as unexplained anxiety, depression, cognitive issues, and physical symptoms that are often misdiagnosed as mental health disorders. Dr. Nathan also introduces "the big three" factors keeping the body stuck in threat mode: limbic activation, vagal dysregulation, and mast cell activation. He'll share how these become dysregulated when faced with mold toxicity and Lyme disease, causing the body to shut down as a protective mechanism. This explains why you may experience seemingly inexplicable sensitivities and reactions despite doing all the "right" emotional and psychological work for trauma recovery. Join them as they break down the science behind the body's response to mold toxicity and Lyme disease, if it's possible to reverse it, and actionable steps you can take to start the healing journey. You'll learn more about: [05:05] How "out of the blue" anxiety, depression, or other symptoms might actually be caused by mold or Lyme [10:00] What makes the inflammation associated with these internal stressors unique [16:46] Why the "big three" need to be addressed together in sensitive patients [17:38] How mold toxicity and Lyme can lead to chronic neurological and autoimmune conditions [20:33] The internal trauma response that can be created by mold toxicity and Lyme And more! Dr. Neil Nathan is a Board Certified Family Physician who has been practicing medicine for over 50 years. As he studied and learned a wide variety of alternative concepts, his practice gravitated into primarily helping to diagnose and treat those patients who have not been helped by conventional medicine. He's worked with thousands of patients with complex medical illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, mold toxicity, chronic Lyme disease, autism, and chronic pain. Related Podcasts: Episode 105: How Anxiety, Depression & Trauma Reactions May Be From Mold and Heavy Metals Episode 106: How Mast Cell Activation, Histamines & Mold Toxicity Place You in a High-Risk Trauma Category Guides, Tools & Resources: The Essential Sequence - free guide that shows you the difference between stress and trauma states of our nervous system. In just 3 steps, it walks you through what your body needs when it has stored trauma or is in a freeze response. Foundational Journey - a guided 6 week journey into your inner world with a structured sequence of somatic and parts interventions with live online classes. One of the things that happens in just the first 21 days of the Foundational Journey is that people experience a 26% decrease in daily physical pain, speaking to what Dr Schubiner was just talking about, these neural secret pains, can turn off and on, and it's not actually necessarily due to the the injury the body itself. It is a neural circuit and we're managing the pain just by working with the nervous system, looking at the habitual component of it and continuing with essential parts work. Connect with Dr. Neil Nathan: Website Disclaimer: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast. Comment Etiquette: I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Please share your constructive feedback by using personal name or initials so that we can keep this space spam-free, and let's keep the discussion positive!

Have you ever felt like your body is stuck in survival mode, holding onto stress and tension no matter how hard you try to let it go? What if this instinct to survive is also what drives chronic inflammation, emotional pain, and even long-term illness? Today, Dr. Isaac Eliaz joins Dr. Aimie to explore the concept of the survival paradox.This process is what keeps your body on high alert and affects everything from your energy levels to your ability to heal and can keep your body stuck in a freeze response. Together, they'll discuss the survival paradox's deep connection to trauma, the protein, Galactin-3, that can either drive health or inflammation, and more. You'll hear more about: What the "Survival Paradox" is and how it shapes your body's response to trauma and stress. The connection between chronic inflammation and unresolved trauma Simple ways to start healing your body from the inside How acceptance can unlock your healing potential And more! Our guest, Dr. Isaac Eliaz, is a pioneer in integrative medicine, a world-renowned expert in trauma healing, and the author of The Survival Paradox. For decades, Dr. Eliaz has been bridging the gap between ancient healing wisdom and cutting-edge science, exploring how our biology and emotions are deeply intertwined. His work focuses on the biochemical pathways of trauma, including the role of survival proteins like galectin-3, and how they impact inflammation, healing, and overall health. If you've been wanting to reduce your stress levels, overcome your chronic health issues or start healing yourself, then this episode is a must listen to! Let's dive in! For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Have you ever felt like stress is draining your energy, focus, and resilience—no matter how much you try to manage it? What if stress isn't just about what's happening around you, but about how your brain and body process it behind the scenes? In this episode, Dr. Greg Kelly joins Dr. Aimie to dive into the hidden biology of stress and uncover how it consumes your mental bandwidth, disrupts your brain's energy supply, and impacts your ability to think clearly and recover from challenges. You'll discover how your brain's prediction systems influence your stress response—and, more importantly, how to work with them to prevent burnout and build lasting resilience. Dr. Kelly is an expert in integrative and functional medicine with years of experience researching how the brain and body handle stress. He has worked extensively on strategies to enhance resilience, combining his deep knowledge of neurobiology, nutrition, and the body's natural stress-response mechanisms. If you're ready to stop feeling like stress is always one step ahead of you, this conversation will give you the tools to take back control and create more space for clarity, focus, and well-being in your life. In this episode, we will be talking about "The last straw" concept as it relates to stress The 2 biggest contributors to feeling stress overload (hint: it's not physical) Why predictability is key to managing stress levels How building resilience starts with addressing the brain's energy needs and reducing oxidative stress. How the right supplements, like Ashwagandha, can support resilience and reduce stress And more! For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Are brain fog, fatigue, and mental exhaustion holding you back? These symptoms aren't just stress-related or signs of aging. They're often caused by hidden brain inflammation! In this episode, my guest, Dr. Datis Kharrazian, and I discuss neuroinflammation – What it is, what causes it, and how it affects brain function, mood, and overall health. You'll discover how factors like stress, diet, gut health, and past head injuries contribute to brain inflammation and what you can do to reduce it. You'll learn practical lifestyle changes, nutrition tips, and brain-boosting strategies to improve focus, energy, and mental clarity. You'll hear more on: How brain inflammation starts—and why it's often caused by everyday factors like stress, diet, or past injuries What you can do to calm inflammation naturally, including dietary changes, supplements, and specific lifestyle shifts Why understanding your triggers —from food sensitivities to emotional stress — is the key to protecting your brain from long-term damage How to optimize your brain health using tools like intermittent fasting, anti-inflammatory diets, and proper sleep routines Whether you've experienced brain fog, recovering from an injury, or just want to preserve your brain function for the future, this episode will give you the tools and knowledge to take control of your brain health! For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Is our biology predisposing us to addictive tendencies? Addiction isn't just about willpower—it's deeply rooted in biology. Today, we dive into how our own biology can make it easier to fall into an addiction and make it harder to break free. Why is that though? Because it gives us leverage points to both prevent or treat addictions. Similar to trying to treat trauma just with therapy and not including the biology, addictions is a mind-body and biology condition and will require such an approach for the best outcomes. The late Dr. Charles Gant, who was our guest for this episode, achieved an 83% success rate in addiction recovery—far surpassing conventional methods that have less than a 50% success rate. By targeting neurotransmitter imbalances, detoxifying the body, and optimizing nutrition, his method offers a revolutionary path to true healing beyond traditional treatment. To honor him, this conversation highlights his outstanding efforts in understanding and overcoming addiction. You'll learn more about: Why relapse is more often a result of unaddressed biological imbalances How genetic vulnerabilities and neurotransmitter deficiencies contribute to addiction and coping patterns What you can do to naturally to improve mood and focus How detoxification can accelerate recovery and create long-term healing For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How does trauma impact the "hidden spaces" of our body, making emotions and toxins deeply connected? Welcome to today's episode, where we're diving into a fascinating frontier of healing that might just explain why traditional approaches to trauma and chronic pain sometimes fall short. Whether you're a practitioner working with clients or patients or someone on your own healing journey, you've likely noticed that trauma and stress seem to leave their mark on the body in ways that talk therapy alone can't always reach. Maybe you've experienced or witnessed how emotional stress shows up as physical pain, or how physical treatments sometimes trigger unexpected emotional releases. There's a reason for this, and one reason lives in a part of your body that, until recently, has been largely overlooked: fascia and extracellular matrix. Don't worry if these terms are new to you – we're going to break down these complex systems into practical understanding that you can use. What's exciting is that this knowledge bridges the gap between physical and emotional healing. To help us understand this topic, I'm joined by my friend Dr. Christine Schaffner, a board-certified naturopathic physician and an expert in treating complex chronic conditions from her clinic in Seattle, where she uses innovative therapies that focus on the body's natural ability to heal. In this episode, we'll explore: How trauma is stored in the fascia and extracellular matrix How fascia impacts everything from chronic pain to emotional resilience Why lymphatic health needs to be part of trauma recovery Why a detox can cause emotional reactions How to safely approach detox Practical simple steps to support your body's healing process that you can do at home. For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

What are common beliefs we form about ourselves that leave us unable to connect, trust and receive love later as adults? Have you ever wondered why success doesn't automatically translate to feeling fulfilled? Or why, despite all our achievements, there's still that nagging feeling that we need to prove ourselves? Today's episode sharing an adoption story might just explain why. Today, JJ Virgin joins me to share a deeply personal story that is part of her reason for her remarkable professional success. In this episode, JJ talks openly about the challenges of growing up feeling like she had to rely only on herself, how those feelings drove her to professional success, and the breakthroughs she's experienced that have helped her heal old wounds, become a proud mom and find love. Yet, this conversation isn't just for those who have been adopted— though it will help you understand yourself better if you have and help you understand anyone in your life who has been. Rather, this episode is about recognizing the unconscious pain that we carry from our childhood. In this episode, you'll learn: How early experiences shape our beliefs about love, trust, and self-worth The conundrum of relying only on ourselves Simple ways to build trust when we haven't been able to trust others How to better support those in your life who have a history of being adopted For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Have you ever wondered why you are so reactive - to people, foods, smells, sounds and stress - while other people around you seem completely fine? You are going in overdrive or even going into overwhelm, and think you just must be having a bad day or looking for what triggered you. The answer might surprise you. A specific cell of your immune system, mast cells, could be actually causing trauma responses in your body, putting you into emotional states, that have less to do with the people around you and more with a compound those cells release, histamine. Today we're tackling a commonly overlooked underlying reason for anxiety. We will be answering the question, How do mast cell activation and mold toxicity keep us stuck in our responses and triggers to trauma? Before we dive in, I want to dedicate this episode to the loving memory of our guest Beth O'Hara, who passed away in July 2024. Beth was a pioneering functional naturopath who transformed countless lives through her work with Mast Cell 360, helping people understand and heal from complex cases of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), mold toxicity, and related conditions. She was a friend to me and I am sad to not have more time and conversations with her. In this episode, you'll discover: How to recognize if histamine is driving your anxiety Why mold exposure can keep your body stuck in trauma responses long after exposure How mast cells bridge your immune system and emotional overwhelm Why and how mast cells will block your ability to create inner safety Practical tools to decrease reactivity and build resilience For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How does mold and stored trauma in the body create a feedback cycle that makes us susceptible to the other? Studies are confirming that common mental health symptoms, like depression and anxiety, are associated with brain inflammation. I want to share with you some two often overlooked sources of brain inflammation and emotional fragility, toxins from mold exposure and Lyme infection. More importantly, the feedback cycle that they create with stored trauma in the body. This is important because we have a mental health crisis with unprecedented numbers of anxiety, depression and related effects like, burnout. While we usually assume a person, place or situation is causing us stress, we want to consider the increasing amount of mold exposure and undetected chronic Lyme disease. Many are unaware of the association between the two and without knowing to investigate, get on a recommended mood and sleep medications that cause problems and are difficult to get off of later, and are addressing the real problem. My good friend Kirkland Newman, is my guest for this episode. She is a journalist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, who faced postpartum depression and couldn't find answers in the traditional healthcare approach. So she did her own research and created Mindhealth 360 an integrative Mental Health website to be a resource on information for others also trying to find mental health solutions. In this episode, you'll learn: How trauma responses from adverse childhood events cause brain inflammation How brain inflammation can pre-dispose you to a long-haul syndrome with mold or Lyme What mold does to our nervous system to lead to anxiety and depression How we might know if we have mold or Lyme toxins How to approach our trauma work or therapy when we also have mold or Lyme The different modalities we want to integrate for therapy For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Have you ever wondered if you have an addiction? Maybe you have openly struggled with one or know someone with one? As an addiction medicine physician, there are more people than the studies estimate who live with an addiction, either because they don't know yet or because no one is asking them the questions to have it be documented. People pull me aside at social events and want to ask me if they have an addiction to their prescription pills for sleep, anxiety or pain or to things like work, exercise and adrenaline. I wanted to share this specific episode on addiction and its antidote connection because the risk for addictions is higher than ever. Our modern world - with increased isolation, social media dependency, and decreased authentic community - creates conditions that make addiction more likely. The increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and overwhelm in our society mean more people are vulnerable to using addictive behaviors as coping mechanisms. In fact, it is a hidden epidemic. Many people are "functional addicts" without recognizing it because society normalizes various addictive behaviors. This makes it critical for each of us to understand the underlying patterns that drive addiction. Whether it is to be mindful of our own vulnerability or to navigate recovery with better success than the traditional approaches, addiction is something we all need to understand now. I'm honored to share a powerful conversation with Joe Polish, founder of Genius Network® and Genius Recovery. Joe's journey from nearly losing everything to addiction to becoming one of the world's most connected entrepreneurs offers hope and practical wisdom for anyone touched by addiction - whether personally or through loved ones. We will be answering the question, "How does creating genuine connection and safety accelerate healing from addiction?" In this episode, you'll discover: How addiction is a survival strategy to disconnect from the pain of stored trauma in the body The four essential pillars for sustainable recovery: community, biochemistry, environment, and trauma work Why unlearning harmful patterns is often more important than learning new ones Practical tools to move from shame into courage How to build genuine connections that will buffer us from an addiction and support long-term healing for those in recovery For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

What does it mean that our behaviors, conscious and unconscious, serve as state propellers, actually giving us exactly what we need in the moment, whether energy or numbing and disconnecting? By answering this question in this episode, you will not only come to understand yourself better, and why you reach for that second or third cup of coffee or binge watch T.V. shows, but it will give you new eyes to understand addictions and their recovery. It will be a window into your own inner world and felt sense of safety or danger. We will explore emotional regulation and the states of the nervous system through the lens of addictions. One of the reasons I chose to become an addiction medicine physician was because of what I would be able to learn about trauma and the nervous system, and how the body adapts to survive and function despite inner pain. That is why it was important for me to bring you this episode with my friend and guest, Dr. Janet Winhall, an author, teacher and psychotherapist. Author of 'Treating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model. In this episode, you'll learn: Why current pathologizing model for treating trauma and addiction is failing The important distinction between neuroception and interoception How behaviors and substances can be state regulation strategies Why it's important to include body-mind connection in addiction recovery treatment How to connect with your body and allow yourself to feel without numbing or disassociating How chronic conditions may be treated with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model Practical strategies on how to apply the Felt Sense practice in everyday life For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Why are empaths more susceptible to experiencing trauma than most? Are you a sensitive person? Are you an empath with a more sensitive and perceptive system? What is happening is that our nervous system is more sensitive, receiving information that others don't, feeling things that others don't, which means having an uncontrollable body response to imperceptible changes in the environment. Like being in a noisy crowd and not able to turn it off, our sensitivity can lead to overwhelm. Which leads to the hard truth, while being sensitive may be a superpower sometimes, it more often than not is overwhelming for our system and causes a trauma response in our body. Pretty soon we can be having emotional meltdowns, or physical health symptoms that are embarrassing or ones that we think are random. In this episode, I chat with Dr. Judith Orloff to explore the ways in which this can lead to a greater susceptibility to trauma, as well as how to embrace the unique gifts that heightened sensitivity brings. Dr. Orloff is a UCLA trained psychiatrist and has been called "the godmother of the empath movement". She synthesizes traditional medicine with cutting-edge knowledge of intuition, energy, and spirituality, and believes in the power of integrating this wisdom. In this episode, you'll learn: Why highly sensitive people are more prone to trauma The different types of overwhelming situations an empath might encounter The hidden needs of empaths Why empaths are more vulnerable to physical health symptoms How this level of sensitivity can actually be a superpower Practical strategies for empaths, like sensory inventories and boundary setting, to not just survive but thrive For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

What can we do about the brain inflammation that holds us back in fog, fatigue and trauma responses? To help answer that question and share brain inflammation with you is my guest, Dr. Austin Perlmutter, is a board-certified internal medicine physician, New York Times bestselling author, published researcher, and the executive director for Big Bold Health, a food-as-medicine company focused on helping people rejuvenate health through better immune function. In the evolving field of trauma therapy, we're increasingly recognizing that healing isn't just about processing memories or changing thought patterns. The application of The Biology of Trauma lens is that it is just as much about addressing the impact trauma has had on our biology, which now keeps us stuck in our trauma responses. One crucial aspect of this biological impact is brain inflammation. It is one of the most common yet most overlooked gatekeepers of trauma healing. Brain inflammation creates many of the symptoms that people attach to their trauma responses, yet often is what is triggering those trauma responses. Yes, you heard me right. It is not just people, places that can trigger our trauma response. It is also a specific immune cell in our brain - microglia. In this episode, you'll learn why: Good insights from therapy seem to fade by the next day Small stresses feel overwhelming to your brain What you eat affects how well you can process emotions Relationship conflicts leave you mentally exhausted Your diet can dysregulate you just as much as your partner Your mind feels clearer in nature than in therapy For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

As you know, this is a very special episode. We're both at the two year anniversary and the 100th podcast episode, and what a milestone. I'm even surprised and shocked at how much content I've been able to put out into the world through this podcast, and I'm very grateful and humbled and honored that I get to do that. To celebrate this special episode, I wanted to bring in some amazing women around the world who have really been doing this inner journey and work with their nervous system. And I invited these three because they are both so unique and different from each other, and yet, they've all had incredible shifts and insights as they have learned about their nervous system and learned how to work with it, develop a very different relationship with their body and have tools for repair that has allowed them to experience more regulation in their life, and we're going to hear about how that's opened things up for them. For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Why should medicine consider trauma as a diagnosis of inclusion and not just when nothing else is found wrong? The failure to recognize and treat the stored trauma that drives many patients' health challenges has profound and far-reaching consequences. It perpetuates a cycle of ineffective care. It worsens patient outcomes and undermines the overall effectiveness of the healthcare system. As a medical physician and also one who has been this type of patient, this episode and the Trauma-Informed Medicine Project coming out of this was really important to me. One of the key problems is that trauma manifests in diverse ways across multiple bodily systems, making it difficult to identify as the common thread. Patients may present with a range of symptoms such as migraines, chronic pain, digestive issues, sleep problems, and mood disorders. Rather than recognizing these as interconnected signs of nervous system dysregulation stemming from trauma, the medical system often compartmentalizes the symptoms, referring patients to various specialists to treat each one in isolation. This leads to a "medical merry-go-round" where patients bounce from one provider to the next, undergoing test after test, without ever getting to the root of their issues. Which is why I bring in Dr. Jorina Elbers, a board certified physician in neurology with a masters in epidemiology and former assistant professor and pediatric neurologist at Stanford University. She has authored over 25 research articles and book chapters, and really focuses on what's going on in the nervous system in regards to stress and trauma and how to recognize it. She is currently the director of the Trauma Recovery Project at the Heart Math Institute and runs her own trauma sensitive neurology clinic. In this episode, you will hear Dr. Elbers journey of how she discovered the critical link between trauma, stress, and neurological disorders. You will hear how she started asking better questions of her patients, uncovering stories of family trauma from her patients and just what to do especially when labs and tests show nothing wrong. In this episode, you'll learn: How to ask better questions that lead to discovering the true causes behind seemingly inexplicable diagnoses What tools can healthcare practitioners integrate into consultations to uncover patient's trauma history and why this is so important The importance of including trauma in differential diagnoses, especially when conventional medical tests don't reveal a clear cause. How to move away from treating symptoms on a neurotransmitter level and into treating the whole nervous system The autonomic nervous system and heart rate variability Medical trauma from procedures and treatments that actually contribute further to symptoms and chronic conditions For more information and show notes, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

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!

How do we navigate the hidden challenges that can arise when experiencing grief? Today, I am joined by Melissa Dlugolecki, a mother who lost her daughter at around 4 months of age. In the episode, Melissa shares the journey of losing her daughter, the surprising challenges that popped up during her grief journey, and how she's been able to get emotionally where she is today. You'll hear more on: Navigating grief as a family Hidden dangers that can occur in relationships while navigating grief The role of community in grieving What it looks like to be committed to our grief Rebuilding your world after a life-changing loss How to prevent getting stuck in grief Finding purpose after pain And more! For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Are your attachment pains and patterns impacting not only your relationships, but also your nervous system and overall health? In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Diane Poole-Heller, an internationally recognized speaker, author, and expert in the field of attachment theory and trauma resolution. Together, we will discuss attachment and how it influences the way your form and maintain relationships, communicate (or don't!), and what you can do to start moving towards a secure attachment and healthier relationships! You'll hear more about: Defining attachment based on your biology How the nervous system gets confused when connection isn't always safe The markers and milestones that indicate you're moving towards a secure attachment What it means when you ghost people Why you can't just think your way out of your attachment and relationship patterns Building new relational skills for connection and authenticity And more! For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Grief is something that everyone feels, but how they process it depends on their past history. So how do we know which way we experience grief? There are challenges each of us must face and overcome based on our past experiences. These experiences will help decide what our grief looks like and if we will get stuck in grief. Today, Deb Dana, a polyvagal therapist, joins me to discuss grief, but in particular, what are Dorsal Days and how do we work these days to create life after loss! You'll hear more about: The three organizing principles of the nervous system and how they influence our unique way through grief What not to ask someone who is grieving Asking this key question to become an active operator of your nervous system The surprising equation our nervous system uses to create our grief reactions Why dysregulation is a normal response and the key to returning to regulation The profound impact of our preexisting state on the grief response The most important thing to provide your nervous system during times of grief The role of glimmers in grief For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Are the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) connected to trauma? In this episode, I dive into what I've been learning about a hypersensitive and hyperreactive gut looking through the lens of IBS. I answer where IBS comes from, its origins, and the REAL solutions to fixing it. Forget what you think you know about Irritable Bowel Syndrome, because the truth might just shock you! You'll learn more about: Common misconceptions around IBS and mental health The specific emotion during our attachment years that is connected with IBS What "global high intensity activation" is and its role in gut hypersensitivity The right way to address the hypersensitivity and hyperreactivity of the gut. Personalizing interventions to help IBS symptoms (and get your life back!) And more! For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How is trauma work different when there is a syndrome involved? Today, I'm delighted to bring you another episode featuring Dr. Peter Levine. Dr. Levine is the Developer of Somatic Experiencing® and the Founder of both the Ergos Institute of Somatic Education and Somatic Experiencing International. Together, we will discuss how stored trauma can lead to syndromes and the somatic solutions that can help. You'll hear more on: The main element in your body that drives all syndromes Why somatic work is one of 3 pillars of stored trauma What every physician should know about syndromes The role of childhood trauma in chronic syndromes What dysautonomia is (and its role in syndromes) The key to somatic work with any and all syndromes And more! For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

What is the impact of an early heart shock on our mind and body? Most of the time we don't even know we've experienced a heart shock. But even if we don't know we've experienced one, it has already made an impact on our lives. In this episode, I discuss what a heart shock is, the impact it can make on our body and mind and why it's so important that you be the hero of your own story. You'll learn more about: How early life heart shocks affect attachment and survival The deep impact heart shocks have on the body How heart shocks change the nervous system and neuroception The connection between early life heart shocks and adult diseases Recognizing the "part" of us affected by early life shocks For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Why is it essential for you to do your own trauma work while also understanding the impact of collective trauma? In this episode, I am joined by Thomas Hübl, a renowned teacher, author, and international facilitator whose lifelong work integrates the core insights of the great wisdom traditions and mysticism with the discoveries of science. Together, we will discuss how each person can create attuned and co-regulated relationships that are necessary for being trauma informed. We talk more on: Attachment's role in our emotional responses as adults The impact of intergenerational and ancestral trauma on attachment Strategies to stay regulated and connected in relationships Moving from distancing behaviors to being fully present in relationships The role of flow, stagnation and embodied practices in attachments And more! For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

What is the connection between attachment, autoimmunity and fatigue? The answer… your nervous system! Many practitioners have noticed there has been an uptick in those who are experiencing autoimmunity. What's causing this uptick? In this episode, I'm discussing how the nervous system, and more specifically the freeze response, is connected to attachment, autoimmunity, and fatigue. You'll hear more about: The 3 normal stress responses How the freeze response is a component of the stress response both mentally and physically How the freeze response contributes to autoimmune conditions and fatigue Why working on your nervous system Common symptoms of the freeze response What role do early attachment relationships and traumatic events play in shaping an individual's stress responses Ways to increase your awareness of your stress responses and explore strategies for managing them effectively For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/