The Biology of Trauma® With Dr. Aimie

• The Biology Behind It: Why Stress Doesn’t Cause Chronic Pain And What Really Does

  Your mind says you’re safe, but your body still feels tense, overwhelmed, and stuck in danger mode. Why does this happen? In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie goes into the biology behind why mental and emotional healing doesn’t always translate into physical healing. You’ll learn how trauma gets “stuck” in your nervous system, why your body can keep sending danger signals even when your mind feels better, and practical ways to help your body feel safe enough to recover. Your nervous system works like a dashboard, constantly checking if you can handle what’s happening or need to shut down. When it stays stuck in survival mode, even after therapy, it can cause chronic pain, fatigue, and other symptoms. The good news is, you can help your body feel safe again and start to heal. In this episode, you'll find out more about: The difference between stress vs. trauma (and why it’s not about the event itself!) Why your body creates a personal safety filter based on past experiences How inflammation, toxins, and hidden stressors send danger signals to your nervous system Why your body’s natural healing shuts down when you’re in survival mode Simple ways to track and shift your nervous system state every day Whether you’re doing your own healing or supporting clients who still feel stuck physically despite mental progress, this episode reveals the missing piece of trauma recovery. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of the body’s signals and walk away with practical tools to help the body catch up with the mind. 🎧 For more on chronic pain and trauma biology, listen next to Episode 130: Why It’s Not Stress That Causes Chronic Pain and What Really Does.

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• Why Stress Doesn’t Cause Chronic Pain and What Really Does

  Chronic pain affects millions of people who've been told their symptoms are just from stress. They've tried relaxation techniques, stress management, and lifestyle changes, but nothing really seems to work. They’re left feeling stuck, exhausted, and frustrated that their body just won’t heal. But why does the body stay in pain even when the injury has healed? In this episode, Dr. Aimie look at what most people believe about chronic pain. Instead of blaming stress, she shows how chronic pain actually comes from trauma stored in the body, and explores what's really going on and why this matters so much for healing. Drawing from her own experience with chronic shoulder pain after a collarbone fracture, Dr. Aimie explains how her body was storing trauma, not just stress. Even after surgery and treatments, the pain wouldn't go away until she discovered what was really happening in her body. You'll discover the difference between stress and trauma responses, why your body might be stuck in a chronic trauma response, and the hidden biochemical imbalances that make some people more likely to develop chronic pain. You'll learn: [1:45] Why stress does NOT cause chronic pain (and what actually does!) [5:20] The critical line of overwhelm that turns stress into trauma [11:34] What happens in the nervous system when you feel trapped and powerless [16:33] Why unresolved trauma keeps your body stuck in a danger response [21:15] The role of biochemical imbalances and why they increase pain sensitivity [26:06] How oxidative stress and mitochondria contribute to functional freeze [30:12] The hidden link between copper excess, anxiety, and chronic pain [34:52] Practical steps to repair your biology and help your body feel safe again Whether you're someone struggling with chronic pain or a practitioner seeking better tools to help clients, this episode reveals why understanding trauma biology, not just stress management, is the key to breaking free from chronic pain and reclaiming your life.   Helpful Links Related To This Episode: Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses. The 21 Day Journey - If you're ready to create a felt sense of safety in your body and experience the benefits of 26% decrease in daily physical pain, 28% decrease in sleep issues and digestive issues, 30% decrease in anxiety, depression, or want to learn how to do this for those you help - join me for your 21-Day Journey, a structured sequence of gentle, somatic-based self-practices walking you through The Essential Sequence to safely open up stored trauma in the body.  3 Most Common Biochemical Imbalances In Mood and Trauma Healing - Discover the common biochemical imbalances that are frequently at the core of mood and trauma patterns. Learn how these imbalances are identified and addressed to help improve emotional well-being.   Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 91: The Neuroscience of Chronic Pain: How Our Brain Predicts And Creates A Biology of Pain with Dr. Howard Schubiner Episode 96: Pain as Protection: Why Your Body Creates Chronic Pain & The 3 Questions to Ask to Release It   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. 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 or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.  

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• The Biology Behind It: Why You're Still Stuck in Survival Mode

  Have you or your clients ever felt exhausted, anxious, or even physically ill after a therapy session? Or wondered why emotional breakthroughs sometimes leave you feeling worse before you feel better? In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie answers EDMR therapist Rebecca's question about why people sometimes get physical symptoms after making progress in therapy, and shares simple strategies to help prevent this from happening. She goes into the biology behind how your nervous system is constantly deciding whether you're safe or in danger, and why digging into painful memories or feelings can make your body think it's under attack, even when you're actually healing. You'll learn more about: Why your body thinks feeling emotions is dangerous How your "energy bank account" affects what you can handle in therapy Why you might feel sick AFTER therapy sessions How things like poor sleep and processed food make therapy harder on your body Why your nervous system is always checking if you're safe or in danger Two simple things you can do after therapy to feel better Want to learn more? Listen to Episode 129 to find out more!

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• Why You're Still in Survival Mode (Even After Years of Therapy and Healing Work)

  Many people get stuck on their healing journey. They feel lost and confused. They've spent years in therapy, tried meditation, read all the books but still feel like they’re just surviving instead of truly living. This is way more common than we would like to believe, and quite discouraging for those dealing with stress, burnout, or old emotional wounds. Even when you know you're safe, your body might still feel like it’s in danger.  That’s because healing isn’t just about mindset, it’s about your nervous system. And most healing methods skip the steps your body actually needs to feel safe at the nervous system level. In this episode, Dr. Aimie explains why one often gets stuck and what the nervous system really needs to move from overwhelm and a functional freeze into calm aliveness. You’ll learn how the body experiences a trauma, why it holds on even for years after, and the step-by-step roadmap to give it what it needs to engage its own healing mechanisms. You’ll learn more on: [1:46] Why many people avoid connecting with their body and stay “in their head” [4:05] How to tell if you’re disconnected from your body [5:48] What happens in your body during a trauma response (and how it can get stuck) [8:48] Why just telling yourself “you’re safe” doesn’t make your body believe it [12:49] The hidden equation your nervous system uses to decide if you’re still in danger [15:49] The surprising trait that can block healing   [18:16] Common signs you’re in shutdown mode [21:51] The 3 major roadblocks that can slow down healing [22:52] Why you need cycles of stress and rest to heal [27:36] The 3-phase healing roadmap [29:32] How emotional healing works just like physical healing—and why skipping steps keeps you stuck Whether you're working on your own healing or helping others, this episode gives you the missing piece to understand what’s really going on in the body and how to finally move forward.   Helpful Links Related To This Episode: Steps to Identify and Heal Trauma - A Roadmap for Healing - Find out what trauma is, how to recognize it, and get simple steps to help you heal in this 23-page guide. It’s great for anyone who wants to understand trauma better or support others on their healing journey. Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses. The 21 Day Journey - If you're ready to create a felt sense of safety in your body and experience the benefits of 26% decrease in daily physical pain, 28% decrease in sleep issues and digestive issues, 30% decrease in anxiety, depression, or want to learn how to do this for those you help - join me for your 21-Day Journey, a structured sequence of gentle, somatic-based self-practices walking you through The Essential Sequence to safely open up stored trauma in the body.    Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 31: Am I Tired, Or Is This Trauma? With Dr. Evan Hirsch Episode 116: The Body Keeps Score: How Trauma Rewires Your Nervous System with Bessel van der Kolk Related Youtube Videos:  What is the first thing we need to address to release stored trauma? | Dr. Aimie Apigian 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. 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 or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

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• The Biology Behind It: How Attachment Drives Anxiety, Autoimmunity and Chronic Illness

  What if the autoimmune condition you're dealing with today was actually programmed into your immune system decades ago during childhood? In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie answers a listener’s question about the biological mechanisms connecting early attachment trauma to autoimmunity, and most importantly, what to do about it. She goes into the biology behind how childhood fear literally programs your immune system at the cellular level, creating a biological foundation for autoimmune conditions that can emerge years or decades later, often triggered by additional stressors like accidents, infections, or major life events. You’ll learn more about:  Why fear causes inflammation How early fear creates overactive brain immune cells (microglia) that cause symptoms like brain fog and decision fatigue  The three key immune system pathways that determine whether your body stays in "inflammation mode" or switches to "repair mode" Practical actions you can take to rebalance your immune system Whether you're a practitioner working with autoimmune clients or someone with your own autoimmune journey, this episode reveals the hidden biological connections between early life experiences and immune dysfunction and offers hope through practical interventions that work at the cellular level. Listen to Episode 128: How Attachment Drives Anxiety, Autoimmunity and Chronic Illness to explore the six core attachment pains and their biological impacts. Don't forget to pre-order my new book, Biology of Trauma! 

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