The Biology of Trauma® With Dr. Aimie

• The Biology Behind It: Light, Sleep and Habits to Heal Your Nervous System

  What if your inability to change habits and reactions wasn't about lack of willpower or being lazy, but was actually about your body not having enough energy to make the change? In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie goes into the biology behind why so many people feel stuck in old patterns or habits, expanding on her conversation with Katie Wells from Episode 123. She answers a question from Jessica, a therapist, about why her clients intellectually understand their problems but can't seem to make changes stick and feel drained after therapy. Dr. Aimie explains how trauma becomes an energy problem in your body. She breaks down what happens inside your cells when trauma gets stored and why healing requires energy that many people simply don't have. You'll hear more about: How trauma affects your body's mitochondria (aka the cellular powerhouses) The warning signs that your energy system is struggling Why feeling exhausted after therapy means your body doesn't have the energy to heal (Hint: You’re NOT actually failing!) Simple steps you can take today to boost energy levels naturally If you know what your problems are but can't seem to change them, or if you're helping someone who's stuck in this cycle, this episode offers practical steps that actually work with your biology instead of against it. To hear the full conversation, listen to Episode 123: Light, Sleep, and High-Impact Habits to Heal Your Nervous System  

  --------  

  16:23
• Light, Sleep and High-Impact Habits To Heal Your Nervous System

  “I said to my body, ‘I want to be your friend.’ And it took a deep breath and said, ‘I’ve been waiting our whole life for this.’” – Katie Wells Doing the inner work isn’t just emotional, it’s biological. In this episode, Dr. Aimie is joined by Wellness Mama founder and health journalist Katie Wells to talk about the high-impact habits with light, sleep, and movement can help support nervous system regulation and emotional healing In this conversation, you’ll learn why trauma is actually an energy problem, how your environment may be silently working against your healing, and how small, daily habits can dramatically impact your capacity for rest, resilience, and recovery. Together, Dr. Aimie and Katie dive into the misunderstood connection between light exposure, sleep quality, nutrition, and trauma recovery. They explain why pushing yourself, without creating safety and energy, can backfire, and how to finally work with your biology rather than against it. You’ll hear more on: Why trauma is an energy problem  How your nervous system responds to light, sleep, and environmental signs Why rest and safety signals are essential to healing How to listen to your body’s cues without overwhelm Why doing more won’t help you heal, and what your nervous system actually needs instead And more! Katie Wells is a mom of six with a background in journalism. She took health into her own hands and started researching to find answers to her own health struggles. Her research turned into a blog and podcast that turned into an amazing community, Wellness Mama. She is one of the 100 most influential people in health and wellness and is considered a thought leader for the current generation of moms.   Guides, Tools & Resources: Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal - at the time of this recording, The Insider’s Circle Book Club is open and pre-orders have gone live. You will receive over $400 worth of bonuses if you pre-order now. And if 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, increase your energy, and build the foundation for deeper trauma healing, join me inside the 21-Day Journey. Over the course of 21 days, I’ll guide you through a sequence of gentle, somatic-based practices designed to help you reconnect with your body, calm your nervous system, and begin healing from the inside out. Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 68: Struggling with Sleep How to Regain Restful Nights with Suzi Senk Episode 82: Using Biological Rhythms to Recover From Trauma with Dr. Leslie Korn 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.  

  --------  

  39:25
• The Biology Behind It: Shutdown Before Stress

  Did you know that your body could literally be "rusting from the inside out" when stuck in trauma? This biological reality explains why so many develop chronic fatigue, autoimmunity, and other mysterious health conditions. In this mini-episode, Dr. Aimie goes into the biology behind why trauma creates chronic illness, building on her discussion from Episode 122 about addressing trauma stored in the body. She answers a listener’s question about why her clients seem to struggle with chronic health issues and what can actually be done about it. You’ll learn more on: What oxidative stress is (and how being in survival state can cause it to accumulate) Why chronic illness can show up decades after traumatic experiences  Specific steps you can take to reduce oxidative stress A simple technique to shift out of shutdown throughout the day Why talk therapy alone isn't enough If you're struggling with chronic fatigue, autoimmunity, or other unexplained health issues, this episode offers practical insights for addressing these symptoms at the cellular level. Ready to address trauma at the cellular level? Head over to  Episode 122: Shutdown Before Stress for the complete trauma healing sequence, and grab Dr. Aimie's essential resources.

  --------  

  13:33
• Shutdown Before Stress: The Misstep in Trauma Healing That Often Gets Missed

  Healing begins when we stop pushing and start listening to what our body is trying to tell us. In this episode, Dr. Aimie walks through the science of how trauma is stored in the body and what that means for the sequence of healing, and what can go wrong when we don’t follow the steps in the right order.. You’ll learn the key differences between stress and trauma responses, why therapy can sometimes leave you feeling worse, and how to work with your body’s natural healing process instead of against it.  Dr. Aimie breaks down why attempting to process trauma without following the correct steps can make you feel worse. She'll guide you through the steps for trauma healing, explaining why addressing shutdown responses in the body must happen before working with the stress response. Skipping this order often leads to frustration and can even retraumatize you. What You’ll Learn: Why over 90% of people live “in their heads” (and what that means for healing) How to tell if the body is in trauma shutdown vs. stress What the Critical Line of Overwhelm is and its link to chronic illness How stored trauma may be behind chronic symptoms The essential healing sequence that works with the nervous system for lasting trauma recovery And more! Whether you’re a practitioner or someone navigating your own healing journey, this episode provides insights and practical tools to help you reconnect with your body’s wisdom and begin the path to healing.   Guides, Tools & Resources: Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal - at the time of this recording, The book Insider’s Circle is open and pre-orders have gone live. You will receive over $400 worth of bonuses if you pre-order now. And if you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses! The Essential Sequence - my free guide that maps out the 3 steps for safely opening up stored trauma in the body, whether that is presenting as health issues, patterns of a chronic functional freeze or frequent triggers. 21 Day Journey - Let me guide you through The Essential Sequence with 21 days of structured somatic self-practices that you can learn for yourself, or apply in your work in those you help. It allows you access to do the deeper work with me because you have these skills of immediately creating inner safety. Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 33: When Trauma Is Hijacking Your Body: The 3 Essential Pillars For The Healing Journey with Jude Weber 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, 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.

  --------  

  34:30
• Finding Your Why: How to Break Free from Burnout and Build Meaningful Work with Dr. Eric Arzubi

  “I was more afraid of regret than I was of failing.” — Dr. Eric Arzubi   Imagine having a corner office on Wall Street by age 30, but feeling like something important was missing. In this episode, Dr. Aimie sits down with Dr. Eric Arzubi, who had this exact experience. Despite his success, he felt a deep pull toward something more meaningful. That pull eventually led him to leave finance behind, become a psychiatrist, and take on the challenge of transforming mental health care in Montana through trauma-informed telehealth.  Dr. Arzubi shares his inspiring journey of walking away from financial security to follow a calling, revealing how the fear of lifelong regret ultimately outweighed the fear of change. Through his story, you'll discover why the search for meaningful work can be driven by different emotions and how creating "safe enough" spaces provides the foundation for career change.  In this episode, you’ll learn: How to know if fear is trauma or just healthy caution when facing change Why nervous system safety is key for successful career changes Steps for transitioning into a meaningful career Solving mental health access gaps with innovative telehealth solutions How to navigate pushback when changing careers or implementing new ideas And more! Whether you or someone you know is contemplating a career change, this episode offers practical advice for recognizing whether your anxiety is a trauma response or a signal that it's time to move toward a more meaningful path.   Guides, Tools & Resources: Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal - at the time of this recording, The Insider’s Circle Book Club is open and pre-orders have gone live. You will receive over $400 worth of bonuses if you pre-order now. And if you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses! The Essential Sequence Guide - A guide that provides step-by-step instructions for creating safety in your nervous system while making significant life changes, like career transitions, without triggering trauma responses. It’ll give you the insights you need to make lasting change. A Guide For The Chronic Freeze Response - A guide that helps you recognize when your nervous system is stuck in “safe" mode and provides specific ways on how to support your body and create the change you want to create.  Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 20: The Connection Between Money, Loneliness, And Trauma Episode 116: The Body Keeps Score: How Trauma Rewires Your Nervous System with Bessel van der Kolk  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.  

  --------  

  40:36

More Health & Wellness podcasts

Trending Health & Wellness podcasts

About The Biology of Trauma® With Dr. Aimie