The Biology of Trauma™ With Dr. Aimie

Why are your trauma parts possibly making you sick?

Dr. Richard Schwartz began his career as a systemic family counselor and academic. This work led him to discovering that family therapy alone did not achieve full symptom relief and is what led him to developing Internal Family Systems (IFS). In this episode, we will discuss if your trauma parts are making you sick and what you can do about it!

You’ll hear more about:

• What parts work is and its importance in trauma healing
• The role of protector parts and how they can affect physical health 
• How the battle between parts can lead to physical symptoms and health issues
• The power of connecting with self to improve your health
• And more!

For more information about this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How can we apply energy psychology to the seven key stages of the addiction recovery process?

My guest this episode is Dr. David Feinstein, a clinical psychologist who serves as national director for the Energy Medicine Institute. Dr. Feinstein sent me his manual on energy healing for the addiction recovery process and I knew I wanted to interview him. In this episode, we will discuss the difference between energy psychology and energy medicine, how energy psychology supports addiction recovery and how it can help with the big emotions that can come up during that process, and the seven stages of addiction recovery.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

Which meridian is the first one to balance in people with autoimmunity during their trauma recovery?

In this episode, I am joined by Donna Eden, a practitioner of Energy Medicine who applies energy work, medicine, and psychology to help those on the autoimmune path. Together we will discuss emotions that need to shift if people have autoimmunity, the first steps in balancing meridians and what that means, and tips for healers who work with those who have autoimmune issues and are trying to heal their trauma.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How do I need to be to safely guide myself or another through the trauma healing journey?

In this episode, I am joined by Licia Sky, an artist, singer-songwriter, and bodyworker who works with traumatized individuals and trains mental health professionals to use Embodied Self Experience in movement, theater exercises, writing, and voice as tools for attunement, healing, and connection. Together we will discuss embodiment, what it is and which emotions we need to do it, along with becoming a strong leader for others going through a trauma journey. Finally, we will discuss attunement and trust within the healing journey.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

What is causing us false anxiety (anxiety that isn’t caused by anything that is wrong)?

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Ellen Vora, board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, yoga teacher, and author of The Anatomy of Anxiety. Together we will discuss something that could save your life - stress and anxiety, and especially false anxiety. We are talking about stress and trauma, mood medications and managing withdrawals of anxiety, how trauma is “brain indigestion,” and where to start addressing your anxiety.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How do we love our adopted children to help them overcome trauma and create change?

In this episode, we will be talking about parenting children with trauma surrounding their early life experiences, specifically focusing on adoption. We will be debunking some common myths surrounding adoption, look at how adoption trauma can be expressed in behaviors, and the importance of relationship repair. Our guest this week is childhood expert, therapist, and author of Scared Sick: The role of childhood trauma in adult diseases, Robin Karr-Morse.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

What is the best protection we can give our children as we raise them in a traumatizing world?

In this episode, we will be talking about parenting and the crisis of confidence so many parents face when it comes to knowing what our children need. As parents who do not want to pass along their own traumas to their children, we want to set them up to be happy and know inside themselves that the opinions and powers of others aren’t what dictates their worth. Dr. Gordon Neufeld is a developmental psychologist known for his work in with attachment and is joining us today. We will discuss the roots of attachment, several elements of parenting that are key to know, and how to raise those children in a traumatizing world. 

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

What do ACEs show us about escapes from our pain?

In this episode we are going to talk about ACEs - Adverse Childhood Experiences - with Dr. Vincent Felitti. We will look at the history of ACEs, what they taught us about coping mechanisms, and how we hide our pain. 

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

 In this episode we’re going to talk about women’s health - specifically around how trauma affects womens’ hormones. We will discuss how if you feel something is off, it probably is, the wrong advice doctors are giving about hormones, and the times in our lives when we are more prepared to deal with past traumas due to hormonal changes. We will also cover why the term “estrogen dominance” is misleading and the two main hormones that are really affecting you (and they aren’t estrogen and progesterone!).

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

 What is the role of trauma in autoimmunity that leads us to a clear path forward for prevention or recovery?

This is the question that I answer in today’s Biology of Trauma Podcast. In this episode we are talking about autoimmunity and trauma. Trauma in all its forms - emotional, toxins, foods toxins, etc. - and the role it might play in switching on or off these so-called incurable conditions, such as MS or Hashimoto’s. My guest Palmer Kippola and I will talk about the three big root causes that influence autoimmunity, three main food groups to look at in relation to autoimmunity, and six environmental factors that we can control in relation to autoimmunity.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

How do you use mirroring when wanting to hold the container for someone to safely go into their freeze response for healing?

This is the question that I answer in today’s Biology of Trauma Podcast. This episode is an excerpt from one of my professional development training sessions for those who become mentors and lead the breakout groups in the Foundational Journey. During this session, I chat with those group members about what mirroring is, how to use it to excite, subside, or maintain whatever the emotional state is, and how mirroring someone’s own words back to them creates a connection. I will also explain what to do when someone goes into a freeze state and how to be a safe place for that person.

For more information and links for this episode, please visit our website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

* Trigger warning for suicide and sexual trauma*

Today’s Question: What role does sexual grief play in the trauma-healing journey? 

This is what we answer in today’s episode. Together with my good friend, Edy Nathan, who is an author, public speaker, and licensed therapist in New York City, we take a deep dive into understanding what sexual grief is. In defining the sexual grief effect, Edy brings to light the profound impact of sexually traumatic experiences on individuals. This grief is not static; it evolves, shifts shape, and manifests uniquely in each person. By applying techniques from internal family systems and somatic parts work, we learn to engage in intentional, transformative conversations with the different parts of ourselves.

Head over to the Dr. Aimie's website to learn more about this episode: https://biologyoftrauma.com/biology-of-trauma-podcast/

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.

What is the role of the autonomic nervous system specifically in chronic pain?

That is what we cover in this episode on the trauma behind chronic pain!  In this episode, I talk about chronic pain with Dr. Les Aria, a pain psychologist in practice for 19 years and co-founder of Menda health, a digital pain recovering platform, where he serves as the chief science officer. I invited him to this podcast episode because of his unique ability to explain chronic pain through the Polyvagal Lens.  

Please head over to the website to learn more about this episode.

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:

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.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more!

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 this episode, Dr. Keesha Ewers joins me to discuss the connection between the freeze response and autoimmunity. We look at the body’s freeze response during traumatic experiences and how those triggers lead to a pattern of nervous system reactivity. We also dive deeper into the freeze response and why it is more common in children. These traumatic experiences can lead to the formation of beliefs and adaptive behaviors that persist into adulthood.

We take a deeper look at unresolved anger, specifically unexpressed anger turned towards oneself, and how it is associated with autoimmune conditions. The question we want to answer is: How is the freeze response behind autoimmunity?

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

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 this episode, featuring Cat Dillon, we discuss her experiences with bracing and hypervigilance as a result of childhood trauma. Cat Dillon’s personal journey of healing from the chronic bracing patterns and tension that began in her childhood and culminated in a panic attack while driving across a bridge was a turning point that led her to explore and understand her body’s needs better, ultimately guiding her towards a path of trauma healing. The insights provided in this episode are meant to resonate with listeners who may have similar experiences of trauma and stress, providing them with a sense of understanding and potential strategies for healing.

Want to learn more about this episode? Head over to our website to find out more!

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 this episode, Bo Eason, former NFL player, speaker, and author, and I discuss the role of physicality and self-expression in effective communication, parenting, and relationships. This episode answers this one question: What’s the connection between the state of your nervous system, your physical presence, and your ability to communicate well?

Want to hear more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more! 

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.

 This week's episode of the Biology of Trauma podcast explains the "five agreements" that we teach in our 21 Day Journey course. The episode answers the question: What are the five agreements that allow us to do group trauma work safely?

Want to hear more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more! 

In this enlightening conversation with Dr. Christina Bjorndal, we explore the intricate connections between mental wellness diagnosis, traumatic experiences, and the journey to healing. In this episode, we delve into the challenges and stigmas of mental health labels and discuss how early life experiences, the ego, and shadow beliefs can contribute to stored trauma that require a holistic approach to overcome. We will answer two questions: Is a bipolar label related to early childhood trauma, and if so, is there a different solution to a bipolar label than psychiatric medication? 

Want to hear more about this episode? Head over to our website to learn more! 

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.