The central nervous system plays a crucial role in controlling the body and setting the stage for chronic illness development, with trauma being a key factor in illness persistence. Dr. Eric Gordon sits down with Dr. Aimie Apigian to discuss how trauma is not just the event itself but the five physiological steps that create lasting changes in the nervous system and cellular biology. 

Dr. Apigian explains how the body transitions from startle response through stress physiology into trauma shutdown when capacity is overwhelmed, why sensitive children with biochemical imbalances like zinc deficiency or undermethylation are more susceptible to trauma responses, and how unresolved trauma keeps the nervous system stuck looping between sympathetic activation and shutdown states that block healing and detoxification, preventing recovery from chronic illness.

Episode Highlights:

• Trauma response has five steps from startle to shutdown, creating lasting cellular changes
• Adrenaline release matches perceived danger size; shutdown occurs when capacity is overwhelmed
• Zinc deficiency and undermethylation increase nervous system sensitivity to trauma responses
• Healing requires simultaneous somatic work, inner child therapy, and biological nutrient support

Listen in to learn more : 
[0:03:52] Five-Step Trauma Cascade: From Startle to Shutdown

[0:08:54] Adrenaline Scale and the Capacity Cutoff

[0:31:20] Zinc, Undermethylation, and Super-Sensitive Nervous Systems

[0:25:00] Three-Pronged Healing: Somatic, Inner Child, Biology

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Resources

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About Aimie Apigian, MD, MS, MPH

Dr. Aimie Apigian is a double Board-Certified Physician in Preventive and Addiction Medicine, with Master's degrees in Biochemistry, Public Health, and specialized training in Functional Medicine. She is the founder of The Mind-Body-Biology Institute and trains practitioners in The Biology of Trauma®, a lens that addresses how the body holds fear, pain, and overwhelm, which make one sick and stuck. 

Learn more about Biology of Trauma https://www.biologyoftrauma.com/

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** This information is not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your practitioner before making any changes to your treatment.