Are you or those you work with struggling with chronic fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, or emotional numbness, even when lab tests come back “normal”? In this episode, Dr. Aimie looks at how unresolved trauma stored in the nervous system can drive physical and emotional symptoms which are often mistaken for depression, anxiety, or autoimmune issues.

Through the real life story of Michelle, a teacher who no longer felt like herself, you’ll learn about the five-step trauma response everyone follows, and why conventional approaches often miss the mark.

Whether you’re a practitioner seeking deeper insight into trauma-informed care, or someone navigating your own healing, this episode reveals why trauma is not just psychological, but biological. You’ll gain a fresh perspective on your or your clients  symptoms and allow you to begin exploring more effective, long-term paths to healing.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How stored trauma leads to chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and gut issues
• Why emotional disconnection and brain fog are signs of a stuck trauma response
• What your body does in the first moments of threat
• The biological difference between stress and trauma
• Why antidepressants may not work for trauma-driven conditions
• And more!

Guides, Tools & Resources:

• 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
• 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.
• 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 are going live soon. 

 

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 29 : What Is The Physiology And Neurobiology Of The Trauma Response?
• Episode 32: What Are The Ways The Body Communicates Stored Trauma?

 

Related Youtube Videos: 

• Understanding Trauma Response in Your Body | 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.

 

Timestamps:

• [05:45] Why your labs might look "normal" even when you feel terrible
• [07:20] Three ways your body protects itself during trauma
• [09:40] The five-step trauma response everyone's body follows
• [11:55] What happens in the body in the first moments of danger
• [13:10] Why adrenaline, not cortisol, is the real stress hormone
• [15:25] The specific turning point where stress becomes trauma
• [17:00] What happens when your body hits the gas and brakes at the same time
• [19:40] How your body saves energy during trauma and why this causes chronic symptoms like fatigue 
• [23:35] How trauma becomes chronic and creates physical symptoms 
• [27:50] The science connecting brain inflammation, gut health and mental health
• [30:15] Why people with fibromyalgia and IBS often have anxiety and depression too
• [32:45] Why addressing the stored trauma is essential for healing long term