How Trauma Gets Trapped in the Body w/ Dr. Aimie Apigian Understanding Trauma in the Nervous System

Therapy in a Nutshell・2 minutes read

Dr. Aimie Apigian discusses the impact of trauma responses on the body, emphasizing the importance of addressing biological aspects to prevent chronic conditions and support the healing journey through various somatic therapies and practical exercises. Addressing trauma's impact on biology and completing stress responses can help prevent stored trauma in the body, promoting healing and creating a sense of internal safety.

Insights

  • Trauma can manifest as physical health issues and chronic conditions, highlighting the importance of understanding its impact on the body beyond just psychological effects.
  • Addressing trauma responses involves recognizing triggers, completing stress responses, and preventing the accumulation of trauma in the body through intentional actions and somatic work.

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Recent questions

  • How can trauma impact the body?

    Trauma can manifest in physical symptoms and health conditions.

  • What are some signs of a chronic trauma response?

    Metabolism problems, brain inflammation, and fatigue can indicate chronic trauma responses.

  • How can repressed anger affect the body?

    Repressed anger can lead to fatigue, muscle pain, and chronic tiredness.

  • What role does the autonomic nervous system play in trauma responses?

    The autonomic nervous system controls bodily functions and survival mechanisms in trauma responses.

  • How can somatic work aid in trauma recovery?

    Somatic work focuses on bodily sensations to create safety and facilitate healing.

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Summary

00:00

"Dr. Aimie Apigian: Trauma Expert & Healer"

  • Dr. Aimie Apigian is a leading medical expert specializing in the biology of trauma, focusing on restoring the body to optimal health.
  • She is a double board-certified medical physician in preventative and addiction medicine, with a Master's in Biochemistry and Public Health.
  • Dr. Aimie is also a certified functional medicine physician with expertise in neuro autoimmunity, nutrition, and genetics for addictions and mental health.
  • She holds certifications in somatic experiencing and trauma-based therapies, drawing from personal experiences to understand and release trapped trauma in the body.
  • Dr. Aimie discusses rewiring the nervous system and restoring a sense of safety through science-based solutions.
  • She offers a free course called Grounding Skills for Anxiety, teaching practical skills to soothe anxiety, stress, and trauma in the nervous system.
  • Trauma is not solely in the brain but can become biology, manifesting in symptoms, health conditions, and diagnoses.
  • Understanding trauma's impact on the body is crucial, as it can lead to physical illnesses and chronic conditions.
  • The autonomic nervous system plays a key role in trauma responses, controlling bodily functions and guiding survival mechanisms.
  • Trauma responses involve sequential processes starting with a startle response, leading to stress responses and potential trauma-induced shutdowns in the body.

12:50

"Trauma Response Impact on Health and Metabolism"

  • Metabolism problems or inability to lose weight can indicate a chronic trauma response in the body, leading to various issues like brain inflammation, energy problems, fatigue, and mitochondrial issues.
  • Two triggers for moving from an alert state to a shutdown state are too much stimulus too fast, overwhelming the stress response, and holding onto stress for too long, like holding a heavy weight for an extended period.
  • Repressed or suppressed anger can lead to specific conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, certain cancers, and liver disease in Chinese medicine, due to the accumulation of adrenaline in the body.
  • Anger that is not acted upon can cause tissue damage, resulting in fatigue, muscle pain, chronic pain, and chronic tiredness, with the body feeling heavy and lacking energy.
  • Accumulation of trauma response biology can lead to autoimmune diseases appearing earlier in life, with chronic depletion of nutrients like magnesium and zinc causing oxidative stress and chronic deficiencies.
  • Learned helplessness from attachment trauma can lead to a habit of disconnecting from the body and going into a trauma response when faced with problems, accumulating deficiencies and running on low energy.
  • The body may start breaking down due to accumulated trauma, leading to fatigue, autoimmune conditions, sleep issues, digestive problems, anxiety, and depression, which can manifest as chronic health issues if not addressed early.
  • Early detection of potential health issues related to trauma response can help prevent the development of diagnosed conditions, allowing for support of the body's biology and acceleration of the trauma healing journey.

25:07

Enhancing Healing Through Somatic and Parts Work

  • Somatic work involves somatic experiencing, neuro-affective touch, internal family systems, and parts work.
  • Synergistically combining these approaches can enhance healing by addressing biological aspects like magnesium levels and brain inflammation.
  • Improved biological functioning leads to clearer thinking, reduced brain fog, and increased capacity to handle stress.
  • Working on the nervous system's accessibility expands one's window of tolerance, allowing for more significant progress in healing.
  • Integrating biology into trauma treatment offers additional tools for a smoother healing journey.
  • Somatic work focuses on bodily sensations to create a sense of safety and facilitate deep, spontaneous breaths.
  • Parts work involves recognizing and supporting different aspects of oneself to promote healing.
  • Addressing biochemical imbalances, gut health, and trauma effects on biology are crucial in trauma recovery.
  • Education is essential, but experiential learning is key to transforming reactions and healing trauma.
  • A practical exercise called "Creating Space" involves imagining pushing a heavy boulder away while grounding oneself physically.

37:19

"Pushing boulders to release stress trauma"

  • Start by positioning yourself with one foot slightly behind the other to lean into a boulder.
  • Spread your fingers for full contact with the boulder, pushing away slowly from shoulder level.
  • Engage all arm muscles while pushing the boulder away, feeling the effort and strength required.
  • Use your feet to assist in the pushing motion until your arms are fully extended.
  • Rest your arms against the boulder once fully extended, allowing them to relax before lowering them.
  • Completing movements like this helps rewire the nervous system and teaches the body to discharge stress responses.
  • Completing stress responses is crucial as incomplete responses can lead to stored trauma in the body.
  • Immobilization from overwhelming news and inaction can contribute to accumulating trauma in the body.
  • Engaging in intentional actions, completing stress responses, and focusing on positive stories can help manage trauma responses and create a sense of safety internally.
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