#72: Dr. Aimie Apigian - Understanding the Biology of Trauma From Cellular Stress to Healing
Release Date: 10/28/2025
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#79: Margaret Floyd Barry - Redefining Success in the New Year
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The Clinician's Corner
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#76: Behind the Scenes with Deanne Landers: Navigating Global Practice Challenges and Mindset Shifts
The Clinician's Corner
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info_outlineUnderstanding the Biology of Trauma with Dr. Aimie Apigian: From Cellular Stress to Healing
In this episode of the IRH Clinician’s Corner, Margaret Floyd Barry sits down with Dr. Aimie Apigian, who discusses how childhood adversity leaves an imprint on our biology, outlining the five-stage progression from acute stress to trauma and how this fundamentally alters our body’s energy systems. We discuss why conventional approaches may overlook deeper trauma roots of chronic health issues—and what clinicians and clients alike can do to start addressing trauma at the cellular level.
In this interview, we discuss:
- Dr. Aimie’s personal story and entry into trauma work
- Reframing chronic disease through the lens of trauma
- How to identify patterns of stored trauma
- How a stress response is different from a trauma response
- The physiological and cellular mechanisms of trauma
- Strategies for trauma recovery and nervous system repair
The Clinician’s Corner is brought to you by the Institute of Restorative Health.
Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/instituteofrestorativehealth/
Connect with Dr. Aimie Apigian:
Website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draimie/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/draimie/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-aimie-apigian
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrAimieApigian
Check out her new book, The Biology of Trauma: https://book.biologyoftrauma.com/book
Timestamps:
00:00 "Dr. Amy: Trauma & Healing"
04:48 "From Fostering to Forever"
08:50 Understanding Trauma and Healing
13:10 "Recognizing Trauma Through Patterns"
14:15 Breaking Free from Chronic Freeze
17:30 Nervous System: Relaxation to Alarm
20:34 Stress vs Trauma: Cellular Impact
25:16 Trauma Response: Shock to Collapse
28:45 Body's Innate Survival Mechanism
32:49 "Restorative Health Dive-In Opportunity"
34:28 "Stress, Trauma, and Energy"
40:09 Survival Instincts: Freeze and Hide
41:22 "Modern Struggles vs. Survival Instincts"
44:19 "Stored Trauma and Relationships"
50:04 "Overcoming Trauma Responses"
51:56 "Magnesium: Boosting Biology Safely"
54:48 Clinician's Corner: Join & Share
Speaker bio:
Aimie Apigian, MD, MS, MPH, is a trainer, speaker, and physician, double board-certified in preventive and addiction medicine with masters degrees in biochemistry and public health. Beyond her conventional medical and surgical training, Dr. Aimie has training in Psychosomatic Medicine, Functional Medicine, and Mental Health Nutrition. Her extensive training in trauma therapies, including the Instinctual Trauma Response Model, Somatic Experiencing, NeuroAffective Touch, and Relational Trauma Repair with Psychodrama, have formed her knowledge and services in attachment, trauma, and addictions, focusing on trauma at a cellular level. Her original inspiration came from her experience as a foster-adoptive mom during medical school. Dr. Aimie is also the host of the Biology of Trauma® Podcast. She has spoken at Oxford University, Institute for Functional Medicine, Psychotherapy Innovations, Integrative Medicine for Mental Health and has been featured on The Trauma Therapist Project, Therapy in a Nutshell, The Healing Trauma Podcast, and more. You can find her on YouTube and Instagram.
Keywords:
functional medicine, trauma response, adverse childhood experiences, attachment trauma, chronic disease reversal, fatigue, anxiety, autoimmune disease, psychosomatic medicine, mental health nutrition, trauma therapies, instinctual trauma response, somatic experiencing, neuroaffective touch, relational trauma repair, stress physiology, startle response, sympathetic nervous system, vagus nerve, dorsal vagal shutdown, cell danger response, mitochondria, energy production, chronic stress, burnout, magnesium supplementation, trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, childhood adversity, functional freeze, biological mechanisms of trauma
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in the IRH Clinician’s Corner series are those of the individual speakers and interviewees, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute of Restorative Health, LLC. The Institute of Restorative Health, LLC does not specifically endorse or approve of any of the information or opinions expressed in the IRH Clinician’s Corner series. The information and opinions expressed in the IRH Clinician’s Corner series are for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. If you have any medical concerns, please consult with a qualified healthcare professional. The Institute of Restorative Health, LLC is not liable for any damages or injuries that may result from the use of the information or opinions expressed in the IRH Clinician’s Corner series. By viewing or listening to this information, you agree to hold the Institute of Restorative Health, LLC harmless from any and all claims, demands, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with your participation. Thank you for your understanding.