The Real Root Causes of Autoimmunity (And Why Trauma Isn't the Answer)
From Functional Wellness with Dr. Alison by Dr. Alison DiBarto Goggin
January 12, 2026 · 27 min
About this episode
Dr. Alison discusses the real root causes of autoimmunity, challenging the notion that unresolved trauma is the primary factor.
In this episode, I'm getting real about what actually causes autoimmunity, and spoiler alert: it's not just your unresolved trauma. While trauma is correlated with autoimmune disease, I'm calling out the dangerous trend of blaming women's emotions and past experiences for complex immune dysfunction. When 80% of autoimmune patients are women, and the message is "you got sick because you didn't process your childhood properly," we've got a problem. I break down the scientifically documented root causes of autoimmunity, including: Genetics and environmental triggers Viruses like Epstein-Barr and COVID Mold exposure and mycotoxins Lyme and co-infections Pregnancy and microchimerism Birth control and prolactin Superfund sites and toxic environmental exposure This isn't about dismissing the mind-body connection. As a shamanic practitioner and reiki master, I work with energetics daily. But we need to stop victim-blaming and start acknowledging the real biological, viral, genetic, and environmental factors making people sick. If you're tired of being told your illness is your fault, this episode is for you. Resources mentioned: Find me at littleblackbagmedicine.com for functional…
Topics covered
- autoimmunity
- trauma
- genetics
- environmental triggers
- viruses
- mold exposure
- Lyme disease
- pregnancy
- birth control
- toxic exposure
Keywords
- functional medicine
- energetic healing
- immune dysfunction
- women's health
Mentioned in this episode
Products: functional medicine support, root cause testing, energetic healing
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