The Biology of Trauma by with Dr. Aimie Apigian

The Biology of Trauma by with Dr. Aimie Apigian

February 2, 2026 · 45 min

About this episode

Dr. Melinda Ring discusses the biological aspects of trauma and its impact on chronic illness with Dr. Aimie Apigian.

Trauma is one of the most overlooked drivers of chronic illness and stalled healing, and it's not just psychological, new research is suggesting it is biological, too. In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks to Dr. Aimie Apigian about how trauma reshapes the body and nervous system, drawing from Apigian's bestselling book, The Biology of Trauma. Together, they explore why creating safety in the body is essential to healing and how understanding trauma's biology can unlock a new path forward. https://youtu.be/WhAfbdEJccY 00:00 – Why Trauma Healing Requires Mind, Body, and Biology 00:00:14 – Welcome to Next Level Health 00:00:45 – Could Trauma Be the Root Cause of Chronic Illness? 00:01:54 – Trauma Isn't Just Big Events—It's Chronic Overwhelm 00:03:04 – Nothing Is Wrong With Your Body: Removing Shame From Trauma 00:04:11 – When Love Feels Unsafe: How Trauma Shapes Relationships 00:07:09 – Burnout Isn't a Failure—It's a Trauma Pattern 00:08:02 – When the Body Finally Says No: Trauma and Autoimmune Disease 00:10:53 – Trauma Is a Biological Survival Response 00:14:53 – Do All Bodies React the Same Way to Trauma? 00:18:00 – The Five Stages of the Trauma Response 00:22:42 – Freeze and…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Melinda Ring

Guest: Dr. Aimie Apigian

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Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Biology of Trauma

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