Biology of Trauma
The biology of trauma refers to how traumatic experiences affect the brain and body. It explains how the nervous system responds to threat—often triggering fight, flight, or freeze—and how those responses can persist over time, influencing emotions, memory, and physical health.
The Biology of Trauma is a year long course taught by Dr. Aimie Apigian. This course combines Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing and biology to understand and heal trauma. The year is divided into six modules:
- Biology of Freeze and Overwhelm
- Biology of Grief and Heart Shocks
- Biology of Attachment and Neurodevelopment
- Biology of Stress and Resilience
- Biology of Letting Go
- Biology of Healing
The most important aspect I learned from this course is that “change requires energy” (1). For people who have experienced trauma, they are already drained by everyday tasks. To change from a shutdown phase to calm/aliveness take physiological energy, not simply mental toughness. Helping the mitochondria work better with supplements and eating nutritious food are simple additions that can help.
As a mental health professional working in Michigan, this course has informed my practice. As my license does not allow me to order tests, I teach my patients what ideas may be valuable to bring to their physician’s attention. For example, copper excess is a physiological reason for anxiety, emotional reactivity and exhaustion; as it impacts neurotransmitters and dopamine. This can be addressed by slowing introducing zinc.
This course taught me that healing trauma is multifacted. It led me to study further Internal Family Systems and Somatic experienccing. As a former cardiac ultrasound technician, this course resonated with me and the knowledge I acquired assists in helping my patients.
1. Apigian, Aimie. The Biology of Trauma, BenBella Books, 2025