How can a single moment impact your life? Can that moment still affect you not only emotionally but physically years later?

In this mini-episode, Dr. Aimie dives into the biology behind how trauma gets physically stored in the body, expanding on her conversation with Gregg Ward from Episode 119. She unpacks Greg's story of accidentally causing a fatal car accident at age 18 and how this moment shaped his entire life path and physical health.

You’ll hear more on:

• How trauma physically show ups in the body during the freeze response
• The 3 defense strategies that are triggered by trauma
• What moral injury is and how it affects the nervous system
• Practical steps for moving through grief and regret
• And more!
  

If you're carrying regret, grief, or trauma that is staying in your body, this episode offers hope and practical insights for moving through these experiences toward healing.

To hear the full episode listen to Episode 119: Transforming Trauma into Joy & Purpose with Gregg Ward

What happens when a single moment changes the direction of your entire life? Can regret become a force for good?

In this episode, we’ll hear one man’s journey through the aftermath of accidentally causing his high school sweetheart's death in a car accident at 18 years old and how that trauma has shaped his entire life.

Dr. Aimie is joined by Gregg Ward who shares how this terrible accident caused his greatest pain while also pushing him to become a better person. He describes how the trauma showed up in his body, his methods for trying to cope, and the path that eventually led him toward healing and purpose.

This conversation goes deeper into how trauma lives in the body, how moral injury can affect someone, and how finding purpose can eventually transform regret and grief into meaning, purpose and joy.

We'll discuss:

• What happens to the body right after trauma occurs
• What moral injury is and its role in trauma
• How trauma can disrupt your life but also give it new direction
• Finding purpose by honoring what was lost instead of just trying to feel better
• How trauma stays in your body for years
• Connecting with others who have experienced similar traumatic events
• Why physical movement helps heal trauma when talking about it isn't enough
• How finding happiness after trauma is possible – even when you think it’s hopeless
• And more!

Whether you're living with regret, supporting someone through their grief, or working professionally with those carrying hidden pain, this episode shows you how one can move through seemingly unbearable experiences and eventually find peace, joy and purpose on the other side.

Gregg Ward is the founder of the Center for Respectful Leadership, an award-winning best-selling author, TEDx Speaker, executive coach, and master facilitator & culture change consultant.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

• Steps to Identify and Heal Trauma: A Roadmap for Healing Trauma - Find out what trauma is, how to recognize it, and get simple steps to help you heal in this 23-page guide. It’s great for anyone who wants to understand trauma better or support others on their healing journey.
  
• Biology of Trauma book - How the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. At the time of this recording, you can join us in The Insider’s Circle Book Club and pre-orders are now available!
  
• Foundational Journey - If you want to be safely guided through The Essential Sequence, and lay your foundation of regulation in this online 6 week course, join me and my team of mentors for this journey into your inner world with practical somatic and parts self-practices.
  

Related Podcast Episode:
Episode 117: Movement for Healing Stored Grief and Emotions with Paul Denniston

Disclaimer:
By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Trauma Healing Accelerated, any guests or contributors to The Biology of Trauma® podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Trauma Healing Accelerated be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.

Are you a practitioner struggling to balance patient care with your own health needs? In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie looks at the biology behind the Spoon Theory and how practitioners can manage their own health while helping others heal. She answers a listener’s question about why she feels drained after certain client sessions and the actionable steps she can take to keep her energy levels up.

Dr. Aimie’s will build on her conversation with Helga Byrne from Episode 118, where they discussed navigating professional responsibilities while managing personal health challenges.

You’ll hear more on:

• What the Spoon Theory is
• How trauma impacts the body’s mitochondria
• What happens to the your cells when you go into overwhelm
• Why practitioners experience brain fog and fatigue while helping others
• How your nervous system sends signals to either boost or reduce your energy levels throughout the day
• Practical ways to manage your “spoons” of every daily
  
  

If you're struggling to manage your energy while caring for others, this episode will provide insights on how to maintain energy levels while still being an effective practitioner.

If you’d like to go deeper into this topic, listen to the full conversation with Helga Byrne on Episode 118: How Practitioners Can Navigate Their Own Chronic Illness & Healing Journey.