Have you ever been so mentally drained that even choosing breakfast cereal felt impossible?
It’s not just that you’re being indecisive. It’s decision fatigue, and it’s your nervous system’s way of saying your nervous system capacity is running low.

Think of nervous system capacity like an internal energy bank account. Every decision, big or small, is a withdrawal. When that account is empty, even simple choices can feel like climbing a mountain. Your brain hits “insufficient funds,” and suddenly you’re overwhelmed.

In this Biology Behind It mini episode, Dr. Aimie responds to a listener who shared his embarrassing moment of having to leave the grocery store because choosing cereal felt impossible! This question opens the door to understanding decision fatigue, neuroception, and why our survival system treats every choice as a potential threat.

You'll hear more on:

• Why every decision is a withdrawal from your capacity account
• Why your nervous system doesn't distinguish between small and big decisions
• What happens when your energy reserves can't meet the demands you're facing
• How attachment filters from early life determine which decisions drain more energy than others
• Why low energy triggers trauma biology and chronic functional freeze
• Practical strategies to reduce decision fatigue

Whether you're struggling with decision overwhelm or supporting someone experiencing these "adult meltdowns," this episode helps you understand why small decisions can feel impossible and gives you concrete tools to build your capacity back up.

🎧 Want the full deep-dive? Listen to Episode 134: "The Biology of Overwhelm: Why Small Demands Feel Impossible" for the complete framework on building your energy reserves and capacity account.

Many people feel constantly exhausted and easily overwhelmed, even when they're doing everything "right". They’re eating well, exercising, and trying to manage stress. They can't understand why small things overwhelm them so much or why they always feel so tired and stressed. One simple email or a broken appliance can completely derail their day, leaving them feeling like they're barely keeping it together.

In this episode, Dr. Aimie Apigian explains how your body doesn't react to stress based on what's happening to you. It actually reacts based on whether you have enough energy left to handle it.

Think of your nervous system like a bank account. Every challenge, decision, or demand, no matter how small, takes energy out of your account. When you're already running low from everyday stressors, even tiny problems can push you into overwhelm and emotional shutdown.

This isn't about changing your mindset or trying harder. It's about understanding what's actually happening in your nervous system when you get overwhelmed by daily life, so you can start making small changes that add up to feeling stronger and more resilient.

You'll hear more on:

• [3:52] The simple difference between life's demands and your energy to handle them
• [5:32] How small events can feel overwhelming
• [9:36] The daily energy "drains" that add up over time and quietly exhaust your system
• [11:51] What's actually happening in your body during shutdown and overwhelm
• [8:06] Why even good things (like travel or celebrations) can still drain your energy
• [17:11] How to build up your reserves so you're ready for unexpected challenges
• [19:33] Simple ways to reduce daily energy drains and add small "deposits" back to your system
  
  

Whether you're personally dealing with chronic exhaustion and burnout, or you're a practitioner helping clients who want better stress management techniques that actually work, this episode gives you practical action steps to start feeling better right away.

Resources/Guides:

• Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025.
• Foundational Journey - If you're ready to create a felt sense of safety in your body and experience the benefits of 26% decrease in daily physical pain, 28% decrease in sleep issues and digestive issues, 30% decrease in anxiety, depression, or want to learn how to do this for those you help - join me.
  
  

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 96: Pain as Protection: Why Your Body Creates Chronic Pain & The 3 Questions to Ask to Release It with Georgia Oldfield
• Episode129: Why You're Still in Survival Mode (Even After Years of Therapy and Healing Work)

Related Youtube Videos:

• The 2 Things Your Body Needs To Come Out Of The Freeze | Dr. Aimie Apigian

Disclaimer:
By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. 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 or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

Why does autoimmunity often target high functioning women? Why do so many people with autoimmune diseases also feel stuck in emotional overwhelm, exhaustion, and self-doubt?

In this Biology Behind It mini episode, Dr. Aimie answers a powerful question from Maya, a therapist working with clients who have autoimmune conditions, and dives deeper into how past trauma affects the body and can lead to immune problems.

Dr. Aimie breaks down how hidden stress patterns, mitochondrial damage, and emotional self-beliefs can create the perfect storm for autoimmune diseases. She shares practical ways to support healing that go beyond mindset or medication.

In this epsiode, you'll discover:

• Why autoimmune disease is a symptom of a deeper biology of trauma
• How nervous system dysregulation leads to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction
• Why common emotional patterns like perfectionism, people-pleasing, and feeling unsafe to be authentic are linked to autoimmunity
• Why fatigue is the most common early sign of autoimmunity (and what’s happening in your cells)
• The role of microglia activation in brain fog, decision fatigue, and emotional shutdown
• Practical tools to support nervous system healing

Whether you’re living with an autoimmune diagnosis or supporting someone who is, this episode will help you connect the dots between stored trauma and immune dysfunction. It gives you clear steps to start calming inflammation, restoring energy, and supporting your body’s healing at the root level.

🎧 Want the full deep-dive? Listen to Episode 133: Autoimmunity and Childhood Trauma: How Your Immune System Reflects Your Past

Many people with autoimmune conditions like lupus, Hashimoto’s, or rheumatoid arthritis feel discouraged, confused and frustrated. They’ve been told there’s nothing they can do except manage symptoms for the rest of their life. But what if autoimmune disease is associated with childhood and a sign that the body has been living in survival mode for too long and that recovery is possible?

In this episode, Dr. Aimie explains the real nervous system root causes of autoimmune diseases and why rewiring your nervous system, stored trauma, and emotional pain can help your body recover. She shares her own story of sitting in a rheumatologist’s office, staring at high antibody numbers on her lab results, and deciding there had to be a better way forward.

You’ll hear why autoimmune conditions often affect high-functioning women and how toxic stress and trauma from years ago can get stuck in the body, leading to fatigue, chronic pain, brain fog, and autoimmune flare-ups decades later.

Dr. Aimie breaks down how autoimmunity isn’t just about the immune system. It’s also about safety, authenticity, and how the body responds to stress. Healing requires more than food or supplements. It means creating safety in your mind, in your body, and in your biology.

In this episode, you’ll hear more about:

• [2:10] Why reversing autoimmune symptoms is about more than lab results or medication
• [5:00] The personality traits that often show up in people with autoimmune conditions
• [9:30] How childhood stress, emotional pain, and trauma get stored in the body
• [13:40] Why a stressed nervous system leads to fatigue, brain fog, and chronic inflammation
• [18:00] The surprising connection between being your true self and autoimmune flare-ups
• [22:45] Why positive thinking alone doesn’t work and what your body actually needs to heal
• [27:00] The three key levels of healing
• [31:00] First steps you can take to start nervous system regulation and feeling safe again

Whether you're personally living with an autoimmune condition or you're a practitioner supporting clients with these challenges, this episode will give you the tools to start addressing the emotional root causes of autoimmunity and creating a felt sense of safety to help the body recover naturally.

Guides, Tools & Resources:

• Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses.
• The Foundational Journey - a 6 week program to change an inner Biology of Trauma. If you are looking for emotional regulation, nervous system healing and changes in your physical health without another pill, this is for you. If you are a practitioner - this is where to start with the certificate training to become a Biology of Trauma® professional.
  
  

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 55: Autoimmunity and Trauma in Chronic Conditions like Multiple Sclerosis
• Episode 71: Understanding the Trauma Connection Between Attachment, Autoimmunity, and Fatigue To Find Our Way Out

Disclaimer:
By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. 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 or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.

Ever wondered why some adults struggle with anxiety, depression, or feeling overwhelmed even in safe situations? The answer might trace back to something as common as being left to cry it out as a baby.

In this mini episode, Dr. Aimie dives deep into the biology behind how early childhood experiences, including seemingly normal parenting practices, can program our immune cells for danger and create lasting brain inflammation, explaining the long-term effects of crying it out on mental health.

Responding to a listener's question about brain inflammation in babies, Dr. Aimie reveals what's actually happening inside tiny brains when they're left to cry it out, and how this creates the anxiety and depression we see later in life. You'll discover how your body's own biology might be perpetuating nervous system dysregulation from experiences you don't even remember.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How stress in early childhood creates “primed” microglia in the brain
• Why these primed immune cells can trigger brain inflammation, anxiety, and depression later in life
• The difference between stress and trauma (and why babies are especially vulnerable)
• Why common experiences like birth trauma, NICU stays, and “crying it out” can rewire your stress response for life
• The link between microglia activation, brain fog, decision fatigue, and emotional overwhelm
• Practical steps for healing brain inflammation from childhood trauma and calming your nervous system

Whether you're working on your own healing or helping others who still feel stuck after therapy, this episode will help you understand why your body can still feel anxious and overwhelmed even when you know you're safe. Plus get simple tools to help your brain's immune system begin to heal!

🎧 Want the full story? Listen to Episode 132 with Dr. Darcia Narvaez to discover more common parenting practices that actually create a biology of trauma and lead to anxiety and addiction later in life.


If you would like to watch the video version of this episode, head here to see the slides Dr. Aimie references in the episode.

Do you feel like your body is always on high alert? Does emotional stress lead to a racing heart, skin breakouts, or stomach problems? If you're an empath or highly sensitive person (HSP), you might be experiencing mast cell activation, and it’s more common than you think.

In this episode, Dr. Aimie explores the hidden biology behind why sensitive people get sick from stress. Here’s what’s happening: Your body has special immune cells called mast cells. They act like security guards. But after trauma or chronic stress, these cells can become overreactive. They can treat everyday experiences like threats, even normal conversations or emotional triggers.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why your body treats emotional stress like a physical emergency
• How your immune system gets stuck in “danger mode” (and why it’s not your fault)
• How to naturally calm an overactive nervous system
• Supplements for mast cell activation
• Dr. Aimie’s favorite technique that resets your nervous system
• How blood sugar levels affect emotional reactivity
• Simple daily habits to support nervous system healing

Whether you're someone who feels emotionally or physically drained after social interactions, a practitioner absorbing clients' trauma, or someone who seems to absorb energy from others, this episode will give you practical tools to feel safer in your body and break the cycle of overwhelm.

🎧 Want more support? Listen to Episode 131: Why Empaths Get Stuck in Grief and How to Move Through It for deeper guidance on trauma and emotional regulation.

Highly sensitive people and empaths often feel like they're drowning in grief while others seem to handle loss with ease. They absorb emotions from everyone around them, feel overwhelmed by everyday environments, and find themselves reaching for things they know aren't good for them just to numb the pain.

But what if that sensitivity is actually a person's greatest strength?

In this episode, Dr. Aimie reveals why highly sensitive people experience grief so differently and how understanding your nervous system's unique needs can transform your relationship with both sensitivity and loss. She shares her own vulnerable story of self-sabotage after her best day ever, showing how even those who understand trauma can still get hijacked by grief.

You'll find out about why being an empath isn't about becoming less sensitive, but learning to support your sensitive system so you can hold pain without being overwhelmed by it. Dr. Aimie explains how your sensitivities can either drain your energy or become your superpowers, and why energy management is actually the key to living your life's purpose.

• How to tell if you're a highly sensitive person
• Why empaths feel grief more deeply and get overwhelmed faster than others
• Simple ways to support your nervous system
• How to tell which sensitivities drain your energy and which ones are your strengths
• Why highly sensitive people numb emotional pain in self-sabotaging ways
• What to do when grief takes over and you feel out of control emotionally
• The biggest challenge for highly sensitive people and how to handle it
• Easy ways to support your nervous system before you get overwhelmed

Whether you’re someone navigating grief yourself or a practitioner supporting sensitive clients, this episode offers practical insights to help you understand and support sensitive systems through the grieving process, transforming sensitivity into a strength.

Resources/Guides:

• Biology of Trauma book - how the body experiences and holds fear, pain and overwhelm, and how to heal. Pre-order now and, at the time of this recording, you’ll get over $400 in bonuses included! Those bonuses are only for the pre-order window which goes until Sept 22, 2025. When you’ve already pre-ordered it on Amazon head over here to receive your bonuses.
• The Essential Sequence - Grab my free guide that shows you the difference between the stress and trauma states of our nervous system. In just 3 steps, it walks you through what your body needs when it has stored trauma or is in a freeze response.
• The Foundational Journey - a 6 week program as the place to lay the foundation for all the phases of the healing journey explained in The Essential Sequence guide. If you are looking for emotional and nervous system regulation and changes in your physical health without a pill, this is for you. If you are a practitioner - this is where it all starts with the year certificate training program to become a Biology of Trauma professional.
  

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 22: The Role Trauma Plays In Highly Sensitive People with Dr. Natasha Fallahi
• Episode102: Strategies for Empaths: How to Navigate Sensory Overload, Shame & Trauma with Dr. Judith Orloff

Disclaimer:
By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical, psychological, or mental health advice to treat any medical or psychological condition in yourself or others. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician, therapist, psychiatrist, or other qualified health provider regarding any physical or mental health issues you may be experiencing. 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 or misuse of the content provided in this podcast.