Episode 38: Where to Start With Trauma in a Holistic Model? with Dr. Aimie Apigian

Listen to Episode 38 →

The Question Everyone Asks

You've read the books and listened to the podcasts. You know trauma needs healing. You see the endless list of modalities available including somatic experiencing, EMDR, parts work, polyvagal exercises, and breathwork.

Where do you actually start with trauma healing? This is the number one question I hear from both individuals and practitioners, and the answer matters more than you think.

Starting in the wrong place doesn't just waste time and money. It can create relapses that set you back further than where you began. Your body will tell you clearly when you've started wrong through symptoms that return or intensify.

Today I share what I learned the hard way through my own healing journey. My body taught me through relapses when I wasn't approaching this correctly. I experienced fatigue returning, brain fog setting in, anxiety spiking, and heaviness taking over my system.

Why the Starting Point Changes Everything

Once you understand the Biology of Trauma®, you can't just attack symptoms randomly. You have to be intentional about the process whether you're healing yourself or supporting clients through their journey.

There are countless trauma healing modalities available in today's landscape. But starting in the wrong place with even good modalities can make things worse rather than better. Your body will tell you through increased symptoms when the approach or timing isn't right for your nervous system's current capacity.

I went through my own healing process trying different approaches at different times. Some approaches helped me move forward in my healing. Others created unexpected relapses that confused me because these were supposed to be healing modalities.

My body showed me clearly when something wasn't helpful for me at that particular time. Fatigue returned after I thought I'd overcome it. Brain fog set in when my mind had been clearer. Anxiety spiked even though I was doing "healing work." Heaviness took over my system in ways that felt familiar from earlier in my trauma journey.

The Problem With Symptom-Chasing

Most trauma healing approaches attack symptoms individually without addressing the whole system. They treat the anxiety with one intervention. They address the fatigue with another approach. They target the dissociation with a different modality. But that's not holistic healing but symptom management.

The symptom-chasing trap keeps you busy without creating sustainable change. You're constantly addressing whatever symptom is loudest at the moment. You never get to the root cause that's creating multiple symptoms from the same dysregulated foundation.

There's a sequence that works with your biology rather than against it. Opening up trauma requires following that sequence carefully and intentionally. When you skip steps to get to the "real work" faster, your body protests through returning or worsening symptoms.

Different modalities can all be valuable tools for trauma healing. But they all need to start from the same foundation of nervous system stabilization. Otherwise they overwhelm your system by demanding more capacity than you've built yet.

The Holistic Starting Point

Holistic healing supports your body's wisdom about what it needs and when. Symptom-attacking fights against your body's protective responses. Your nervous system knows the difference between support and override, and it responds accordingly with either opening or shutting down.

Understanding the Biology of Trauma® reveals why starting with nervous system stabilization is non-negotiable. Your body needs to feel safe enough to approach trauma material. Your cells need to be out of the cell danger response. Your capacity needs to be built before you demand expansion.

Opening up trauma in a specific way means respecting the sequence your biology requires. First you establish safety at the nervous system level. Then you build capacity through small doses of activation. Only after these foundations are solid do you move into deeper processing work.

The holistic integrative requirement means looking at your whole system rather than isolated symptoms. Your fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and other symptoms are connected through nervous system dysregulation. Addressing that foundation changes all the symptoms together rather than chasing each one separately.

When you start with the right foundation, other modalities become effective and sustainable. When you skip straight to processing without stabilization, even the best modalities can create overwhelm that sets you back. The starting point determines whether your healing journey progresses steadily or cycles through repeated relapses.

This Episode Is For:

✓ People overwhelmed by trauma healing options 

✓ Anyone whose body keeps relapsing despite trying different approaches 

✓ Practitioners needing a holistic framework for where to start with clients 

✓ Those who've had negative reactions to trauma healing modalities 

✓ Anyone wanting to understand the foundational sequence 

✓ People ready to stop chasing symptoms and address the root

What You'll Learn

Listen to understand where to actually start with trauma in a holistic way and why this prevents the relapses that come from symptom-chasing. Discover what my body taught me through repeated cycles of improvement and relapse. Learn why the sequence of healing matters as much as the modalities you choose.

Your body will show you when you've started wrong through symptoms that return or worsen.

Listen to Episode 38 →

Disclaimer

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information shared reflects my clinical expertise and research, but every person's biology and healing journey is unique. Always consult with qualified healthcare providers before making changes to your treatment plan or starting new interventions. If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact emergency services or a crisis helpline immediately.

Join the Conversation

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. What resonated with you? What questions came up?

Please keep comments respectful and supportive. This is a community of people committed to healing. We welcome diverse perspectives and honest questions, but we don't tolerate personal attacks, spam, or content that could harm others on their healing journey.