09/19/2026
My Current Read:
The Biology of Trauma" by Aimie Apigian
Book Review: Got FND? Get this book!
https://www.biologyoftrauma.com/self-help-foundational-journey
I strongly recommend this insightful book to individuals experiencing functional symptoms, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), chronic pain, chronic fatigue, Fibromyalgia, and more. Apigian's approach offers a profound understanding of how our bodies hold fear, pain, and overwhelm and provides a pathway to healing. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to comprehend and overcome the complex interplay between mind and body in the face of trauma. I just finished Chapter 4, and can't wait to finish it, and tell everyone I know about its value, for navigating life with FND.
In "The Biology of Trauma," Aimie Apigian masterfully delves into the intricate workings of our inner world, particularly focusing on the concept of neuroception. This inner calculator of capacity and demand plays a pivotal role in determining our operating state. The book explains how neuroception constantly monitors both external and internal data points, helping us to navigate smoothly through our calm-alive state when our capacity exceeds demands. However, as demands increase, our system naturally shifts into an activation state, akin to a car moving into sport mode for extra power. I'm super curious as I read, about how my functional symptoms are triggered, when I'm moving over the line into the trauma state, which may cause a relapse in functional symptoms?
Learning that the real challenge arises when demands overwhelm our capacity, what does this mean for when I'm noticing my body shifting and calculating whether I'm need to engage my protective "emergency brake," moving me into a trauma state characterized by physiological shutdown, which happens outside my control. This transition is not just a surface-level experience but affects us down to the cellular level, a topic that Apigian promises to explore further in the subsequent chapters. Can't wait to read on... get this book!
