Don Wood, PhD, author, speaker, Founder & CEO of the Inspired Performance Institute, and creator of the patented TIPP method. TIPP is a cutting-edge method inspired and developed through the newest developments in neuroscience and designed to clear away the effects of disturbing or traumatic events, repurpose old patterns and set the individual’s mind up for peak performance.
Addressing trauma does more than improve mental health and well-being. For millions of Americans, trauma has left emotional scars and impacted their quality of life. Yet, conventional approaches to trauma have suggested it is something to be managed rather than resolved, with minimal focus on how trauma affects physiological health, despite clear evidence showing its toll on both the body and mind.
A recent study we published, “A Retrospective Analysis of Key Inflammatory Markers in Patients Treated with the TIPP Method” suggests we can do more than just address the psychological impact of trauma; we can impact epigenetic markers, potentially reversing biological aging and protecting the body against disease, with TIPP (The Inspired Performance Program).
How trauma affects your health: A brief overview
Trauma is not just psychological pain. It is a powerful force that can impact your entire body, from your immune system to your biological clock.
So, how does trauma affect your health?
Within the immune system, when the body detects an intruder, such as a pathogen, the immune system responds by attacking it and creating inflammation to signal that defense and repair are necessary.
Inflammation is a cell danger response. The cells become inflamed to protect themselves from foreign invaders during the attack. It is meant to be a temporary response, but chronic inflammation compromises both the immune system and neurotransmitters.
Psychological trauma, particularly during childhood, can also activate the cell danger response, produce chronic inflammation, and increase the risk of many disorders. An abnormal, persistent cell danger response ultimately leads to altered organ function, which can result in chronic disease.
When something disturbing happens, our adrenal glands work overtime to combat a heavy load of stressors. These stressors can be emotional, physical, or environmental, and they trigger the production of large amounts of cortisol.
One of cortisol's roles is to reduce and manage inflammation during an immune response. However, when cortisol levels are especially high, as they are in the early stages of adrenal fatigue, inflammation is suppressed too much, and the immune system becomes compromised.
When we encounter stress, particularly during a traumatic event, cortisol and the rest of our hormonal team react as if saying:
"Something really challenging is happening, and we need all hands on deck. Let's divert some of our resources away from the immune system, digestive system, and reproductive system while we take care of this problem."
However, when high stress becomes chronic, for example when old trauma is replayed subconsciously or a person continues to experience traumatic events, stress hormones do not have the opportunity to reset. With all the modern stressors we face, it is common for cortisol levels to remain elevated, which means immune system function stays suppressed.
This makes us more susceptible to colds, the flu, and bacterial infections. It also explains why we often get sick at the worst times. Stress itself weakens our defenses. High cortisol levels can also make it more difficult to recover from viruses and infections.
While your body should recognize that a traumatic event is over and end the stress response, it often replays the experience in your subconscious. Even when the danger has passed, your body continues to perceive it as a threat. This explains the connection between trauma and poor physiological health.
Impacting DNA and biomarkers via TIPP
Our proprietary neuroscience-backed approach to resolving trauma, TIPP, has helped hundreds of people who previously struggled with PTS, addiction, depression, anxiety, and traumatic events by reshaping neural networks and reducing or eliminating the effects of trauma.
This isn’t just therapy. It is a biological reboot.
In our study, researchers analyzed 10 TIPP participants before and after completing the program, examining pivotal biomarkers, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). We focused on these biomarkers because studies have consistently shown that interventions targeting stress reduction lower systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation (Carlson et al., 2015; Pascoe et al., 2017).
After completing TIPP, participants showed notable decreases in both biomarkers. Additionally, epigenetic indicators such as GrimAge and PhenoAge suggested a slowdown in aging at the molecular level.
Although we have heard hundreds of anecdotal accounts from TIPP participants about improvements in quality of life and physical health, this study provided a quantitative indication of TIPP’s efficacy on physiological health.
Analyzing the study’s data, we identified three key findings:
Reduced inflammation:
Data: DNAm CRP and IL-6 levels improved in 71.43% and 57.14% of participants, respectively.
Significance: Lower inflammation suggests that when we resolve trauma, we effectively dial down the body’s overactive alarm system, potentially lessening the risk of various chronic illnesses.
Increased immune tolerance:
Data: Changes in immune cell populations, particularly increases in memory CD4 T cells and neutrophils, point to more robust immune readiness and adaptability.
Significance: A balanced, adaptable immune system can better recognize threats while avoiding the self-attack mechanisms seen in autoimmune disorders.
Younger biological age:
Data: Epigenetic markers hinted at a reversal or slowing of the aging process for some participants.
Significance: Beyond mental relief, effective trauma resolution may rejuvenate physiological functions at the cellular level: a notion that redefines the scope of trauma therapy.
Consistent with existing findings that effective trauma resolution can mitigate chronic inflammatory states (Black & Garbutt, 2002; Marsland et al., 2017), our results demonstrate that we can do much more than treat the psychological pain of trauma. We can also influence its physiological consequences.
Why these findings matter
According to research (Black & Garbutt, 2002; Marsland et al., 2017), mitigating chronic inflammatory states through targeted interventions can significantly improve health outcomes.
Our study reinforces this by showing that resolving trauma doesn’t just alleviate emotional suffering. It also yields real, measurable benefits for the body’s inflammatory processes, immune resilience, and even aging markers. Read the full study here.
Expanding the scope of care
The study’s findings highlight the profound significance of addressing trauma from a whole-person perspective. Rather than considering trauma solely as a psychological issue, it’s clear that:
Medical interventions can evolve. Healthcare professionals might incorporate trauma-resolution therapies into standard treatments for inflammatory or autoimmune disorders.
Lifestyle factors matter. Pairing TIPP or similar modalities with an anti-inflammatory diet, exercise, and supportive relationships amplifies healing.
Personalized therapies are key. Each individual’s inflammatory profile, immune function, and history of trauma will differ, underscoring the need for tailored treatment strategies.
Is this the next frontier of mind-body medicine?
If standard therapy isn’t addressing your full health picture, TIPP might change the game. For those who have experienced trauma, these findings offer both significant relief and hopeful optimism. Knowing there is a solution for trauma, not just coping mechanisms, suggests an answer to panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and the well-documented physical health consequences, such as autoimmune issues and exhaustion.
Whether someone has experienced trauma, such as warfare, incarceration, or violence, or what I call “emotional concussions,” like childhood bullying or unkind scenarios, trauma leaves its mark on each person in a unique and profound way. But you don’t have to live with its effects forever.
Trauma healing isn’t just about peace of mind. It might be the key to revitalizing your body at its core.
Through this study and our ongoing research into TIPP’s efficacy in helping people resolve trauma, we continue to leverage emerging neuroscience to support both mental and physical well-being.
Interested in experiencing the difference TIPP can make for you? Book a consultation with a TIPP advisor and start your journey today.
Read more from Dr. Don Wood, PhD
Dr. Don Wood, PhD, Author, Speaker, Founder & CEO
Don Wood, Ph.D., author, speaker, Founder & CEO of the Inspired Performance Institute and creator of the patented TIPP method. TIPP is a cutting-edge method inspired and developed through the newest developments in neuroscience and designed to clear away the effects of disturbing or traumatic events, repurpose old patterns, and set the individual’s mind up for peak performance. In essence, it “REBOOTs” the brain’s stuck thought pattern, making it possible to enhance alpha oscillations with a noninvasive and effective shift in brain wave activity. Author of two top-selling books, Emotional Concussions and You Must Be Out of your Mind.
