172: Dr. Will Cole - Addressing Shameflammation and Stored Trauma to Optimize Health

Dr. Will Cole, a leading functional medicine expert and best-selling author, discusses a term he came up with, shameflammation, and dives into what that is and why it could be an underlying health issue for many people, including healthy patients.

Dr. Cole also addresses the connection between mental and physical health, stored traumas, the difference between shame and guilt, and more in this episode.

You’ll also hear about the free interventions Dr. Cole recommends using to address these issues and more about his latest book, Gut Feelings: Healing the Shame-Fueled Relationship Between What You Eat and How You Feel.

Dr. Will Cole is a leading functional medicine expert who has been in practice for over 13 years. 

He uses telehealth practices to help patients all over the world.

Dr. Cole has also written four books, hosts a podcast called The Art of Being Well, and has been recognized as one of the top 50 functional and integrative doctors nationwide. 

In this episode, you’ll hear more about:

Understanding the connection between mental and physical health 

Dr. Will Cole’s term “shameflammation” and how shame impacts our health

The difference between experiencing shame versus guilt

Where does shameflammation come from?

How stress and trauma are stored in the body and what can be done about it

Interventions to improve both physical and mental health and resolve shameflammation

Why aren’t these free interventions being prescribed by traditional doctors? Is it because there’s no money to be made from them?

How healthy habits could be making your health worse and what you can do to fix this

What Dr. Cole’s personal journey looks like

Working to address intergenerational trauma

Dr. Cole’s experience with psychedelics for treating trauma and other alternative treatment options

Information on his latest book, Gut Feelings: Healing the Shame-Fueled Relationship Between What You Eat and How You Feel

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Will Cole’s website

Dr. Cole’s Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube channel

Dr. Cole’s latest book, Gut Feelings: Healing the Shame-Fueled Relationship Between What You Eat and How You Feel

The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

Realms of Human Consciousness: Observations from LSD Research, by Stanislav Grof