Dr. Brian Alman: How Does Childhood Trauma Affect Entrepreneurs?

In the world of entrepreneurship, success often looks like financial freedom, innovative breakthroughs, and a thriving business. But what if beneath that exterior lies an unresolved emptiness? Imagine a first-generation entrepreneur who built a multimillion-dollar company, only to feel hollow at 40, wondering why external achievements didn't fill the void. This scenario resonates with many, from young professionals bootstrapping startups to mid-career switchers pivoting industries or underrepresented founders navigating systemic barriers. Dr. Brian Alman, a pioneer in mind-body healing and collaborator on the groundbreaking Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, shares insights in a recent podcast interview that bridge this gap. Drawing from his journey overcoming chronic pain and trauma, Dr. Alman reveals how resolving childhood trauma can unlock authentic success by nurturing the "inner life" alongside the outer one.

Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, refer to traumatic events like abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction occurring before age 18. The ACE Study, co-led by Dr. Vincent Felitti and involving over 17,000 participants, showed that ACEs are alarmingly common—impacting more than half of adults worldwide—and linked to health issues like cardiovascular disease, addiction, and premature death by up to 19 years.

For entrepreneurs, these experiences can manifest as perfectionism, self-doubt, or burnout, hindering decision-making and innovation.

Dr. Alman, who worked directly with Felitti at Kaiser Permanente, emphasizes that untreated ACEs don't just affect personal health; they sabotage business performance. "It's not the trauma, it's the untreated, unresolved trauma," he explains. Entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds—whether first-generation immigrants building wealth for their families or global leaders facing cultural pressures—often repress these roots, focusing solely on external metrics like revenue and growth.

From Pain to Purpose: Dr. Alman's Journey

Dr. Alman's story is a powerful testament to transforming adversity into enlightenment. Born with a congenital spinal defect missing parts of L4 and L5, he endured chronic pain that shaped his childhood. Despite participating in sports and school, the constant worry became a "full-time job." This led him to seek mentors like Dr. Milton Erickson, the father of mind-body healing, and later Felitti, with whom he developed treatment solutions for high-utilizers at Kaiser.

His collaborations birthed innovative tools: the Enlightn app (enlightn.me), True Sage company programs, and the upcoming book From Trauma to Enlightenment. These resources, now in 100 countries, include ACE assessments, positive childhood experiences (PCE) evaluations, and personalized healing techniques. One study showed that using these approaches reduced medical visits by 35% and emergency room trips by 11%, saving billions in healthcare costs.

Reflect on your own path: As a mid-career switcher, have past family dynamics influenced your risk-taking in business? Dr. Alman's evolution from patient to pioneer illustrates how addressing root causes fosters resilience.

The Tree Rings Metaphor: Integrating All Parts of Yourself

Dr. Alman uses a vivid metaphor to explain healing: "Think of this... Rings of a tree. You still have the one-year-old you inside the five-year-old you, the 20-year-old you... Everybody does of all the years of their life." Attempting to "cut out" traumatic years is futile; instead, learn to support and integrate them.

This resonates deeply for entrepreneurs. Many build empires while ignoring inner critics or perfectionist tendencies—lifetime "members" that can't be eradicated. "You learn to support, take care of, trust, listen to, dialogue and basically support to grow to be the deepest roots and the highest branches," Dr. Alman advises. This holistic approach aligns with overcoming childhood trauma for entrepreneurs, turning vulnerabilities into strengths.

Why Entrepreneurs Often Ignore Their Inner Life

Entrepreneurs excel at outer success: scaling teams, launching products, securing investments. Yet, as Dr. Alman notes, "They have spent their careers... building their outer life... And they have done very well with that half of their life. Their outer life." The inner life—emotional, psychological, physical—gets neglected, leading to panic attacks misdiagnosed as heart issues or addictions as coping mechanisms.

For underrepresented groups, like women or minority founders facing additional biases, this inner-outer divide can be amplified. Rhetorical question: What if prioritizing inner healing amplified your leadership? Dr. Alman warns, "First things happen on the inside, then they happen on the outside." Ignoring this risks losing up to 19 years of longevity, per ACE data.

Steps to Resolve Root Causes for Entrepreneurial Success

Dr. Alman outlines a five-step process, individualized via algorithms in the Enlighten app:

1. Awareness: Take ACE and PCE assessments to identify issues.

2. Acceptance: Embrace difficulties, including the inner critic.

3. Expression and Release: Use journaling or therapies like EMDR.

4. Support the Inner Parts: Dialogue with your "younger selves."

5. Access Inner Wisdom: Tap into your "inner doctor" for resolutions.

   
   

These steps, science-backed and clinically proven with millions, shift from band-aid fixes (like NLP) to root-level healing. Challenge yourself: Spend 2-3 minutes daily journaling about a childhood memory—how might it connect to a current business hurdle?

FAQ: Common Questions on Overcoming Childhood Trauma for Entrepreneurs

• What Is the Enlightn App and How Does It Help?

The Enlightn app, co-developed with Dr. Felitti, offers free ACE assessments, tailored techniques, and parenting programs to prevent ACEs. Download at enlightn.me for iOS/Android.

• How Can I Assess My ACE Score?

Answer 10 questions on the app . Higher scores correlate with greater risks, but resolution is possible.

• Does Healing Trauma Really Boost Business Performance?

Yes—resolving root causes enhances emotional resilience, decision-making, and longevity, per studies linking ACEs to entrepreneurial traits.

Key Takeaways and Next Steps

Overcoming childhood trauma for entrepreneurs isn't about erasing the past but integrating it for wholeness.

As Dr. Alman redefines, "Enlightenment is unconditional acceptance of yourself."

By balancing inner and outer lives, you cultivate sustainable success.

Apply these insights: Download the Enlightn app today, take your ACE assessment, and journal one insight. For deeper dives, read From Trauma to Enlightenment or explore True Sage courses at trusage.com. Join communities focused on mental health in business to connect with like-minded leaders from all backgrounds.