Can the Effects of Trauma Be Passed Down Through the Generations?
Quick answer
Research is looking at the risk of parents passing PTSD on to children. Children may learn behaviors resulting from a parent's PTSD symptoms. Epigenetic marks do not change the sequence of the DNA. Much of the epigenome is reset when parents pass their genomes to their offspring, but under some circumstances some chemical tags may be passed on to the next generation.
This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.
Key takeaways
- Epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change the sequence of DNA bases, but they can change how the body reads a DNA sequence.
- When a parent has PTSD, it can lead to child distress and behavior changes.
- Previous exposure to adversity and other traumatic experiences, especially in childhood, can increase a person's chance of developing PTSD later in life.
- The talk therapies with the most research support for PTSD are trauma-focused.
- PTSD treatment can bring a family together, and children are resilient with support.
Most people believe that trauma is an isolated incident that can be resolved with therapy. But did you know that research is looking at whether a parent's trauma can be passed on to children? That can make a situation more complicated because an individual may not understand why they react a certain way to specific stimuli. Here is how trauma affects genetics.
What Is Epigenetics?
Epigenetics is a recent scientific field that examines how the environment affects genes. It doesn’t examine how the DNA sequence is altered, but how the body reads and uses it. Attending a php mental health treatment center can help to undo this, but it helps to understand that epigenetic marks do not change the sequence of the DNA, only the way cells use its instructions.
Consider DNA like a book. Instead of trauma changing the alphabet of the book, it changes how the DNA is expressed, affecting one’s health, moods, and susceptibility to certain conditions.
Environmental Factors Turn Genes On And Off
DNA is present in every cell in the body, and epigenetic modifications can change the cell’s function by turning certain genes on or off. It’s these modifications that can be passed down through genetic material. Factors like stress can sometimes trigger these genes in descendants in the future, turning certain ones on.
These changes are not definitive, however, but are adaptable and can be rewritten by life experiences and actions that can overwrite the trauma encoded in the genes.
What Does Generational Trauma Feel Like?
It can feel different for everyone, but it typically makes it difficult for a person to trust others, they tend to feel hopeless, or they experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. It can also feel different throughout the different stages of a person’s life.
It’s important to identify the root cause of your traumatic responses, acknowledge it, examine how it impacts your behavior, and seek support from professionals to address the trauma.
Evidence Of Generational Trauma
There are symptoms and certain behaviors that can indicate whether you are experiencing generational trauma. These include:
● Hypervigilance
● Codependency
● Substance abuse
● Unhealthy attachment styles
● Having difficulty trusting others
Having mental health conditions (anxiety, negative thoughts/feelings, difficulty managing stress, PTSD, depression, difficulty regulating emotions)
Breaking Generational Trauma
It is possible for generational trauma to be broken, but it does take time, energy, and therapy to help you recognize those problems and address them accordingly. The signs of generational trauma being broken include:
● Not being afraid of change
● Being more open and trusting with others
● Having the ability to express and talk about one’s emotions
● Being able to face one’s fears
● Feeling more connected to themselves and family members
There are three ways that a person can break their generational trauma. The most significant way is to have open and honest communication with family members. Secondly, you can observe and gain awareness of the behavior patterns of your family members and whether you contribute to those patterns. Lastly, you can speak to a therapist and learn healthy ways to cope with the trauma so that you can start the healing process.
If you believe that you are dealing with generational trauma, speak to a mental health professional today.
