There has been a rise in awareness and a cultural shift towards understanding trauma and the long lasting impacts it can have on mental and physical health. So many of us hear the word ‘trauma’ and tend to think of the worst-possible scenarios: domestic violence, physical abuse, school shootings,” says Endries [1]. However, trauma is far greater than that.
Trauma is the emotional response to anything that caused a deeply disturbing and distressing experience; indirect or directly [2]. Trauma happens when the brain’s stress chemicals, such as cortisol and norepinephrine, rise over what the nervous system can handle, imprinting the experience in a way that feels threatening long after it is over. For some this may be caused by bullying while others may experience it after a loss or accident. Some experts posit that trauma can also be are result of the absence of positive experiences. The presence of a negative experience is not necessary, as long as the brain perceives a certain situation as distressing.
The good news is that not all negative experiences lead to trauma and mental health issues, and some experiences can build a young person’s ability to respond and withstand distressing events, building resilience.
Generational trauma, is a cycle of trauma that runs across families. Yes, people can inherit pain. Generational trauma can be caused due to biological, environmental, economic, cultural, psychological and social factors.
Epigenetics is also a cause. Epigenetics is the study of your genes as well as everything that affects how you express them. Evidence suggests that what we put into our bodies, how we interact with the world, and how our lives change over time can all have an impact on our epigenetics.
From this we can conclude that variations in a person’s epigenetics caused by a traumatic experience can result in trauma being transmitted down genetically, creating a predisposition. Epigenetics is used to regulate gene expression, and modifications can turn certain genes ‘on’ or ‘off’[3]. Individuals who have experienced generational trauma may have genes that are not expressed normally, increasing their chance of developing certain illnesses or ailments.
Because the environment affects the expression of your genes, positive aspects of your genes may be expressed as well. Research has demonstrated that exposing kids to a pleasant environment can alter the genes that made them more prone to stress[4].
A BBC article evidences King’s College London’s (KCL) efforts to research the genes involved In individuals with schizophrenia, 108 genes have been discovered to be altered. There are 20 genes linked to bipolar illness and nine genes linked to depression [5].
In order to break the cycle of adverse childhood trauma, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) must be identified and understood first so that you can take the appropriate precautions [6].
Furthermore, education is a vital instrument. Knowing how epigenetics works can help reduce the likelihood of negative effects. Some advice includes managing stress, eating a healthy diet, being in a supportive atmosphere, etc.
The effects of generational trauma can be mitigated by resilience. Fostering resilience is not only about being able to withstand difficulty without falling apart, but it is also about learning from difficult challenges, thinking healthy and creating meaning in life.Positive psychology refers to the term post-traumatic growth. This refers to the positive psychological changes after experiencing trauma. This growth might include improved relationships and a greater appreciation for life. Individuals discover new personal strengths and deeper meaning in their experiences. Fostering resilience and post-traumatic growth requires conscious effort. We have the ability to choose and improve.
And as the father of positive psychology says “I’m all for past influences; the question is whether they are deterministic. Freud and the behaviourists argue that what we are at any given moment is billiard balls whose past determines our future course. That doesn’t take into account that we are forever generating internal representations of positive futures and choosing among them.” – Martin Seligman
Reference:
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America. (2019). Understanding Childhood Trauma: Ways to Support Young People.
- Wikipedia Contributors. (2019, April 5). Psychological trauma. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_trauma
- Cleveland Clinic. (2024, February 16). What Is Epigenetics? Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/epigenetics
- Generational Trauma: How Stress & Trauma Can Be Passed Down To Your Kids. (n.d.). Www.henryford.com. https://www.henryford.com/blog/2022/10/generational-trauma
- Do you inherit your parent’s mental illness? (2016, May 10). BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36228055
- Indiana University Health. (2021, March 23). Generational Trauma: Breaking the Cycle of Adverse Childhood…. IU Health. https://iuhealth.org/thrive/generational-trauma-breaking-the-cycle-of-adverse-childhood-experiences
