Understanding the Epigenetics of Childhood Trauma – Psych Central

Childhood trauma affects your mind, body, and well-being. The study of epigenetics suggests it may also affect your genes.

Intergenerational and historical trauma centers around the idea that the trauma a person experiences can have ripple effects on the next generation.

Examples of trauma that could be intergenerational include ongoing sexual abuse, war, and systemic trauma like racism.

Trauma doesnt just impact the individual who endured it, but it impacts future generations as well, and is, in a sense, inherited, says Saba Harouni Lurie, LMFT and founder of Take Root Therapy in Los Angeles.

Research on exactly how and to what extent trauma affects your DNA is ongoing, but recent studies suggest theres a connection between trauma and genetics.

The genetic makeup that youre born with plays a role in whether you will develop certain mental or physical health conditions, but thats only one piece of the puzzle. The study of epigenetics shows us how your lived experiences and environment can actually change how your DNA and genetic traits are expressed in situations.

Experiencing trauma might alter your genetic makeup and those changes could be passed down to future generations. In this way, a child might inherit trauma responses from a parent, such as a tendency to react to threats with a fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response.

Epigenetics could also influence what someone is afraid of, what someone is sensitive to, and how their body functions and develops, says Lurie.

A 2018 study in mice suggests that epigenetic changes can continue to show effects for generations, supporting the idea of intergenerational trauma.

The researchers found that starving a group of mice caused them to engage in aggressive behavior toward their food. They gave the next generation ample food to eat but despite having plenty of food, the offspring of the starved mice also showed aggressiveness toward their food.

Epigeneticists also look at how the genes you inherit dont manifest. Things that run in your family might stay inactive or even be reversible, including trauma.

Methylation is a natural, biochemical process. When methyl groups are added to DNA, it can impact how those genes are expressed. Some researchers believe that experiencing trauma can affect your genes through methylation.

If trauma affects your genes, it can have effects on:

According to an older research paper from 2003, a lack of methyl groups or disruption of a methylation cycle can lead to immune system complications.

One 2018 Swedish study suggests a link between certain mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and autoimmune disorders.

An adverse childhood experience (ACE) score is a measure of childhood trauma a person has lived through, such as abuse or neglect from a caregiver or having a parent who has experienced incarceration.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), experts have linked ACE scores to mental and physical health conditions. A higher score may increase the likelihood of developing:

Having a higher ACE score reflects the trauma youve experienced. It may mean youre more likely to have trouble:

If you have a higher ACE score, you might be more likely to experience health issues. Health issues can crop up because of a weakened stress response due to the lifelong effects of trauma exposure, says Lurie.

Sharnell Myles, PsyD, a certified clinical trauma professional and Vice President of Embark Behavioral Health, explains that Black people, particularly children, are subject to racial bias regarding their trauma responses.

Theres a common stereotype that Black people are excessively angry when really what theyre experiencing is strong emotions. But we know defensiveness can be a response to trauma, and expressiveness is part of Black culture, says Myles.

Myles adds that underlying factors can account for overblown reactions in people who have experienced trauma, especially in marginalized people.

Its also important to recognize that excessive anger stereotypically ascribed to Black people has been shown to be inaccurate, resulting from racial bias and power dynamics. So excessive anger may be perceived by other individuals, but not actually accurate.

One of the ways that these trauma-induced epigenetic modifications can occur is via stress response genes. By altering how the genes that respond to stressors function, an individual might develop lowered resilience to any additional trauma faced later in life, says Lurie.

Experts believe the link between epigenetics and trauma might serve as potential biomarkers for mental and physical health conditions.

This might help provide better support to folks whove experienced trauma. It could also help researchers find ways to potentially alter these genetic changes.

Know that while your parents trauma may have impacts on how you were parented and on how you experience the world, there are also ways to recover from trauma and adverse childhood experiences, says Lurie.

Whether youre navigating childhood trauma or trauma from being parented by someone with their own trauma, dealing with the effects can be challenging. But its possible to heal.

A 2019 clinical trial involving 39 English-speaking adults and a 6-week expressive writing program suggests creative expression, meditation, and mindfulness might help reduce depression symptoms and increase resilience in people with a history of trauma.

Creating supportive social environments can be challenging, especially if youve experienced trauma. But you might find it helpful to lean on others for support. Consider:

Connecting with a trauma specialist is also an option. There are various therapies for trauma.

You might also find it helpful to look for a therapist who regularly works with people from your specific cultural background or gender identity.

Psychotherapy can be very effective in treating mental health challenges, including those that may be caused or exacerbated by adverse childhood experiences. There is hope, and there is help, says Lurie.

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Understanding the Epigenetics of Childhood Trauma - Psych Central