Can trauma be inherited?
“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”
—Thich Nhat Hanh, A Lifetime of Peace
Findings of recent studies have suggested that the causes of trauma may be more than just directly experiential. Research is limited at this time but early epigenetic studies have pointed to the idea that gene expression is triggered by environment, that our genetic code may change with experience, and therefore that trauma may be passed down genetically. The idea is that we are effectively preparing the next generation for what kind of world they are going to live in based on how we have experienced it thus far, a kind of behavioural evolution. If this is indeed the case, what it can mean for those who have experienced trauma is that sensitivity to danger could be strengthened in subsequent generations. In terms of survival, this may not be a bad thing, but if we are hardwired to have our stress responses constantly primed and ready in a world that does not require them, it may act as an impediment to living a good life. Amongst the research was a study of 32 Holocaust survivors conducted by a research team based in Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, led by Dr. Rachel Yehuda. Researchers found that the children of 32 survivors were more likely to get a PTSD diagnosis even though they did not report a traumatic life experience themselves. Although the research had its limitations, if similar findings continue there may be the potential within this strand of research to revolutionise the way we think about mental health. There may be an opportunity for a deeper appreciation of human complexity, and therefore increased empathy.
The first thing that comes to mind is on an individual level. I frequently notice that those who suffer with mental health difficulties tend to also embody feelings of shame. Whether this is because of the stigma still attached to mental health or because they cannot understand the reasons for their suffering, shame is an emotion they quickly retort to. Particularly in young people, the feeling of confusion surrounding their suffering leads to an internal projection of blame, to feel that there must be something wrong with them and that they are not ‘normal’. By realising and accepting that their difficulties with their mental health might not be directly to do with them could go some way towards breaking the negative self-hate cycle that they so often find themselves stuck in. It could serve as a way to quieten the inner critic and replace it with a sense of self-compassion; an essential first step in any kind of recovery.
Another way in which the findings of this research can contribute to increased understanding and empathy is in the context of the parent-child relationship. By rethinking this idea that we are bringing brand new children into the world and that they are products of nurture only, there may be the potential to strengthen the divide between parent and child that I so often see. Parents who have not had easy lives themselves and have endeavoured to create good lives for their children sometimes express disbelief when their child is displaying any form of disengaged behaviour. These are young people with so-called stable upbringings, from well-to-do families and no obvious adverse childhood experiences. Sometimes these children are labelled as spoilt, attention-seeking and ungrateful. But findings like this could lead to the understanding that the behaviour of such children is a hereditary continuation of family trauma. Acknowledging that trauma-responsive behaviour may be present even in the absence of an adverse childhood experience, could change the way parents connect with their children. There may be some inherited healing to do as a family; sometimes just learning about our ancestors’ lives, acknowledging the struggles they went through and the legacy it has left, can help break the cycle and stop the genetic code from being passed on further.
To sum up, the current mental health pandemic sees us fall into at least one of two categories; in our lifetime, it is highly likely we will either suffer with a mental health difficulty at some point ourselves or have to care for someone who does. Either way, there is an overall need for increased empathy, and with research like this, there may be an opportunity for increased empathy on an individual and societal level.
With that being said, although it may be possible for trauma to be inherited through gene expression, it certainly does not confine one to a lifetime of struggle. Nature loads the gun as they say, and nurture pulls the trigger. Positive parent interaction leading to secure attachment, teaching coping skills from a young age, and cultivating a general environment of positive reinforcement means that good nurturing will always play a telling role regardless of what our genetic code predisposes us to.