your fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responsesĪccording to an older research paper from 2003, a lack of methyl groups or disruption of a methylation cycle can lead to immune system complications.

If trauma affects your genes, it can have effects on: Some researchers believe that experiencing trauma can affect your genes through methylation. When methyl groups are added to DNA, it can impact how those genes are expressed. Methylation is a natural, biochemical process. What is methylation and what does it have to do with epigenetics? Things that run in your family might stay inactive or even be reversible, including trauma. 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.Įpigeneticists also look at how the genes you inherit don’t manifest. The researchers found that starving a group of mice caused them to engage in aggressive behavior toward their food. “Epigenetics could also influence what someone is afraid of, what someone is sensitive to, and how their body functions and develops,” says Lurie.Ī 2018 study in mice suggests that epigenetic changes can continue to show effects for generations, supporting the idea of intergenerational trauma. 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. 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.Įxperiencing trauma might alter your genetic makeup - and those changes could be passed down to future generations. The genetic makeup that you’re born with plays a role in whether you will develop certain mental or physical health conditions, but that’s only one piece of the puzzle.

Intergenerational trauma example