Science Behind Trauma

Exposure to harsh environmental conditions such as that imposed by war, poverty, prejudice or abuse will deeply affect the mind and spirit of an individual, causing both acute and chronic changes in their psychological, emotional and genetic health. In the US, approximately 61% of men and 51% of women report having experienced at-least one traumatic eventin their lifetime. As a result of this exposure, 20% will later develop PTSD. 

Trauma is most commonly known to cause changes in psychosocial health, but as we look below the surface evidence suggests the impact can be far reaching. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, lasting or latent trauma can trigger immune and endocrine responses by sensitizing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is the body’s central stress response system. As a result, the process disrupts the natural distribution of hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol and oxytocin, and overtime creates toxicity rendering those vulnerable to increased risk of developing anxiety,depression, heart disease, sleep disruption, weight gain, andmemory/concentration damage (Basile, 2020). 

Furthermore through the study of Epigenetic’s, researchers propose the impactof ancestral trauma may be generational, increasing the risk of chronic disease and premature death for offspring due to the genetic changes stemming from the initial trauma exposure. Beginning in the 1970s researchers first observed the connection between trauma and intergenerational health when analyzing children of pregnant women during the Dutch famine, who were observed to be more proneto diabetes and lower mortality (Yehuda & Lerner, 2018). Similarly a studyanalyzing children of holocaust survivors found an association between prenatal trauma and PTSD and anxiety in the next generation (Yehuda, Daskalakis &Bierer et al, 2015). Chronic prenatal stress is a strong risk factor for the development of autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, ADHD, obesity, diabetes and reduced brain functioning (Ryder,2022).