Annie Ahern ’24
Health & Science Editor
When we are analyzing the impact of events, it is all too easy to isolate them to their occurrence to an individual. According to the American Psychological Association, most disastrous, traumatic events cause a sustained impact on us, but can be overcome with the help of processing techniques.
But what can be done if you are somehow imbued with the reverberations of trauma that is not even yours to process?
Research by scholar Natan P. F. Kellermann and well-known studies of holocaust survivors indicate that it is not only possible to pass trauma on to your children, but that the effects of such a transmission can cause intense distress. This distress manifests in a variety of ways, such as emotional processing issues similar to those that manifest in individuals with PTSD, according to Kellerman’s article titled “Transmission of Holocaust Trauma— An Integrative View.” Stigmatizing, life-altering issues such as anxiety or anticipation of annihilation, the dissipation or entanglement of identity and more were found in descendants generations distanced from the original holocaust-survivor family member.
It is interesting to note that despite the presence of these stigmatizing behaviors, there appeared to be no pathological difference between the children of survivors and other children with “normal” family history, according to “Transmission of Holocaust Trauma— An Integrative View.”
In more recent research by Pilkay et. al. (2020) in an article titled “Maternal Trauma and Fear History Predict BDNF Methylation and Gene Expression in Newborns,” maternal stress such as fear and child abuse was shown to affect more than the social behavior of children. In genetically male children, expression of the BDNF gene was found to increase (p=0.001) in cases of both being born to mothers who had experienced child abuse and mothers who were considered to have experienced trauma, according to Pilkay et. al. In genetically female children, however, BDNF gene expression was found to decrease (p=0.004).
Differences in BDNF gene methylation/expression and the specific effect on individuals is not perfectly understood. However, abnormal expression of the gene has been linked to psychopathological issues such as bipolar disorder, depression, and more. This indicates that generational trauma and research into the specific effects, prevention, and support necessary to truly overcome a disastrous event far exceeds what is visible on the surface.
Please remember that if you are suffering with issues beyond your control, there are people who can help, and you are not alone. Contact the Health and Wellness Center at (847) 735-5240 or healthandwellness@lakeforest.edu to learn more about support available for you.