As soon as a woman becomes aware of her pregnancy and is sure that she is expecting a new baby, she usually begins to follow a particularly healthy diet, abstaining from harmful foods high in fats and sugars, so that her fetus can grow without problems.
Maybe women can consider their physical fitness and mental health during pregnancy especially, because the fetus feels all the feelings of its mother while it is still developing in the womb, and because it will inevitably be affected by the chemicals secreted by the mother’s mood in the body.
But what about his past experiences of traumatic experiences? Is it possible for a mother to inherit her fears, psychological disorders and life traumas to her child also through genetic imprinting?
The Effect of Trauma on Women’s Genes
In fact, all the experiences of the father and mother affect the genetic imprints of their children. In specialized scientific studies of trauma and genetics, there is a term called “genetic trauma”, meaning the effects of trauma which some experts say that we have inherited from previous generations, as minors can do. What happens in a woman’s life that affects her behavior – such as heartbreaking events and painful situations – can change how her genes work.
Not only do these changes affect the mother’s DNA sequence, but they can affect how the body reads that DNA.
How can trauma be transmitted from a mother to her child?
It is known that trauma can alter a person’s character and personality, and although post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is usually linked to personal experience of trauma or a traumatic event, some studies have estimated that 30-70% of children inheriting PTSD can be from mother, father, and previous generations as well, such as grandparents.
The study, published in the journal Front Psychology Research in Psychology, found that trauma can be transmitted through maternal epigenetic source mechanisms, which can affect the function of DNA and genes that a mother passes on to her fetus. .
One of the ways a mother’s trauma is passed on to her fetus is through stress and exposure to psychological and emotional trauma during pregnancy.
Research has found that maternal stress and traumatic experiences during pregnancy threaten babies with:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Schizophrenia.
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
It has also been shown that there is a relationship between prenatal trauma in mothers and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety and depression in children in later stages of life. .
An influence that spans generations
A report by the psychology magazine “PsychCentral” on the impact of trauma on hereditary factors indicated that the mother’s feeling of anxiety and constant tension in her personal life in general and during pregnancy in particular can affect health. of the child in her future life, because children are mothers Women who suffer from anxiety and stress are more likely to develop obesity, diabetes and brain development problems.
Can women recover from their genetic trauma?
Recovering from trauma is essential to a healthy life of well-being and opportunity, and is also evident in the biological impact of mothers on new generations.
Although more research is needed, we review some recovery pathways that should be considered to lessen the impact of genetic trauma on children.
According to Scientific American, mothers can try, for example:
Discover family history of past trauma
Even if a woman expecting a child in the future or expecting a new baby in a few months is not fully aware of her immediate feelings, it is important to research her own history of trauma and the history of the extended family.
With the help of a psychiatrist, as well as testimonials from parents of previous generations, it is possible to discover which personality traits have been inherited due to a common history of genetic trauma.
This process helps to know the experiences that left an impact on the woman’s genes and personality, and affected her outlook and feelings towards different aspects of life.
Treat yourself to positive recovery experiences
Just as genes can or drastically affect our lives through trauma and negative experiences, living in a safe environment and having positive experiences in life can reverse this effect, thanks to neuroplasticity in the brain. us and future generations, whether positive or negative.
Therefore, women are advised to try to discover themselves and immerse themselves in a positive environment and healthy relationships that can meet their needs, and this stage is a good opportunity to have healthy children at the future.
[ad_2]
Leave a Reply