Can You Inherit Trauma? The Neuroscience of Epigenetics and Intergenerational Healing

For decades, psychology operated under the assumption that we are born as blank slates, shaped only by our own life experiences. If you had anxiety, it was because of your childhood, your stress, or your choices. However, groundbreaking research in the field of Epigenetics has shattered this assumption.

We now know that trauma can leave a chemical “scar” on our genes—a scar that can be passed down to children and grandchildren who never experienced the original trauma themselves. This phenomenon, known as Intergenerational Trauma, explains why certain populations, families, and individuals struggle with high rates of PTSD, anxiety, and metabolic disorders despite living relatively safe lives.

This guide explores the biological mechanisms of inherited trauma, the evidence from history (such as the Dutch Hunger Winter), and, most importantly, how brain-based medicine can help us break the cycle.

Part I: The Fundamentals of Epigenetics

To understand how trauma is inherited, we must distinguish between Genetics and Epigenetics.

The Hardware vs. The Software

Think of your DNA as the Hardware of a computer. It is the fixed code that determines your eye color, height, and bone structure. This sequence generally does not change.
Epigenetics (“Epi” means “above”) is the Software. It tells the hardware what to do. It consists of chemical markers that sit on top of the DNA and act like volume knobs—turning gene expression “up” (active) or “down” (silenced).

The Mechanism of Inheritance

When an ancestor experiences profound stress (famine, war, abuse), their body floods with stress hormones (cortisol). This survival state is biologically expensive. To adapt, the body adds chemical tags (Methylation) to specific genes to prepare the organism for a dangerous environment.
Remarkably, these tags can attach to sperm and egg cells. This means a child can be conceived with their genes already “methylated” for high-alert survival, even if they are born into peace. They inherit the preparedness for trauma, not the trauma itself.

Part II: The Evidence – From Mice to Humans

The theory of epigenetic inheritance is supported by compelling studies in both animals and humans.

1. The Cherry Blossom Study (Dias & Ressler, 2013)

In a famous experiment, researchers trained male mice to fear the scent of cherry blossoms by pairing the smell with a mild electric shock. The mice learned to freeze whenever they smelled cherry blossoms.
The Result: The offspring of these mice—who had never met their fathers or experienced the shock—also exhibited extreme fear when exposed to the cherry blossom scent. Even the “grandchildren” mice showed the fear response. The trauma had physically altered the structure of their olfactory bulbs and their DNA expression.

2. The Dutch Hunger Winter (1944-1945)

During WWII, the Nazis blocked food supplies to the Netherlands, plunging the population into famine. Pregnant women were forced to survive on as little as 500 calories a day.
The Result: The children born during this period carried a specific epigenetic marker on the IGF2 gene (related to growth and metabolism). Decades later, these children had significantly higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and schizophrenia compared to their siblings born before or after the famine. The starvation of the mother had programmed the metabolism of the child to hoard calories.

3. Holocaust Survivor Studies (Rachel Yehuda)

Dr. Rachel Yehuda at Mount Sinai Hospital studied the children of Holocaust survivors. She found that they had distinct epigenetic changes to the FKBP5 gene, which regulates cortisol.
These individuals had lower baseline levels of cortisol, making them more vulnerable to PTSD. Because their systems were less effective at shutting down the stress response, they were more likely to develop severe anxiety after experiencing their own traumas.

Part III: How Trauma Affects the Brain and Body

Inherited trauma does not just float in the ether; it manifests in specific physiological systems.

1. The Hyperactive HPA Axis

The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis is the body’s stress command center. Inherited epigenetic markers can leave the HPA axis stuck in the “On” position.
* Symptom: The individual feels chronically unsafe, jumpy, or aggressive without a clear cause.
* Outcome: This leads to systemic inflammation, autoimmune issues, and “burnout” syndrome.

2. Neurodevelopmental Changes

High cortisol in utero can alter the architecture of the developing brain.
* Amygdala: Often enlarged (increased fear response).
* Hippocampus: Often reduced in volume (impairing memory and emotional regulation).
This structural difference explains why generational trauma often presents as ADHD, learning disabilities, or emotional volatility in children.

Part IV: Reversing the Code – Brain-Based Medicine

The most empowering news from epigenetic research is that epigenetic marks are reversible. Just as environmental stress can add negative tags, environmental healing can remove them. This is the foundation of Brain-Based Medicine.

1. Nutriepigenomics: Eating for Your Genes

Food is information. Certain nutrients act as “methyl donors,” helping the body regulate gene expression correctly.
* Folate & B12: Essential for the methylation cycle.
* Polyphenols (Green Tea, Turmeric): Have been shown to reverse DNA damage caused by stress.
* Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Support neuroplasticity and reduce brain inflammation.

2. Somatic and Brain-Based Therapies

Talk therapy is often insufficient for inherited trauma because the “memory” is biological, not narrative. Therapies that target the midbrain and nervous system are more effective.

• Brainspotting & EMDR: These therapies use eye positions to access unprocessed trauma in the subcortical brain, helping to “reset” the limbic system.
• Neurofeedback: By training the brainwaves, we can calm a hyperactive Amygdala, effectively teaching the brain that the war is over.
• Somatic Experiencing: Focuses on releasing the physical tension patterns (armoring) that hold the energy of the trauma.

3. “Cycle Breaking” as Biological Repair

When a person heals their trauma, they are not just feeling better; they are biologically altering the heritage they pass on. By lowering their baseline cortisol and regulating their nervous system, they prevent the transmission of these stress markers to the next generation. Healing is, therefore, a legacy.

Part V: Conclusion

The question “Can you inherit trauma?” is no longer a metaphysical debate; it is a biological reality. However, biology is not destiny. The same plasticity that allows trauma to be encoded allows it to be decoded.

Through a combination of targeted psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, and brain-based interventions, we can rewrite the software of our survival. We can turn the genes for “fear” down and the genes for “resilience” up.

Explore Treatments for Intergenerational Healing

Taproot Therapy Collective Podcast

Somatic & Brain Therapies

Brainspotting: Accessing the Deep Brain

EMDR: Reprocessing Traumatic Memories

Somatic Experiencing: Releasing Body Tension

Neurofeedback: Training Brain Regulation

Holistic & Integrative Approaches

Emotional Transformation Therapy (ETT)

Lifespan Integration: Healing the Timeline

Jungian Therapy: Ancestral Work

Internal Family Systems (Parts Work)

Bibliography

• Dias, B. G., & Ressler, K. J. (2014). Parental olfactory experience influences behavior and neural structure in subsequent generations. Nature Neuroscience.
• Yehuda, R., et al. (2016). Holocaust Exposure Induced Intergenerational Effects on FKBP5 Methylation. Biological Psychiatry.
• Heijmans, B. T., et al. (2008). Persistent epigenetic differences associated with prenatal exposure to famine in humans. PNAS.
• Wolynn, M. (2016). It Didn’t Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle. Viking.