How trauma, resilience, and epigenetics work together
In the effort to be trauma-informed, it is helpful to understand the relationship between trauma, resilience, and how our genetics can be coaxed to express themselves in healthier ways. First, trauma is what happens when our primary relationships contribute more to disconnection than belonging when we are growing up. Our brains are wired by each experience we have. If our experiences tip more toward disconnection, that will wire a brain that does not trust, is less hopeful/positive, and focused on self-preservation. If our experiences occur within healthy social connections, our brains are more trusting, adventurous, positive/hopeful, and comfortable with risk. There are many degrees of trauma. All of us receive messaging when we are little that says, "you cannot just be you - you must protect your true self from harm." This is where ego comes from. Hopefully, in adulthood, we will learn how to loosen our hold on our protective ego so we can be our true selves. Our community of healthy relationships contributes to this growth and resilience. Those relationships can open us up, counteracting the adversity of our childhood with new experiences of belonging. This can literally change the way our genes express themselves. We are not stuck in our brokenness and trauma. Together, we can heal.
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris on Childhood Trauma:
How Childhood Trauma Affects Health. 16m |
Adverse Childhood Experiences Explanation 5:45m
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How trauma affects the brain from a neuroscience perspective. With help on communicating with victims. 8.5m
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Dr. Vincent Felitti on the ACE Study:
Reflections on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study |
Various Contributors:
The Science of Resilience 2.5m |
How Licking Rats and Giving Love changes Health and Behavior 2.5m
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Michael Meaney on Epigenetics: Nature vs. nurture is the wrong argument... 15m
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Shawn Achor: The Happy Secret to Better Work - Focus the positive leads to resilience. 12m
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Epigenetics: Why Inheritance Is Weirder Than We Thought. We can change behavior and outcomes. 3m
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Dr. Moshe Szyf on Epigenetics:
Our Bodies' Way to Change the Destiny Written Into Our DNA 17m |