Thanks for this great essay Tim. I think many people will be surprised to learn this info and, as you said, it's helpful to know that there is a great deal we can do with our lifestyle to determine which genes get turned on and off. That's the good news! There is so much more we can do about some of our genetic expression that we realized.
My paternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors. My father and uncle deal with depression and I deal with it too. My daughter has anxiety. My son is disabled because of birth trauma but it’s hard to say how he would have turned out if it wasn’t for that. I’ve had my own childhood trauma that contributed to my MDD but if it weren’t for genetics I’m sure the struggles would have been less. But it all makes sense.
Thanks so much for this! A few years ago, as my life started to unravel, I wanted to know what was "mine" and what had been handed me at birth by the Holocaust survivors who raised me. I ended up writing a (very unscientific) book about it. Weirdly, or not, my vector happened to be through psychedelic therapy. Let's just say I learned much, much more than I ever could have expected....
Fascinating, but I have so many questions! Epigenetics makes sense from a survival perspective. If a creature learns a painful lesson, it is incredibly valuable to be able to pass on the lesson to offspring without them having to learn it themselves. But I cannot help but think that, even with the trauma we all experience, humanity currently has an unprecedented level of comfort and security. Our ancestors (going back to cave man times) had a brutal and terrifying existence. If all of that trauma is passed through generations, how are we all not completely dysfunctional by now?
These are all great points, Eric, and I’m wondering right now how much difference there is on a genetic and epigenetic level to what happens when you’re bullied as to what happens when you’re actually in a physically dangerous situation. Doesn’t the cortisol flow either way, aren’t the same hormones activated that actually make the changes? I bet that there is no difference to your genetic programming from a soft Form of trauma.
And let’s not forget the trauma from all of the various chemicals that we are subjected to today and day out, that were never around before.
So it could be that it’s as bad for you as to suffer a series of devastating career losses, as it is to actually be stabbed with a spear or something, just my thoughts
This is so thought provoking. Epigenetics passing to offspring would only have evolved if it improves the survival chances of the offspring, and hence the genes themselves. So maybe this is only becoming a dysfunction in the context of modern society? For example, someone survives a famine. Now their offspring are prone to binge eating. 1000 years ago this might have helped them survive the next famine, but now it leaves them comatose on the couch, buried in empty potato chip bags.
I've always wanted to find an excuse for my late-night chip eating habit lol.
But on a serious note, I have always wondered if traits like addiction can skip generations and still have an impact from, say, grandfathers to grandsons. My son never knew his grandfather, yet they both struggled and ultimately succumbed to addiction. In fact, many of the men in my family have struggled with the same, but not the women. I've wondered for many, many years if there was some hereditary tendencies.
It's looking like the answer is, yes. My family is plagued with a sugar addiction that causes all kinds of trouble. It's pretty hard to deny the evidence that the sins of the father's DNA are visited upon the sons.
Tim, yes. The saying ‘We’re often born w a loaded gun, but life can either trigger it or not’
In my case, a trauma from age 12 & teenage years pulled the trigger. My sisters as well had their traumas. All of us eating disorders of various kinds, plus underlying depression/anxiety.
Interestingly we all agree that we had wonderful loving-caring parents. However, our Mother was chronically anxious(inherited & cared too much about appearances.
Thank you for the book reference plus your continuing posts. Eating disorders are the biggest addiction affliction that is still far too often ignored. Perhaps because they are everywhere much like the air we breathe!
I think you mentioned the reason why they are so ignored. Fish don't know they are in the water. We don't know we have eating disorders, because food is all around us in our society, and most people eat un-intentionally.
Great writing, Tim. Love the super simple breakdown of genetics vs. epigenetics and your commitment to helping readers understand and improve their health.
Thanks for this great essay Tim. I think many people will be surprised to learn this info and, as you said, it's helpful to know that there is a great deal we can do with our lifestyle to determine which genes get turned on and off. That's the good news! There is so much more we can do about some of our genetic expression that we realized.
Yes, I feel like I never really went into how much influence we have through lifestyle.
But it's pretty much what Time2Thrive is about so the message is there.
Haha yes
My paternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors. My father and uncle deal with depression and I deal with it too. My daughter has anxiety. My son is disabled because of birth trauma but it’s hard to say how he would have turned out if it wasn’t for that. I’ve had my own childhood trauma that contributed to my MDD but if it weren’t for genetics I’m sure the struggles would have been less. But it all makes sense.
Thanks so much for this! A few years ago, as my life started to unravel, I wanted to know what was "mine" and what had been handed me at birth by the Holocaust survivors who raised me. I ended up writing a (very unscientific) book about it. Weirdly, or not, my vector happened to be through psychedelic therapy. Let's just say I learned much, much more than I ever could have expected....
I’m glad you found it useful, and I’m interested to hear more of your psychedelic therapy.
Yup yup and yup. You had me at Epi—
There’s so much we can do to help ourselves. Now if my adult kids would just take my advice. Thx for this post.
There’s always hope!
..So, "generational curses" are indeed a valid thing.
Yes, turns out it’s reality
Fascinating, but I have so many questions! Epigenetics makes sense from a survival perspective. If a creature learns a painful lesson, it is incredibly valuable to be able to pass on the lesson to offspring without them having to learn it themselves. But I cannot help but think that, even with the trauma we all experience, humanity currently has an unprecedented level of comfort and security. Our ancestors (going back to cave man times) had a brutal and terrifying existence. If all of that trauma is passed through generations, how are we all not completely dysfunctional by now?
These are all great points, Eric, and I’m wondering right now how much difference there is on a genetic and epigenetic level to what happens when you’re bullied as to what happens when you’re actually in a physically dangerous situation. Doesn’t the cortisol flow either way, aren’t the same hormones activated that actually make the changes? I bet that there is no difference to your genetic programming from a soft Form of trauma.
And let’s not forget the trauma from all of the various chemicals that we are subjected to today and day out, that were never around before.
So it could be that it’s as bad for you as to suffer a series of devastating career losses, as it is to actually be stabbed with a spear or something, just my thoughts
This is so thought provoking. Epigenetics passing to offspring would only have evolved if it improves the survival chances of the offspring, and hence the genes themselves. So maybe this is only becoming a dysfunction in the context of modern society? For example, someone survives a famine. Now their offspring are prone to binge eating. 1000 years ago this might have helped them survive the next famine, but now it leaves them comatose on the couch, buried in empty potato chip bags.
I just noticed that Siri likes to misspell your name, sorry about that
Lol! No worries!!
I've always wanted to find an excuse for my late-night chip eating habit lol.
But on a serious note, I have always wondered if traits like addiction can skip generations and still have an impact from, say, grandfathers to grandsons. My son never knew his grandfather, yet they both struggled and ultimately succumbed to addiction. In fact, many of the men in my family have struggled with the same, but not the women. I've wondered for many, many years if there was some hereditary tendencies.
It's looking like the answer is, yes. My family is plagued with a sugar addiction that causes all kinds of trouble. It's pretty hard to deny the evidence that the sins of the father's DNA are visited upon the sons.
Tim, yes. The saying ‘We’re often born w a loaded gun, but life can either trigger it or not’
In my case, a trauma from age 12 & teenage years pulled the trigger. My sisters as well had their traumas. All of us eating disorders of various kinds, plus underlying depression/anxiety.
Interestingly we all agree that we had wonderful loving-caring parents. However, our Mother was chronically anxious(inherited & cared too much about appearances.
Thank you for the book reference plus your continuing posts. Eating disorders are the biggest addiction affliction that is still far too often ignored. Perhaps because they are everywhere much like the air we breathe!
I think you mentioned the reason why they are so ignored. Fish don't know they are in the water. We don't know we have eating disorders, because food is all around us in our society, and most people eat un-intentionally.
Thanks, Jack! I really appreciate your comments.
Wow, that’s a checkered past your DNA had to weave its way through to get here
It’s just one more reason to have compassion and patience for ourselves and our family members.
Great writing, Tim. Love the super simple breakdown of genetics vs. epigenetics and your commitment to helping readers understand and improve their health.