Maybe that Trauma Isn't Yours, Inherited Trauma is a Thing; with Mark Wolynn Zen(ish) Mommy

What if all that we inherit from our parents extended far beyond the physical and personality traits we’re aware of? We all have trauma in our families, to some extent, but which factors decide whether that is passed down to our children? Today’s guest, Mark Wolyn, has deeply researched the idea of inherited family trauma, and published his findings in his book, It Didn’t Start with You. It explores, at length, the ways in which the trauma our parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents experienced can be passed down through our genetics. Join us today to hear about Mark’s own search for healing, after inexplicably losing vision in one of his eyes, before coming to learn that he needed to heal his bond with his mother. Learn about how human foundations for trust in life are formed, and what fascinating results epigenetic testing in mice has revealed about generational trauma. We also dive into how Mark distinguishes between attachment and generational trauma, and how he proceeds according to the diagnosis, before we hear how you can support your child’s healing at any age. Thanks for tuning in to hear all this and more today! 


Key Points From This Episode:


Meet today’s guest, Mark Wolynn, and hear about his research into inherited trauma. The book he has written, It Didn’t Start with You, which explores this idea in great depth.What generational trauma means and how the stress response is passed on. Genetics, epigenetics, and the molecular changes that happen after we experience trauma.How we usually think about our stress responses and relationship to anxiety and depression.What prompted Mark’s research: inexplicably losing vision in one of his eyes.How his search for healing led him to repair his relationship with his parents, through a path of resolving his own relationship with anxiety. Generational behavior he identified in his mother and sister, fearing they would never see their mothers again.Healing the bond with his mother, restoring his vision, and developing his healing method.The foundation for having trust in life, starting with your relationship with your parents.Testing for generational trauma in mice and how their brains replicate the stress response.Epigenetic testing in baby mice.How sons and daughters are equally impacted by their mother and father’s trauma.Triggering events that mirror our parents’ trauma or take us back to very early memories.The epigenetic component to how we repeat cycles within parenting.How breaking the bond with our mothers can be like breaking the bond with ourselves.Learning to listen to your trauma language in order to understand the root of your responses.The question that reveals whether you are dealing with attachment trauma or generational trauma.Deciding what to do once you have identified the kind of trauma you are dealing with.What children reveal: what’s unresolved between the parents, and what we experienced at their age.Why it is important to teach our children what happened in the family, and help them to sit with uncomfortable emotions at any age.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
 Mark Wolynn
Mark Wolynn on Twitter
It Didn’t Start with You
The Zen Mommy
Zen Mommy Instagram

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