Death, DNA, and Family Secrets: How Trauma Lives in Our Genes

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What if the unexplained feelings of grief, anxiety, or disconnection you carry aren't entirely your own? In this compelling episode, I sit down with Michelle Scheibner, author of 'Hush', to explore how the secrets and trauma of our family history can echo through generations, impacting our lives in ways we never imagined.

Michelle's journey of discovery began when she found an old leather suitcase filled with documents after her mother's death. These papers revealed her father's hidden Jewish heritage and his harrowing escape from Nazi Germany - a history that had been carefully concealed throughout her life. 

Through her work in epigenetics and inherited family trauma, Michelle explains how traumatic experiences can actually modify our DNA, affecting future generations. Her research, backed by groundbreaking studies from Dr Rachel Yehuda at Mount Sinai School, demonstrates how children of Holocaust survivors and mothers present at Ground Zero show identical anxiety markers and cortisol levels as their traumatised parents.

As an adult orphan who lost both parents and later her significant other, Chris, to cancer, Michelle's personal story illustrates how unresolved family trauma can manifest in our lives. Through narrative therapy and deep personal work, she transformed her understanding of grief and identity, moving from a place of blame to one of appreciation for the resilience she inherited from her parents. 

Her journey offers hope and practical guidance for anyone seeking to understand their own unexplained feelings or recurring patterns.

Key Insights:

●      The science of epigenetics reveals how trauma can be passed down through generations via our DNA

●      Unresolved family secrets and trauma can manifest as unexplained feelings of grief, anxiety, or disconnection

●      Our relationship with our mother/primary caregiver from birth to age seven creates the blueprint for all future relationships

●      Healing begins when we let go of the stories we've been telling ourselves and embrace our true narrative

Resources and Tools for Healing:

●      Journaling with coloured pens (avoid digital methods)

●      Narrative therapy and coaching

●      DNA testing for understanding heritage

●      Michelle's book 'Hush'

Remember; You may not be

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Music composer: Ania Reynolds - h