Psychological trauma is among the most devastating of conditions. Though classified as a mental health disorder, it affects the body at the most fundamental levels. The Genetics of Trauma traces the physiological roots of posttraumatic stress disorder in the body’s many systems: the brain, the autonomic nervous system, the endocrine system, and the many organs they control. It weaves together the most current research from many different scientific fields. These include:

• Epigenetics
• Neuropsychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Immunology
• Polyvagal theory
• Biofeedback
• Energy Psychology
• Epidemiology
• Memory Reconsolidation

This review shows how when we are traumatized, especially at an early age, changes occur deep in the brain. These are reinforced by neural plasticity, our brain’s ability to rapidly add new synaptic connections. Trauma is also epigenetic, changing gene expression in ways that compromise our health. Over time, epigenetics intensifies the symptoms of PTSD, often leading to disabling personal limitations.

This book also reviews the evidence from the new field of memory reconsolidation. This shows that under very specific conditions, fear-based memories may be revised by the brain. The new therapies emerging in the field of energy psychology, especially EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), are able to quickly neutralize traumatic emotions.

This book explains the physiological mechanisms behind the efficacy of these novel therapies, especially gene expression and neural rewiring.

Besides discussing several key clinical trials showing rehabilitation of over 80% of PTSD sufferers, it contains many case histories of veterans and others who have made full recoveries using EFT. It is a unique resource for parents, patients, teachers, scholars, therapists, physicians, caregivers, and journalists, as well as anyone wishing to understand the underlying physiology of stress.