It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle

Wolynn’s book revolves around the central theme of how trauma transmits across generations, emphasizing both the biological and psychological mechanisms that perpetuate familial patterns of suffering. Wolynn establishes that unresolved traumas from previous generations can leave imprints on descendants, influencing behaviors, fears, and relationships in ways that are often unconscious. This thesis is supported through a combination of scientific research, patient narratives, and therapeutic insights, which together illuminate how these intergenerational patterns take root and how they can be addressed.

Wolynn draws on groundbreaking epigenetic studies to provide a biological foundation for his argument. Research by Rachel Yehuda, as referenced in the book, shows that children of Holocaust survivors exhibit altered cortisol levels similar to their parents, even though they did not experience the trauma themselves. These findings highlight how trauma can modify genetic expression, leaving descendants biologically predisposed to anxiety, hypervigilance, and stress-related disorders. Wolynn extends this concept to include other familial traumas, such as those caused by war, famine, or personal loss, illustrating how these experiences are encoded in the genetic material and persist across generations. By weaving these scientific insights into his narrative, Wolynn underscores that trauma transmission is not merely psychological but deeply embedded in the body’s biology.