Your courage to turn pain into purpose is really moving. I had cancer not long ago, and what lingers most - more than the side effects - is the old trauma passed down my family.
The line about how facing the family trauma was harder than facing cancer rang painfully true. I don’t meet people that understand that very often.
Thank you for putting words to that truth. It hurt my heart to read it but felt hopeful too.
It got me thinking a lot about trauma and epigenetics, and I even tried, a bit naively, to find public datasets on childhood abuse and health outcomes.
Having this data would be so meaningful. Not just to show survivors matter and are thought of, but practically: it could guide medical care, help consider risk factors, and shape treatment decisions—things I felt keenly during my own cancer journey.
It’s frustrating that research into this is destined to be underfunded, esp when you consider the long shadow it casts.
Long follow up reply (sorry), but you inspired me to keep an eye out for studies in this country.
Did you see the studies I included when I wrote about the Holocaust survivors handing down their pain via their genes to their offspring? If you didn’t catch it, I’ll dig up the link and resend.
I’m planning to write about ACE more, I just added ACE to the top navigation of Paperdolls.Today home page. I would really appreciate it if we could share data.
Happy to share anything I come across — it’s a topic that feels empowering! I’ve seen some of that research before, but I’ll take a closer look at your post. When I was a student, I did a small project on populations exposed to famine and how the effects can ripple through generations. I haven’t experienced anything like that myself, but I have lived through sustained emotional chaos — and I definitely feel it physically. I think we people who carry trauma often do.
I feel so much of what you’ve written.
Your courage to turn pain into purpose is really moving. I had cancer not long ago, and what lingers most - more than the side effects - is the old trauma passed down my family.
The line about how facing the family trauma was harder than facing cancer rang painfully true. I don’t meet people that understand that very often.
Thank you for putting words to that truth. It hurt my heart to read it but felt hopeful too.
Oh, you are welcome. You are not alone. Please reach out anytime you start to feel you might be. Thank you for reaching out.
Thank you, I appreciate that.
Your post sent me down a *positive* rabbit hole!
It got me thinking a lot about trauma and epigenetics, and I even tried, a bit naively, to find public datasets on childhood abuse and health outcomes.
Having this data would be so meaningful. Not just to show survivors matter and are thought of, but practically: it could guide medical care, help consider risk factors, and shape treatment decisions—things I felt keenly during my own cancer journey.
It’s frustrating that research into this is destined to be underfunded, esp when you consider the long shadow it casts.
Long follow up reply (sorry), but you inspired me to keep an eye out for studies in this country.
all good! (no apologies).
Did you see the studies I included when I wrote about the Holocaust survivors handing down their pain via their genes to their offspring? If you didn’t catch it, I’ll dig up the link and resend.
I’m planning to write about ACE more, I just added ACE to the top navigation of Paperdolls.Today home page. I would really appreciate it if we could share data.
Thank you again for reaching out. I’m thrilled!
Happy to share anything I come across — it’s a topic that feels empowering! I’ve seen some of that research before, but I’ll take a closer look at your post. When I was a student, I did a small project on populations exposed to famine and how the effects can ripple through generations. I haven’t experienced anything like that myself, but I have lived through sustained emotional chaos — and I definitely feel it physically. I think we people who carry trauma often do.