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Amber Groomes,Ph.D. (she/her)'s avatar

Has anyone started reading along yet? If you have not begun, or have only read the introduction, it may be interesting to for you to pause and think about what you already know and believe to be true about the ways that we are impacted by the experiences of our parents and grandparents. There have been so many advances in our understanding of trauma, and it has become much more common knowledge, so I imagine that many of us already have awareness about some of the more apparent ways that we inherit these impacts.

Here are some of my thoughts on the introduction and first two chapters of part 1 on "Our Grandparents."

*I was reminded how complex the theory of epigenetics actually is. I began looking a bit into some of the original research that Atlas references, specifically the studies by Rachel Yehuda (full text of one is available here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6127768/). Maybe it's just me, but I find it fascinating and bit complicated! I am going to keep digging deeper.

*Can epigenetics really explain what we see in our actual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors...so much so that we may "dream their memories?"

*I would love to hear other people's reflections on Eve in Chapter 1. The author does not begin with a softball here, I think this story really challenges us to expand our understanding of subtle and hidden the traumatic impact can be.

* I was so moved by the explanation of the "dead mother" and how this symbolizes not just actual loss, but the impact of maternal depression and PTSD on a mother.

**TRIGGER WARNING for Chapter 2: Childhood sexual abuse**

*I appreciated the reminder that traumatic experiences are re-processed at different developmental stages throughout our lives, and we will make new meaning (both troubling and enlightening meanings) as we mature. This happens for all traumatic experiences in my opinion, not just sexual abuse.

*I had no idea the original Little Red Riding Hood was so horrifying, but even in it's re-imagined and sanitized version it was pretty strange and ominous, so I guess I should not be surprised! But also noticing that tradition of using story telling to teach lessons and give warnings to children, and how those stories become apart of the language of the broader culture, and the language of our individual psychology. Fascinating.

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Billie Dunlevy's avatar

One of my favourite books on intergenerational stories! I was highlighting it like mad the first time I read it. You are in for a treat 📚

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