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S tre e t R o o ts • April 15-21, 2046
HEADS, from page 12
altered.
There is a study showing tfraf people with
PTSD have, changes in DNA methylation. When
the DNA is copied-, the sequence remains
methylated. That can be passed 'down (through
generations), which is really disturbing.
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Page 13
News
button issue recently, a n d it seems to be dom inating
Public discourse about PTSD. Do you think it is
productive ^ u n d e rs ta n d in g P T SD and reducing
stigma around the issue?
L.S.: The research shows that trigger warnings
are not really effective. Some things will be
triggering or not be triggering. Warning people is
not going to stop it from being triggering. People
who have been through good therapy have a better
A.W.: Why do you say that?
understanding, and know how to deal with their
L.S.: (Those genetic) changes would be passed
triggers. There are strategies that people can use
down to children, who would be much more likely
to help them overcome the anxiety. There are so
to have personality changes that lend themselves
m any things to overcome. It takes a lot of time to
toward PTSD-like behaviors, such as heightened ’
heal.,
amdety and depression.
,. If people aren’t seeking therapy and if they’re
There is a, study showing, that children of‘
constantly protecting themselves, they’re going to
Holocaust survivors all had anxiety and other
contìnue to g et worse, not better. One of the
types ofdisorders and a high level of evidence that
therapies for PTSD is exposure therapy. There
something is being passed down. It’s remarkable
are other therapies, too.
that this can be passed down. Through how many j
I do think there is a large proportion of people
generations? We don’t know. Other parents may - .
who don’t understand what PTSD is. In the old
.not have methylation changes. You would get a
days, we didn’t know, and people did drop out of
correction, but it may take a generation.
society. There were people who could have had
productive lives and careers and did not do that
A.W.: The concept o f trigger warnings, especially
because they made choices that sheltered them
in the context o f school, has really become a hot
from what they were experiencing.
A.W.: Do you think that post-traumatic stress
disorder is a public health problem? You seem to be
.
suggesting that.
L.S.: ft is. We have so many children and adulte
who are experiencing traumatic events in their
lives that are going untreated or not getting
properly treated.;The reàuît is w e’re going to have
a huge population dealing with huge problems. It
will cost society - there is the financial cost of
having to do long-term therapy for people, and a
cost for people who could otherwise be productive
members of society who will have trouble getting
on with their lives.
There sre people who outwardly mask their
behavior to get on with it. They’re still left with
the nightmares, the anxiety, and all the things that
will make their life very difficult going forward,
including developing depression and anxiety
disorders. That’s something they’re living with
their whole life. It’s always with them at some
level. That’s a battle.
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