The Biology of Early Adversity
When Trauma Rewrites the Software
Yesterday, I shared the heavy reality of the trauma I faced as a four-year-old. Today, I want to pivot to an area that truly amazes me: the physical transformation that happens within our bodies because of those experiences.
As a professional nurse, I look at my history of complex trauma through both a clinical and personal lens. Science now proves that what we endure isn't "all in our head." It actually alters the very "software" of our cells. While these reflections are my own theories based on my nursing background, they are rooted in the incredible fields of epigenetics and somatic psychology.
1. Rewriting the Genetic Code
When we look at my history, we see that trauma didn't change my DNA sequence (my "hardware"), but it added chemical "tags" to my genes. This process, known as DNA methylation, acts like a series of light switches—turning some genes off and others on.
In survivors of childhood neglect, studies indicate that the NR3C1 gene—responsible for managing stress hormones—is often "switched off" or muted. Consequently, my cells literally lost some of their biological ability to shut off the stress response once it began. This explains why I often felt in a constant state of "freefall" or hypervigilance; my body was biologically unable to hear the signal to "calm down."
2. The Biological "Aging" of Our Cells
Think of telomeres as the plastic tips on the ends of shoelaces. They are repetitive DNA sequences that act as protective buffers for our chromosomes. Every time our cells divide to grow or heal, the DNA is copied, but the process can’t reach the very end of the strand. The cell "snips" a tiny bit of the telomere instead of our actual genetic code.
Naturally, these tips shorten as we age. However, chronic childhood stress acts like a corrosive acid on these protective caps. High levels of cortisol suppress telomerase, the enzyme meant to repair them. In "survival mode," cells divide faster to keep up with the demand for energy, wearing down the biological clock decades too early.
3. The Rise of "Zombie Cells"
When telomeres get too short, cells enter a state called senescence. These are "zombie cells"—they aren't dead, but they can’t function or divide. Instead, they sit there, secreting inflammatory chemicals that damage healthy cells around them.
The Retired Army: Our immune system (T-cells and B-cells) relies on rapid division to fight infection. Short telomeres mean the "internal army" retires early, leading to frequent illness and slow recovery.
The Tired Construction Crew: Our bodies repair skin, gut lining, and muscle via stem cells. When this process slows, we lose our physical "bounce back."
The Low-Grade Fire: These "zombie cells" keep the body in a state of chronic inflammation, linked to everything from cardiovascular disease to the "brain fog" of PTSD.
Looking at my childhood records from New Mexico—the neglect, the spoiled food, the extreme emotional distress—it becomes clear. That "perfect storm" didn't just hurt my feelings; it likely triggered the GI issues and respiratory symptoms I struggle with today. My biological "mileage" was simply higher than my birth certificate suggested.
Biology Meets Grace
The most amazing thing I’ve learned as a nurse is that our bodies aren't permanently "broken" by what I’ve been through. Even though trauma acted like a corrosive acid on my cells I am not stuck that way. There is a beautiful connection between science and the Bible in Romans 12:2, where the Apostle Paul tells us not to copy the "patterns of this world" but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
I think of those "patterns of the world" as the survival habits my body learned in trauma—the constant fear and high stress that actually changed how my genes work. But when Paul talks about "renewing the mind," he is describing a total transformation, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly! When I lean into God’s grace and practice things like prayer and emotional healing, I am literally giving my body a "system update." I am switching the "stress genes" back to their healthy settings and repairing the protective tips of my DNA. By choosing to believe I am loved and "wonderfully made" instead of defined by my past, my cells actually listen. I am not just changing my mood; I am participating in a deep, biological restoration. It’s proof that while trauma may have written the first chapter of my life, God is the one who holds the pen for the rest of my story.
References:
Forum, D. M. K., Bjerregaard, C., & Thomsen, P. H. (2025). The significance of DNA methylation of the NR3C1 gene encoding the glucocorticoid receptor for developing resilience in individuals exposed to early life stress. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 79(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2024.2436987
Pesca, C., Lo Iacono, L., & Carola, V. (2025). The impact of childhood maltreatment and parental styles on telomere length: the modulatory role of A118G. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2025.2521152
Rembiałkowska, N., Sędzik, M., Kisielewska, M., Łuniewska, W., Sebastianka, K., Molik, K., Skinderowicz, K., Kuźnicki, J., Tunikowska, J., & Kulbacka, J. (2025). Telomere Maintenance and DNA Repair: A Bidirectional Relationship in Cancer Biology and Therapy. Cancers, 17(14), 2284. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17142284
Saito, Y., Yamamoto, S., & Chikenji, T. S. (2024). Role of cellular senescence in inflammation and regeneration. Inflammation and regeneration, 44(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41232-024-00342-5