According to some studies, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in only a minority of persons exposed to traumatic events (Breslau et al, 1998; Kessler et al, 1995). But for many people the onset of PTSD from a traumatic event puts into motion a tremendous change in their way of life.
I recently encountered a young man (early 30’s) who did seven tours in the military and was released from service with a diagnosis of PTSD. He said his life was significantly changed. He is not able to sleep; he has obsessive recurrent thoughts and has developed a stutter as a result. He says his marriage is in trouble as he has become very fearful and anxious.
“Twin studies established that genetic influences explain a substantial proportion of vulnerability to PTSD, from ~ 30% in male Vietnam veterans (True et al, 1993), to 38% in a sample of male and female civilians (Stein et al, 2002), with an upward heritability estimate of 72% in young women (Sartor et al, 2011)”’
Currently, very few genetic studies of PTSD have examined gene–environment interactions, or gene biochemistry interactions. We have come to realize in genetic research that one gene one symptom is not an accurate means of diagnosing a risk of developing a condition such as PTSD. That the interplay of genes is the true underlying cause of susceptibility to this and other conditions.
The complicated algorithm of MyHappyGenesTM takes into account this unique interplay and increases the accuracy of the information about your unique genetic risks of these sorts of imbalances. We can then design a diet and lifestyle and nutrient approach to increase your resilience and help you deal with life in a much more balanced way.