143 Your Family History Goes Beyond Genetics: A Novel Way to Look at Hashimoto’s with Anat Peri

The Case:  Mindy has Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism and experiences low energy and anxiety She’s worried genetics may be making it worse because her mother also has Hashimoto’s She’s feeling like the genetic cards are stacked against her and there’s nothing she can do to feel healthy again.    The Investigation When I first met Mindy, I noted the stock she was placing on her genetics, missing things under her control. Genetics are important but they only account for 15% of our wellness picture. I knew that there were a myriad of things we could do to shift the impact of her genetics on her health. However, I also knew that a bigger shift might be needed at the epigenetic level.   The Epigenetic Expert - Anat Peri To look further into what might be going on for Mindy, I invited Anat Peri back to the show. Longtime listeners may remember her from episode 55 of Health Mysteries Solved when she shared her insights on emotional resilience. I highly recommend going back and listening to (or relistening to) that episode. Anat is an inner child expert and the founder of Training Camp for the Soul. She has 18 years of experience as a trauma-informed coach using a variety of tools including mindset, somatic healing, safety connection, nervous system regulation, and inner child reparenting. Through her work, she has learned a great deal about epigenetics and how our upbringing can manifest physically in our adult minds and our health.   What is Epigenetics? Epigenetics refers to the biology of our beliefs and how we view the world. It's about how our reactions to life impact our nervous system and whether we operate in a parasympathetic state or a stressful (sympathetic) state. This can have a huge impact on our health, as stress and trauma can lead to a range of health issues and can be a major trigger for Hashimoto’s.  Anat explains that everything we learn as children is learned from our caretakers, and if they were absent or dysfunctional, we may have learned unhealthy patterns that can impact our health as adults. Anat explains that we learn so much at a young age because as children we are like sponges; soaking up what we see, hear, and feel energetically from our caretakers. Our beliefs and the way we view the world are formed at a young age, and they can have a huge impact on our health later on. Often, we are completely unaware of the role epigenetics is playing in our health. The good news is that we can turn our epigenetics on and off, just like gene expressions. Our ability to control our epigenetics depends on our beliefs, how we regulate our nervous system, and how we speak to ourselves.  Inflammation and its Impact on Health Inflammation is a natural response of the immune system to injury or infection. However, chronic inflammation can contribute to a wide range of health issues, including autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's and thyroid issues. In my practice, I’ve seen how specific beliefs and behaviors can contribute to inflammation in the body. Beliefs and Behaviors that Impact Inflammation and Hashimoto’s One of the beliefs that can increase inflammation is shame. Anat explains that shame is a powerful enough emotion that it can cause us to close in on ourselves and hide our true selves. When we feel ashamed, we may try to suppress our emotions and our needs, which can lead to chronic stress and inflammation. Fear is another powerful emotion that can contribute to inflammation, says Anat. When we are in a state of fear, our bodies release stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, chronic stress can lead to inflammation in the body. Our parents may have ingrained shame and fear responses into us at a very young age without realizing it. Growing up in a chaotic or turbulent environment can also contribute to inflammation. When our nervous system is constantly activated by stress and fear, our bodies release stress hormones, which can lead to inflammation over time. The Potential Role of Fathers in the Development of Autoimmune Diseases In this episode, we really got personal. I looked at the roles my mother and father played in my life. I shared that I felt like my father was always there for me but he didn't necessarily stand up for me when my mother wanted me to do things I didn't want to do, like playing the piano. This experience taught me that my feelings didn't matter and that I had to do what others wanted me to do. I realize now that this is how I was trained to be a people pleaser. Anat was able to relate that to having a lack of boundaries as well as self-rejection and self-abandonment and the connection to my Hashimoto’s. It’s really fascinating. Anat expanded the discussion further by explaining how fathers can impact the development of autoimmune diseases. She notes that fathers can influence the development of autoimmune diseases by being emotionally unavailable, neglectful, or critical. Children who grow up with fathers who are emotionally unavailable may fe...