The Impact of Stress at the Genetic Level it is capable of changing the physiology of the body and even its structure. Medical concepts do not allow us to even theoretically imagine such possibilities. Can someone's supernatural devotion and faith in the worth and depth of another person change the physiology of the body? Is it possible, at least theoretically, to talk about the reactivation of genes so that the body reconstructs itself? Is it possible that one day we will reactivate a completely new body with new cells? It’s easier for me to imagine that chemistry will do this than psychotherapy. Perhaps the whole physiology can be changed when enough of the therapist's life force (which we did not understand by this) awakens the patient's life force. Where do we go next? Of course, an interesting question is how we can translate the processes occurring in genes into the language of psychology. Genes are the same social communities and they reflect the phylogenetic and ontogenetic development of a person. They also contain the individuality of each person. At the beginning of this millennium, an event of exceptional importance occurred. The human genome was deciphered - instructions describing our device. The human genome is the totality of all the DNA of our species, the hereditary code of life. You can think of DNA as a script or program written in the nucleus of a living cell. Genetics is developing so rapidly that it is simply impossible to keep track of how our ideas about the fundamental principles of life and heredity are changing. There are many diseases that are classified as genetic. Scientists are trying to find the cause of these diseases in the human genome and influence it in order to cure the disease. At the same time, scientists often know at a theoretical level what needs to be done, however, in practice it can be very difficult to technically implement their theoretical positions. Some psychologists are already indicating that a method of psychotherapy will be developed that will allow working with the human genome. The method of emotional-imagery therapy has such an understanding of the processes of problem emergence and an arsenal of techniques that allow you to transform the image in the right direction and solve the original problem. Therefore, emotional-imaginative therapy can become a method that will allow you to work with genetic diseases, as well as diseases associated with the immune and endocrine systems. The influence of stress at the gene level. Scientific research has shown that our emotional shocks leave behind chemical traces, which may even be passed on to offspring genetically. Our deep experiences in childhood can change genetic inheritance in the long term. The main question that interested scientists: how does stress disrupt the normal functioning of genes? No one could have previously assumed that there was a direct connection between these two factors. And moreover: how does this process occur in people? Do parents who neglected their parental responsibilities, were insufficiently attentive to their children, were unfair and cruel, for a long period of time change the genes in their children? “Impressions and experiences of early childhood leave markings,” says pharmacology professor Moshe Szyf from McGill University (Montreal, Canada). “These markings remain for a long time and subsequently have negative health effects, causing painful effects. It has long been known that child abuse leaves deep emotional wounds. But no one knew exactly what genetic processes were taking place. It is quite possible to assume that cultural influences, traditions, customs and experiences may be biologically inherited. At what level can it influencepsychotherapy on the human genome? What can be the object of influence of psychotherapy in the human genome? The question quite naturally arises, which DNA structures can be influenced by psychotherapy? First, let's introduce some concepts. Genome is the totality of all the genes of an organism; its complete chromosome set. Genetics deals with the study of the structure and sequence of the DNA molecule. Epigenome - this term usually refers to all the factors that determine which of the genes that make up the genome work and which are disabled. The epigenome - a set of epigenetic markers - is as important for the development of a healthy body as DNA itself. Epigenetics deals with the study of changes in phenotype and gene expression. These changes are caused by mechanisms other than changes in the sequence of DNA structure. The term epigenetics was first proposed by the outstanding English geneticist Conrad Hall Waddington back in 1947. Scientists are increasingly pointing out that the activity of many genes is subject to external influence. As a result of these influences, certain changes occur in the DNA molecule. External influence changes the epigenome much more easily than the genome. It should be noted that genetic changes at the level of structural DNA letters are of a species nature. And changes at the epigenetic level are individual in nature and are influenced by the environment and social environment. External stress factors can regulate the activity of our genes without damaging the genetic code. According to epigenetics, the genotype is not a fixed structure, but a structure that changes throughout life. We ourselves can “turn on” or “turn off” certain genes. For example, by eating right, and thereby avoiding genetically determined diseases. Moreover, helping your children and grandchildren avoid them. Epigenetic markers that activate or, on the contrary, inhibit certain regulatory processes within the cell are located not in the structural “letters” of DNA themselves, but on them. These are chemical groups distributed along the double helix or "packaging material" of DNA. They turn genes on and off. It is important for us psychologists that scientists have shown that maternal care or, conversely, a mother’s lack of attention to the child can change the natural mechanism of turning genes on/off. This is precisely what epigenetic markers are responsible for. In adults, changes in the epigenetic pattern may be responsible for various diseases such as cancer or schizophrenia. In this case, epigenetic changes from parents are passed on to children, and sometimes to their descendants, over several generations, usually three or four generations. Despite the fact that people have the same genes, they often have different patterns of gene activity. Epigenetic factors are largely responsible for individual differences. Epigenetics has proven that “people have power over the genome.” You can breathe a sigh of relief: we are not suspended on a string like puppets, but can largely influence heredity. Epigenetics makes a person free, but also gives him new responsibility for his own destiny and for the fate of his descendants. We need to get used to a simple idea: our diet or, say, smoking can affect the physical and mental health of our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Epigenetics proves that the smallest events can have a huge impact on our lives.” Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible. To make changes at the genetic level, it is necessary to identify and replace the mutated “letter” of DNA. So far this has not been possible. The methylation pattern is more plastic, it is easier to change - including with the help of medications, and possibly with the help of psychotherapy. And some scientists are looking for ways to prevent the epigenome - that is, health. But the epigenetic pattern, scientists believe, also interferes in the area of the psyche It is becoming increasingly clear that epigenetically active molecules act as intermediaries between the environment and the hereditary code. The same methyl!