Children whose parents suffer from the mental illness Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may experience its biological signs, low levels of the hormone cortisol. By studying Holocaust survivors’ offspring, a team of researchers found that those who had at least one parent, especially a mother with PTSD had lower levels than adults whose parents did not suffer from the disorder. PSTD is known to produce feelings of depression, hopelessness, reoccurring anger, guilt, sexual dysfunction, compulsive behaviors, sleep disorders and concentration problems.
