Passing Down the Past: A Guide to Generational Trauma
Photo by Transly Translation Agency on Unsplash
Trauma is a well-documented issue that impacts individuals across the world.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 70% of people will experience a traumatic event at some point in their lives. At the same time, other research shows more than half of the population will experience some form of trauma in their lifetime.
While trauma that relates to a stressful, frightening, or distressing event such as death, violence, war, terrorism, or neglect is relatively well-known, a less talked about form of trauma is intergenerational trauma, also known as transgenerational trauma, ancestral trauma, or, generational trauma.
Generational trauma, much like family traits such as eye color, is trauma that is passed down through a family. Generational trauma is the psychological damage caused by exposure to a traumatic event experienced by previous generations in a family, which is affecting the next generation who were not present at the event.
Generational trauma can be just as damaging to a person’s life as other kinds of trauma. In this guide, we cover what exactly generational trauma is and how it might manifest, the causes of it, treatment options and how to break the cycle of generational trauma.
What is generational trauma?
Trauma is a response to a distressing event, resulting in adverse physical and emotional outcomes. Traumatic events may include but are not limited to; physical or mental abuse, death, violence, war, terrorism, neglect, natural disasters, or racism.
Generational trauma, however, is trauma that extends from one generation to the next. It starts when a group experiences a traumatic event that may cause economic, cultural, or familial distress. In response, other people belonging to this group may also develop physical or psychological symptoms, despite not being present at the original, traumatic event.
People who experience trauma may have it manifest in several ways, including;
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Substance abuse disorders
- Heart disease
- Eating disorders
- Insomnia
- Poor self-esteem
- Fear of death
- Anger issues
Subsequent generations may inherit trauma and these health conditions, surfacing through nuances or because they have been inadvertently taught and implied throughout one’s life in what is often unspoken and complex ways. Generational trauma is expressed when a descendant of someone who experienced a traumatic event exhibits emotional or behavioral reactions that are similar to the relative and are caused by the same triggers.
When traumatic experiences are passed down from generation to generation, they can severely impact the day-to-day lives of individuals and influence how they think, feel, and behave. While some intergenerational trauma can bring families together emotionally, it can also cause them to drift apart, encourage disconnection, detachment, and estrangement, or result in violence, abuse, and neglect.
What causes generational trauma?
Generational trauma can be caused in many different ways. Some of these triggers can be;
Oppression
Historical oppression against a particular group of people is a known cause of generational trauma. African American people who were enslaved may experience generational trauma based on the brutal conditions past generations were forced to live through.
Oppression can be a cause of generational trauma. Photo by Savannah B. on Unsplash.
War
Children who grow up during significant conflict and war are more likely to experience PTSD than those who do not, and are at a higher risk of passing on these symptoms to their children.
Cultural dislocation
When someone is forced to leave their homeland due to conflict, it will naturally lead to feelings of loss and isolation. These feelings of displacement can be passed down through multiple generations.
Intergenerational poverty
Extreme poverty can make it difficult to thrive emotionally, mentally, and financially. If parents from a particular family faced poverty, this can cause generational trauma which can be passed along to their children.
Racism
Systematic racism can impact individuals and entire communities. Suffering from ongoing prejudicial treatment, physical violence, and the ongoing threat of harm can cause serious trauma that is easily passed down from generation to generation.
In utero exposure
There is research to suggest exposure to toxic stressors in utero can result in changes to the brain structure and function, causing developmental delays. The long-term effects of this might impact the ability to learn and regulate emotion, which can impact later generations.
Treatment options for generational trauma
Generational trauma can be managed, but it is not an easy solution and will take time and hard work. Focusing on the following is important when beginning to address trauma;
- Identifying and accepting the trauma and its effect on you and your life. This is an important first step towards the healing process - talking about your experiences with a trusted individual can be incredibly beneficial.
- Educating yourself about your family history. Learning about what happened to previous generations can help make sense of your own experience.
- Pinpointing signs and symptoms that may relate to the trauma and avoiding triggers. This can also fall under practicing self-care by avoiding triggering situations, but also learning how to care for yourself emotionally and physically.
- Connecting with others who have shared similar experiences. Having someone understand what you are going through can help remove feelings of isolation and provide a comforting and understanding ear.
Attempting to treat generational trauma alone can be difficult, so engaging with a mental health professional is another path you can take to help recognize and resolve the effects of this kind of trauma. Some cross-generational challenges for counselors include considering the developmental needs of every age group, assessing the different psychological and physical needs of every age group, and reviewing family dynamics, so it is important you find a professional who has experience in dealing with generational trauma.
Breaking the cycle of generational trauma
Educating people about the potential for generational trauma is essential to breaking the cycle.
In understanding the impact an experienced trauma can have on the generations that come after, an individual may be more likely to attempt to break the cycle by dedicating time to understanding their trauma, joining a support group, or engaging with a mental health professional to begin the healing process.
