Most people have a basic idea of what it means to experience personal trauma. It’s typically something you witness first-hand or something that happens directly to you. However, that isn’t always the case when it comes to generational trauma.

Generational trauma refers to the psychological effects of a traumatic experience that are passed on from generation to generation. Something that happened to your ancestors years ago could still be impacting you and your family today.

So, what is generational trauma? Why would it be impacting you now, and what can you do to break the cycle for the next generation?

The Wounds of the Past

Almost every family has at least one traumatic event that likely gets talked about frequently or is simply “known,” even if it happened a hundred years ago. But there’s a difference between one negative story or experience and deeply-rooted historical trauma that can change the very core of a family’s history.

The wounds of past experiences getting passed down from generation to generation is how this type of trauma survives. Children can inherit the coping mechanisms or behaviors of their parents and grandparents. Or, an environment of constant stress and instability can wreak havoc on a person’s life from a very young age. When a child is brought up in that environment, the effects of past trauma can feel very real in the present.

What Are Examples of Generational Trauma?

Generational trauma isn’t always easy to understand unless you’re directly dealing with it. With that in mind, one of the easiest ways for people to understand the concept is to look at historical events that affected large groups of people.

Colonization, the Holocaust, slavery, and even wars are great examples of major life events that traumatized specific groups. If you had an ancestor involved in one of these historical events or anything like it, the trauma they experienced could still be affecting you, today.

Of course, smaller, more personal familial events can also cause trauma to travel. If a family member was abused or went through a neglectful childhood, the consequences can be passed down again and again. Individual trauma can cause a great deal of emotional turmoil on a family for years to come.

How Does Generational Trauma Impact Mental Health?

Even if the trauma in your family occurred a century ago, you might notice the effects in the way you see yourself and the way you live your life.

Generational trauma can contribute to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more. People dealing with it might have trouble forming healthy relationships due to trust and communication issues. You might find it hard to get close to someone or build intimacy.

Physically, generational trauma can contribute to a variety of ailments, from heart disease to diabetes, often fueled by chronic stress.

Breaking the Cycle

You might assume that generational trauma will always have a lasting impact on your family. However, once you know what you’re dealing with, it’s possible to break the cycle and keep the trauma of the past from impacting future generations.

Learning about trauma and its transmission is a great place to start. Educate yourself even further on the effects of generational trauma and don’t hesitate to talk to your family about it.

Surround yourself with a strong support system. Connect with people you trust so you can build healthy relationships that will help you work through these issues.

Practice self-care and be compassionate and kind to yourself. Healthy routines and practices like mindfulness and meditation can boost your self-esteem while reducing stress.

Finally, reach out for help. You don’t have to overcome years of generational trauma on your own. Trauma therapy can help you make sense of it while teaching healthy, effective coping mechanisms that will allow you to prioritize your own mental health so you can break the cycle for good. If you’re ready to take that step, contact me today.