Generational Trauma, we may have come across this term various times but in this blog, we will understand what generational trauma is and how it works and how we can prevent and fight against it. In layman’s language, it is the trauma which passes through their children and also grandchildren. This affects the overall well-being, which could be physical, emotional, mental and behavioural aspects of an individual. The impact affects their emotional, mental, physical and behavioural patterns. This doesn’t mean they underwent some trauma but the patterns will be highly affected by the impact of this generational trauma. Understanding how this trauma is passed down is important for breaking the cycle and helping families and communities heal. This implies that you should be conscious of this idea, understand your family, and work together to find solutions.
What is Generational Trauma?
Generational trauma refers to the transmission of trauma across multiple generations. This could be through different mediums such as direct experiences, learned and observed behaviours and inherited emotional patterns. The environment and surroundings are essential to a child as they grow up. If there are events such as slavery, displacement, systemic discrimination, and domestic or verbal abuse, these can leave deep emotional scars on individuals. These form various underlying patterns and thoughts engraved in an individual. When these scars are not properly addressed, the emotional wounds are carried by future generations, affecting their well-being and relationships.
Trauma could take place in different forms such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well as behavioural patterns such as substance abuse, violent tendencies, or difficulty in maintaining healthy relationships. But before assuming and confirming, it’s better to understand and introspect yourself so you will have clarity about the symptoms and the patterns. You can always research about it, and read about it but make sure don’t self-diagnose it.
How Generational Trauma Works?
Generational Trauma usually starts with one person suffering through some incident and it could be a community or family as well. For example, a child who grows up in a household where he has experienced inequality, and domestic abuse towards women may witness behaviours such as withdrawal, isolation, neglect, and frequent outbursts or he could also learn those behaviours and follow the same path as the inability to identify right and wrong will be blurred. Maybe a child may not have experienced trauma themselves, but they might have witnessed their parent’s unhealed trauma. This could affect them and influence their emotional development, and self-worth, shape their behaviour and form some firm patterns.
Unintentionally, Parents may pass down their trauma to their children or future generations unknowingly through their behavioural patterns by not addressing their unresolved issues or struggles. They aren’t fully aware of these issues as well and there could be some level of embarrassment to share and discuss the issues with children. This forms a cycle where the trauma is experienced by not only the victim but also through generations and this could lead to a perpetuating pattern of pain and dysfunction.
Effects of Generational Trauma
There could be various effects of generational Trauma affecting both individuals and communities as a whole and a few of them are as follows;
- Mental Health Challenges: Generational Trauma can be inherited through various ways which we already have discussed but individuals who have inherited may be more vulnerable to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Even though you don’t need to develop these disorders, there could be a possibility of developing it considering many different factors as well. Even if they have not personally experienced a traumatic event, the unresolved trauma within their family system can increase their susceptibility to these conditions.
- Attachment Patterns: Attachment patterns and styles are usually different for everyone and can be discussed collectively to adjust and know each other’s patterns respectively. These patterns are shaped from childhood itself depending on various factors such as environment, parenting, groups or observations. It has been seen that individuals who grew up in such toxic environments may struggle to form healthy boundaries and maintain relationships. There could be a possibility that individuals may develop a sense of enlightenment, arrogance, isolation, hyper-independence or on the other hand difficulty trusting, fear of abandonment or trouble expressing their emotions and fears. These attachment issues can affect romantic relationships, friendships, and even relationships with their children.
- Substance Abuse and Self-Destructive Behaviors: Individuals suffering through the same may as a coping mechanism end up turning towards substance abuse, self-harm or other self-destructive behaviours as their coping mechanism to deal with it. This could help them ease the pain of the emotional weight or burden they have been carrying. This behaviour may be learned from parents or caregivers who used similar coping strategies to deal with their unresolved trauma.
- Chronic Physical Health Problems: People experiencing this type of trauma may develop long-term stress which automatically links to chronic illnesses such as health issues, autoimmune illnesses, and decreased life expectancy. This is because unresolved trauma and prolonged stress have an impact on their bodies.
- Parenting Challenges: Individuals who go through generational trauma may struggle with parenting. This can include difficulty providing a stable and nurturing environment for their children, perpetuating the cycle of trauma. They might not easily communicate with their children in terms of setting boundaries or catering to their own as well as their children’s emotional and behavioural needs.
Breaking the Cycle of Generational Trauma
Generational Trauma, the term itself can be very scary and overwhelming but what we can keep in mind is that healing is possible. There are certain measures too which can be taken by individuals themselves and communities which can help break the cycle of trauma and prevent its transmission.
- Acknowledgement and Awareness: The first step and most important step in healing is acknowledging the existence of this Trauma. But to understand the ways of how and in what ways, the causes and effects is important to know. It is possible when open conversations are made with the help of mindfulness and also being ready to know your real self. Because to know oneself, discover the hidden truths, and flaws and accept them is extremely important.
- Therapy and Counseling: Professional help cis very important for someone who is struggling with the effects of generational trauma. This doesn’t mean that you are sick or something is wrong with you but for your as well as your family’s betterment this is important. Therapy not only helps you with the trauma but also your underlying issues and develops a healthier way of coping mechanisms, improves self-esteem and also addresses your attachment, and communication difficulties.
- Education and Support Networks: Education and awareness is extremely important in order to cope with this. Being a part of community support groups and educating oneself about trauma can be empowering. Being together, and understanding each other can help you to adapt to the process in an easier way. It also won’t make you feel left out or isolated. You can also ask such questions with your psychologist or someone aware of these situations.
- Self-Care and Healing Practices: Self-care practices such as meditation, yoga, mindfulness, and journaling can help you cater to these more effectively. These techniques can help people process their emotions in healthy ways by fostering resilience, self-compassion, and emotional regulation. This is also available in our app- ‘Lets Get Happi’
- Breaking Harmful Patterns: Understanding our patterned behaviours is very important and acknowledging them too. Active efforts will be required to break such negative family patterns that can be very difficult but also necessary. This may involve changing communication styles, setting healthy boundaries, and addressing past conflicts.
To conclude now, generational trauma is a very complex and undefined phenomenon where not only victims suffer and go through this but also their families, community and generations. Its impact is far-reaching, influencing mental health, relationships, and even physical well-being. However, it is possible to end the cycle of generational trauma and create a healthy future for ourselves and future generations by admitting the trauma, getting therapy and practising healing techniques, all of which were covered in this blog. This is not going to be an overnight process, as healing may take time, but with the right support and commitment, it is quite possible to work around it. At Veda Rehabilitation and Wellness rehab centre and our Lets Get Happi team are experts in it, here to support you around the clock, and we’ll make sure you’re not alone. So, let’s come together and start with our journey.