separation of children from family members, including forced attendance at Indian residential schools and the more recent separation of children and parents at the United States-Mexico border.forced migration, including the recently forced displacement of millions in Syria, Myanmar, and Ethiopia.cultural genocide, such as the loss of language, culture, and traditions experienced by the Indigenous peoples of North and South America.You’ll find more details on intergenerational trauma below, including key signs, causes, and tips for getting support.Įxperts now recognize a wider range of circumstances that can lead to historical or intergenerational trauma, including: Though intergenerational trauma can have deep, complex, and far-reaching effects, it’s possible to heal - not to mention minimize your chances of continuing the cycle. relationships with family members and romantic partners.Trauma passed down through generations can ripple through multiple areas of life, not just for the survivors, but also for descendants not yet born at the time of the original trauma.
You might also come across the term historical trauma, which describes intergenerational trauma that stems from oppression related to culture, race, or ethnicity. The toll of these experiences can reverberate across generations.Įxperts refer to this as intergenerational trauma, or secondary traumatization. Major, large-scale traumatic events often don’t affect only those who survive them. Yet certain types of trauma can have a far more profound impact. That kind of therapeutic focus can help you break the trauma cycle – once and for all.You might, for instance, find yourself facing long-term emotional distress after discovering a partner’s infidelity, losing your sibling in a car accident, or coping with the sudden illness and death of a beloved pet. Finding a culturally responsive therapist who knows about the culture you come from will allow you to reserve your time and energy for working with the tools and techniques your therapist provides you with, rather than requiring you to spend therapy time educating about your culture. You don’t have to face your trauma all alone. When peeling back the layers of trauma, you’ll find yourself ‘ grieving the gap’ between what you received and what you needed.Īcknowledging this gap can evoke some of the bad feelings or memories you’ve been subconsciously suppressing.įeeling through what comes your way is essential to moving forward from them because when we grieve, we feel, and when we feel, we heal. Investing in downtime for yourself will ensure you stay healthy and strong to deal with what might happen in the future. This could look like smudging, journaling, breathwork, sports, making art, and gratitude walks. Remember their reaction is tied to their trauma experience. Once you give yourself permission to set healthy boundaries, you might notice discomfort or criticism from the people you are setting boundaries with. Setting boundaries and changing the way you interact with them has the potential to benefit both you and your relationship with them. Oftentimes, generational trauma is associated with family members that are unknowingly feeding into the cycle, for example through emotional blackmail or possessiveness. Learning more about your family history can make it easier to acknowledge the impact that trauma had on your ancestors and, and how that trauma was passed down to you. Acknowledging and Accepting your TraumaĬlaiming your lineage’s trauma requires resilience and accepting that you’ve been carrying your ancestor’s wounds. This level of awareness will encourage you to think, believe and act differently than what you were once taught.Ģ. Uncovering the ingrained behaviours, beliefs, and patterns that exist within you and your family allows you to be more conscious of your current tendencies. Unpacking generational trauma might require a little bit of digging.