“A gleam in the veins, that radiant flow, which comes from seeing the passing of wisdom between generations.” Chang-Rae Lee

 
 

Intergenerational Trauma

What is Intergenerational Trauma?

Intergenerational trauma is the passing of the effects of trauma through the generations. Even if you haven’t directly experienced the war, genocide, slavery, forced migration, or colonization that your ancestors did, you may still be living with that trauma. Especially if we come from marginalized communities with a cultural history of trauma, it’s important for us to understand what burdens we carry that didn’t start with us.

But the tricky thing about intergenerational trauma is that they are not immediately obvious. Unless we are actively curious about it, we may not fully understand that something that has plagued us for most of our lives actually has nothing to do with us.

 

What are Symptoms of Intergenerational Trauma?

Intergenerational trauma can manifest in both obvious and subtle ways, in all areas of our lives:

  • scarcity mindset

  • anger/rage

  • low self esteem and low sense of worth

  • depression, anxiety

  • burnout

  • physical health issues, like heart issues, diabetes, and chronic pain

  • self destructive behaviors

  • codependency

  • parentified children

  • shame

  • self-policing and silencing

  • relationship difficulties

  • difficulty with trust and attachment

Intergenerational trauma can also be inherited by societies, not only by the individuals of that community. When intergenerational trauma is passed through societal lines, it can show up as cultural and societal practices that end up perpetuating cycles of trauma and oppression.

Intergenerational Blessings

Usually, most conversations around intergenerational patterns tend to be focused on inherited traumas. However, it would be a mistake to forget about the blessings we have also inherited from our family line. If it’s possible to inherit traumas from our ancestors, it is also possible for us to inherit the wisdom, blessings, and strengths of our ancestors as well.

The blessings from our ancestors, like strength, resilience, courage, belief systems, strong communities, and positive role models, can play a crucial role in the healing of our intergenerational traumas.

Breaking the Cycle

If you think you are part of a generational cycle that you didn’t create, and don’t want to perpetuate for yourself or future generations, therapy is a great place to start. Alongside the intergenerational blessings and strength inherited by your ancestors, therapy can help you experience ancestral healing. And once you start to heal the intergenerational traumas of your family, you can begin to connect with your internal light and ancestral wisdom. Schedule a consultation to begin your healing journey.