What Is Intergenerational Trauma and What Are the Signs?

Most people understand the basics of trauma. If you go through a traumatic experience at any age, it can affect you for years to come. The mindset of what trauma actually is has shifted, too. Many people used to associate it with things like military veterans returning home after a war.

That’s still a valid example. But trauma can be caused by anything from an abusive relationship to experiencing a natural disaster.

So, what happens when the impact of a traumatic experience affects many generations to come? Yes, it happens. Intergenerational trauma is actually more common than you might think. It could be affecting you, and it might even get passed on to your children.

If you’ve never heard of intergenerational trauma before, it’s important to know what it is, how it impacts families, and how you can recognize the signs. Let’s take a closer dive into this specific type of trauma experience.

What is Intergenerational Trauma?

The main idea behind intergenerational trauma is experiencing a traumatic event so intense that the effects of it last for generations.

How does that happen?

Consider a child who has been abused or witness one parent abuse another. They might struggle with that well into adulthood. As a result, their behaviors might change and they might see the world differently.

When that child eventually becomes a parent themselves, the way they raise their children might be impacted by what they experienced. Because they are anxious and fearful of certain things, they might pass those ideas and traits to their children, who develop the same traits and pass them on.

The process seems simple and complex all at once. But it contributes to a vicious cycle that can last for many years.

What Are the Common Symptoms?

Some of the most common signs of intergenerational trauma include:

●      Depression

●      Anxiety

●      Insomnia

●      Low self-esteem

●      Self-destructive behaviors

If you look at that list, you can probably think of several other mental health conditions that cause some of the same problems. Because of that, intergenerational trauma often goes undiagnosed or gets misdiagnosed as something else.

Aside from the common symptoms, one of the reasons it’s hard to recognize intergenerational trauma is that it’s not fully known what causes it to get passed down. However, there are several theories on the subject.

Some experts believe the passing down of traumatic traits has to do with the environment of living with someone who went through trauma. The constant stress and anxiety surrounding you can “build up” over time and cause/contribute to your own anxiety.

Others believe that biology could actually play a role. If a parent’s biological signatures in the brain change due to stress, they might pass some of those signatures down to their children, obviously with no control over it.

How to Treat Intergenerational Trauma

No matter the cause, the best thing to do for intergenerational trauma is to stop the cycle. If you went through a traumatic experience as a child or you believe you’re dealing with intergenerational trauma, your first step should be to seek help from a mental health professional. Together, you can get to the root cause of your issues and work through them.

If you have children, talk to them. Understand that your own life experiences can affect them. You can tell them about your experiences in a way that is comfortable and age-appropriate for them, so they understand what you might be dealing with.

But, instead of focusing on those experiences, make sure you’re offering an emotionally stable environment in your home. Breaking the cycle isn’t easy. But, once you know more about intergenerational trauma, you can be the one to put a stop to it.

Click here for more information on trauma therapy.