Generational Trauma: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Treatments

Generational trauma (GT), also known as intergenerational or transgenerational trauma, refers to transferring emotional pain and suffering from one generation to another, often resulting from significant historical events or deeply rooted cultural issues. As a topic, it has gained much attention in recent years as new generations are increasingly trying to break the circle of generational trauma in families. 

GT impacts both the physical and mental health of multiple generations and, with that, contributes to the creation of a deeply troubled society, one that often holds to the past instead of creating a brighter future. Solutions do exist, and they start with finding inner strength to overcome issues passed on by previous generations. You can count on We Level Up Washington to help you with this. 

We will explore the definition of generational trauma, its symptoms and causes, as well as various treatment options available for those affected by it.

What Is Generational Trauma (GT)?

Trauma is a possible emotional response to a terrible event, such as:

• Accident
• Natural disaster
• Physical or emotional abuse
• Neglect
• Experiencing or witnessing violence
• Death of a loved one
• War

Generational trauma can stem from traumatic experiences that occurred in the past and continue to impact subsequent generations. Although there are no precise generational trauma statistics, keeping in mind the number of collective traumatic events, we can assume GT is quite prevalent.

Simply put, GT occurs when the effects of past traumatic events are passed down from one generation to the next. This can happen if the initial trauma isn’t properly addressed or resolved, causing emotional and psychological distress in the offspring of the original victims. Generations may carry on the legacy through prejudice and discrimination. How trauma gets passed down through generations has the potential to affect subsequent generations in subtle but significant ways. 

GT is a complex phenomenon that can manifest in various ways, including:

• Mental health disorders
• Substance abuse
• Social issues

Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been linked to GT. 

Intergenerational trauma must be acknowledged and addressed if affected communities are to experience healing and resilience.

Examples of Intergenerational Trauma

Different historical events and cultural settings can serve as examples of trauma that can be passed down from one generation to the next. Let’s look at some instances:

• The trauma of long-term colonization, slavery, or systematic discrimination can be passed down through generations in communities. Indigenous peoples, people with a history of slavery in their family tree, and other underrepresented groups are all examples.
• GT is common in communities and families hit by war, genocide, or political unrest. An example of this occurrence can be victims of the Holocaust and their following generations.  The generations that experienced traumatic events can still have a significant impact on those who did not directly experience violence, displacement, or loss.
• Forced assimilation, cultural erasure, and the suppression of religious practices are all examples of cultural traumas that can have long-lasting effects on a community’s identity and well-being. The effects of trauma can be transmitted through generations via oral history, ritual, and memory. As an illustration, consider those who have experienced a country takeover and have had to assimilate with the oppressor.  

Trauma can be passed down through the generations even when there have been no significant historical or systematic events. When there is a history of dysfunction or abuse in the family that has never been addressed, it can have an impact on parenting techniques, attachment styles, and children’s mental health.

Generational Trauma Symptoms and Impact

Specific signs of intergenerational trauma can be different, but some typical symptoms can be singled out. Some of the most common ones are:

• Emotional and mental distress: People can show signs of anxiety, depression, fear, and emotional instability.
• Behavior patterns: To deal with unresolved trauma, people may use self-destructive behaviors like drug abuse, self-harm, or risky behaviors.
• Relationship problems: Intergenerational trauma can make it hard for people to form and keep healthy relationships. This can cause problems with trust, intimacy, and communication.
• Challenges with culture and identity: Trauma can change a person’s sense of self, cultural identity, and worldview, making them feel disconnected, lose their cultural heritage, and have trouble following cultural norms.
• Physical health problems: The intergenerational trauma that can cause chronic stress can lead to physical health problems like chronic pain, trouble sleeping, and autoimmune diseases.

GT can also have a profound impact on an individual’s health. Research shows that “generational trauma increases lifetime susceptibility to depression and is a major risk factor for developing multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and schizophrenia.” It is also associated with an increased risk of developing substance abuse problems. Additionally, physical health conditions such as heart disease and other stress-related ailments may be more prevalent among individuals affected by generational trauma.

Causes of Generational Trauma

Various events and their related emotional responses can lead to intergenerational trauma. Psychology studies point out that causes can be both collective traumatic events and personal traumas that are not being resolved and are even, in some cases, nurtured by social factors. 

The following are some of the typical causes of generational trauma and why it keeps happening:

In some cases, the causes of generational trauma are also mechanisms for its transmission, making it difficult to break the cycle. Understanding how transmission mechanisms work can help you break that cycle, heal, and ensure the next generation is not affected.

Generational Trauma Statistics

Shared traumatic events can lead to serious psychological and physiological issues, including higher PTSD, depression, and violence.

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Generational Trauma Transmission Mechanisms

There are multiple theories, including family systems, epigenetics, attachments, and many others, that have proposed mechanisms for trauma transmission from generation to generation. Here are some details about these mechanisms:

• Cultural norms and beliefs can reinforce trauma patterns, like being shamed, keeping quiet, or not talking about traumatic experiences. This can make it harder to heal and keep the effects of trauma going from one generation to the next. An ongoing pattern of discrimination and prejudice can also perpetuate the cycle of generational trauma.
• Family dynamics can contribute to keeping generational trauma alive. When trauma isn’t dealt with, it can be passed down from one generation to the next through dysfunctional coping methods, unhealthy communication, and broken attachment relationships.
• Trauma can have an impact on attachment and parenting styles, resulting in a lack of emotional support, care for children, and a safe environment for them. This keeps the cycle of trauma going. 

In many cases, generational trauma in families is a result of learned behaviors that families are unconsciously showcasing, creating poor role models and implicit family norms that prevent recognition of generational trauma symptoms and help-seeking. 

A specific mechanism for transmitting trauma is related to bodily changes. Epigenetic studies propose that those affected by negative environmental factors can have changes in their DNA expression and that some epigenetic changes in an individual can be passed down to more than one generation of descendants.  One study discovered that descendants of Holocaust survivors had shown changes in stress hormones, indicating a change in their genetic makeup, implying that stressful experiences experienced by parents and grandparents can affect children even before they are born.

Healing from Generational Trauma

Healing trauma passed down from generation to generation requires a multifaceted approach considering trauma’s historical, cultural, and personal aspects. Here are some of the most important ways to heal generational trauma:

• Awareness and education: Knowing and understanding how generational trauma affects people is essential. By learning about it, people and communities can learn more about historical events, cultural contexts, and the effects of trauma on multiple generations.
• Networks of support. Building strong support networks within families, communities, and cultural groups is essential. Creating safe places for open conversation, sharing experiences, and emotional support helps people heal and get back on their feet.
• Cultural revitalization. Reconnecting with cultural traditions, practices, and values can empower and heal. Celebrating cultural identity, participating in cultural activities, and reclaiming cultural heritage help people and communities regain their strength and resilience.
• Advocacy and social change. Addressing systemic inequalities, discrimination, and social injustices is important for healing generational trauma. Promoting policies that promote fairness, social justice, and inclusion can help create environments that help people heal and prevent more trauma from happening.
• Specialized treatments. If, due to transmitted trauma, you are facing mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc., getting professional treatment for your condition can make all the difference. These are some frequent therapeutic treatments for people experiencing generational trauma:
  • Trauma-informed therapy: It´s the first step in treating trauma that sets the base for further treatments like PTSD treatment. It´s primarily oriented towards revealing trauma and its symptoms and offering education on it to a client. 
  • Anxiety therapy: If, due to the passed-on trauma, you developed an anxiety disorder (an overwhelming feeling of worry and fear you cannot control), anxiety treatment in Washington, with its combination of medications and psychotherapy, can offer relief. It also develops skills to help overcome potential future issues. 
  • Depression therapy: For those who developed overwhelming sadness and despair due to their generational trauma in families, depression treatment in Washington can help. A variety of approaches is available to help you resolve acute conditions and empower you for the future.   

Healing GT is a complicated and ongoing process that requires everyone’s work. Having supportive communities and a society open to change is important, but seeking professional Washington behavioral health services is irreplaceable for addressing GT’s impact on individuals. They can not only assist you in overcoming the difficulties GT has brought about in your life but also give you the strength to promote communal and social changes that can benefit many people.

FAQs on Generational Trauma

Break the Circle of Generational Trauma in Families

Breaking the generational trauma circle is everything but easy. To heal from GT, you often have to face what you do not understand and haven´t experienced yourself, yet it affects your behavior, health, and quality of life. When you feel overwhelmed and looking for a way out, type in mental health centers near me in your browser and ask for help. Professional support can help you find the inner strength to overcome what generations before you couldn´t.

Contact We Level Up Washington, and let us help you achieve better mental health and a happier future for generations to come.

Sources:

• American Psychological Association. “Trauma and Shock.” American Psychological Association, 2021, www.apa.org/topics/trauma.
• Ullah, Hamid, et al. “Intergenerational Trauma: A Silent Contributor to Mental Health Deterioration in Afghanistan.” Brain and Behavior, vol. 13, no. 4, 27 Feb. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2905. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10097044.
• Alhassen, Sammy, et al. “Intergenerational Trauma Transmission Is Associated with Brain Metabotranscriptome Remodeling and Mitochondrial Dysfunction.” Communications Biology, vol. 4, no. 1, 24 June 2021, https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02255-2.
• “APA Dictionary of Psychology.” Dictionary.apa.org, dictionary.apa.org/epigenetics.