Learning About Intergenerational Trauma

When the effects of a traumatic event pass from one generation to another, it's called intergenerational trauma. The effects can pass from a parent or grandparent down to their children or grandchildren. The younger people didn't live through the event. But they can still carry its weight. They may feel anxiety and fear. Or they may have troubled relationships.

This type of trauma usually affects certain cultural, racial, or ethnic groups. Learning about how it takes root in a family can be the first step toward healing.

The trauma can take root after events like war, genocide, and slavery. It can also happen to refugees. And it can grow out of abuse, addiction, or chronic poverty that runs through a family line.

Several things can carry trauma forward. Parents may pass down ways of coping shaped by their own pain. They sometimes don't discuss the trauma. Their children may feel that something is wrong, but they don't know why. Ongoing stress in a family's daily life can also play a role. Studies are being done on how stress may affect genes in a family line.

Children and grandchildren of trauma survivors face a higher risk. This includes people who are refugees. It can also happen if a family suffers a major personal trauma.

Trauma can show up in many ways. The person may feel anxious or depressed. They may have trouble trusting others. They may feel numb. They may always be looking out for possible threats.

The person may become withdrawn. They can have a strong fear or distrust of certain places or people. This can happen even when they have no personal history with them.

The effects may lead to stress-related health conditions, such as sleep problems.

There's no single test for this type of trauma. A healthcare provider will look at personal and family history. They will look for symptom patterns over time. And they often will check for problems like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Talk therapy is the main treatment. This may include cognitive behavioral therapy and narrative therapy. Trauma-focused family therapy also may be used. A doctor can refer you to a counselor or other provider.

For younger children and their parents, multifamily therapy may be used. It focuses on regulating emotions and on the parent-child relationship. Some counselors use a genogram. This is a visual map of a family's history. This can help you see where trauma patterns first began.

Healthy habits are important. Avoid alcohol and drug use. Lean on supportive relationships. Try to keep a steady routine for sleep, meals, and exercise. You can also practice mindfulness to support healing.

Breaking a cycle of trauma often starts with awareness. Families should try to speak openly to replace silence with understanding. They also can work with a therapist to build healthy coping patterns.