Do you have Generational Trauma and What to do

Karen G. @Karen3Gonzalez007@gmail.com

If you've watched Enchanto, you've probably heard of generational trauma or family trauma. Generational Trauma, also known as international trauma, can deeply affect or mental health and well-being, often without us realizing it. In this blog, I explore what generational trains is, how it manifests, and it's potential impact on families and individuals. From understanding how trains can be passed down through DNA to recognizing the signs of complex trauma and PTSD, we cover it all. We'll also discuss practical steps you can take to begin healing from ancestral trains and break the cycle for future generations. I'll also explain how generational trauma influences behavior in relationships. 

*Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used to self-diagnose or replace professional medical advice, diagnose, out treatment. If you are experiencing mental health issues, please seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional. 

Editor: Isadora Ho & Kelly Soo

Blog Manager: Kelly Soong

References: TSvorcová J. (2023). Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance of Traumatic Experience in Mammals. Genes (Basel). 1;14(1):120. doi:10.3390/genes14010120. 

Health(2023). What is generational trauma? Retrieved from generational trauma: Definition, Symptoms, treatment(health.com)

Sandstone Care (2023). Generational Trauma: 13+ Effective Ways to Break the Cycle. Retrieved from Generational Trains: 13+ Effective Ways to Break the Cycle (sandstonecare.com)

What if the pain you're caring isn't entirely yours? Could the struggles of your past Generations be affecting your life today?

     Generational Trauma is an invisible burden that can impact your emotions, behaviors, and overall well-being without you realizing it. Let's take a look at what it is and some effective steps to heal from it.

     So what if generational trauma. Generational Trauma is the psychological effect of traumatic events that get passed down through families events like abuse, war, oppression, racism, or violence can have a traumatic impact on individuals and end up posing ongoing challenges for their future generations. 

     How is generational trauma passed down? Generational Trauma is passed down both generically and culturally. Trauma can lead to changes in our DNA, for instance studies show that trauma can cause epigenetic change like DNA methylation, which can make future generations more vulnerable to conditions like depression and PTSD. Similarly trauma can be passed down culturally through learned behaviors and patterns within families unhealthy habits and ways of coping can be passed from grandparents to parents and then to children. If you're wondering if this applies to you, we will talk about two examples, let's see if you can relate to any of them. Consider Sai and Sai's sister. They grew up with an abusive father who struggled with addiction. For their safety they had to live with their maternal grandmother, who believed in harsh discipline like spanking, yelling, and shaming which did nothing to improve the children's behavior. It only made matters worse. Sai labeled hyperactive and disruptive, was always getting into flights at school. While his sister developed anxiety and low self esteem. Not only was she treated harshly at home but she was also bullied at school due to her timid and insecure nature. Their early and repetitive exposure to trains elevated their body's area hormones like cortisol, which can be damaging to their brain and body systems. Setting the stage for future distributional behaviors. In another example, Jarome had a mother who became emotionally numb after losing her mother. This emotional numbness, unknowingly, affected Jarome, leading to an insecure attachment style. Jarome developed a great of abandonment and became overly dependent on her partners for reassurance and validation while struggling to trust others. As a result Jarome might become clingy in relationships or push people away to avoid getting hurt in his quest to find love and care she missed as a child. Jaime might seek partners who are unsuited for him and end up perpetuating the cycle of trauma.

     Generational Trauma manifests in baby ways impacting it emotions, mental health, physical well-being and behavior. Here are some common signs,

1. Codependency ( relying too much on others for emotional support or approval) this often happens if you grow up in a family with unstable relationships or emotional neglect. 

2. Hypervigilance; you feel worried all the time or always on edge, as if danger is around every corner. This can be inherited stres response.

3. Unhealthy attachment thoughts and dysfunctional family dynamics. Generational trauma can lead to frequent issues and arguments within the family. This can affect you and your relationships might make you afraid of being abandoned emotionally distant, make your relationships feel unstable. 

4. Family history of mental health and substance abuse. Sometimes family trauma can lead to conditions like PTSD, anxiety, or depression. When substance abuse runs in the family it can become a way of coping that gets passed down through generations. 

5. Excessive fear of death. While everyone fears death generational trauma can make this fear extreme or excessive. This can be linked to life threatening events your ancestors went through. For example, if your parent survived a ghastly car accident, you might develope an unusual fear of dying when traveling on the road. 

6. Low self-esteem and self disruptive behaviors growing up in a family, where there was alot of criticism or neglect can make you see yourself in a negative way. It causes deep-seated pain, lowers your self confidence, and makes you hate yourself. In severe cases, it may even lead to hurting yourself on purpose. 

     So what can you do? If your dealing with generational trauma let's break down into three easy simple steps,

1. Recognize repair and rebuild recognition. Take a moment to reflect on your life and experiences. Identify any ways you act, feel, or think that might be a result of past trauma. Talk to a therapist to understand this better and get support. Seek a professional diagnosis and address feelings of guilt or shame that are making your symptoms worse. Talk openly with trusted family members to help them. Understand and support you better as well as repair. Once you acknowledge the trauma, you can start your healing journey. 

2. Work with a psychotherapist to understand where your trains comes from and to learn ways to cope and heal.

3. Connect with supportive and non judgemental people who allow you to process your feelings, uplift your spirit, make you feel safe. Family therapy can also be helpful for everyone to heal together. Rebuild, focus on taking care of yourself by practicing mindfulness and daily meditation, eat nutritious food, and make sure you get good sleep to help your brain and mood. Engage in relaxing activity like exercise, hobbies, or time in nature to reduce stress. If your on medication follow your doctor's instructions carefully and don't ship any doses. Moving forward healing from trauma takes time. It's different for everyone. There is no fixed timeline. It might take months or years so be gentle with yourself. As you make progress generational trauma doesn't have to define you it your future. Instead of passing down pain we can pass down healing. By taking proactive steps to recognize repair and rebuild we can heal, end the cycle of trauma, and create a better, healthier future for ourselves and generations.

     Want to learn more about how to deal with traum. This blog will help, your past trauma is triggered in ways to break PTSD and CPTSD. Healing is possible.