Generational trauma is emotional and physiological pain that is passed down through generations. Although it is unclear exactly how this happens, scientific studies show that it occurs through modifications in gene expression. In other words, trauma doesn’t change genes per se, but can potentially “switch on” genes that can lead to people experiencing similar trauma symptoms to their forebears. This process is known as epigenetics, which we will discuss later.
While understanding the genetic process that leads to these conditions might seem complicated, you don’t need to be a geneticist to appreciate its effects. Thankfully, ongoing research also shows that there are ways to address this distress, such as creating awareness and cultivating various healing practices.
In this post, we’ll talk about what generational trauma is, share some research into this topic, and provide some tools for coping with adverse experiences that are not necessarily your own.
What is generational trauma?
The concept is now widely discussed, but the term originated in Vivian M. Rakoff’s studies of Holocaust survivors’ children in 1966. In his studies, he found that Holocaust survivors’ children experienced high rates of psychological distress.
Other foundational research includes studies by Rachel Yehuda et al., which show that there is a physiological link between Holocaust survivors’ children and their parents who struggled with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Specifically, research showed that children of Holocaust survivors with PTSD have lower levels of methylation, which means that they had a higher chance of experiencing similar mental health issues as their parents if these genes were switched on through their environment (i.e. through epigenetics).
As mentioned in the introduction, epigenetics is worth expanding on. Epigenetics is the modification of gene expression, often due to environmental factors or lifestyle choices, and influences which genes turn on or off. Therefore, not everyone will experience the same trauma as their forebears, but they have the potential to. This field of study is complex, but it gives some idea of how experiencing adversity can be passed on physiologically.
Similar research to Yehuda’s has also been done with Indigenous communities and those who have survived famine, genocide, warfare and social oppression such as apartheid. Although research is ongoing, it has been made clear that there is a biological and psychological link between survivors of adverse experiences and their offspring. This link can manifest as behavioural issues such as food hoarding in families of survivors of famine, as well as a predisposition towards mental health challenges and destructive family narratives that keep people in “survival mode”.
The research behind generational trauma
Many researchers study the concept of trauma and, by association, intergenerational trauma, from various angles. People like Bessel van der Kolk, who wrote “The Body Keeps the Score,” have been studying trauma for many years. His studies of war veterans highlighted the physical impact of adverse experiences on people’s mental and physical functioning, even if they don’t clearly remember the event.
Other people like Gabor Maté have written extensively on the concept of trauma. As he discusses in many interviews, Maté is himself a survivor of the Holocaust, having been abandoned by his mother to save his life as a small Jewish child in Hungary. In his work, Maté studies the effects of this kind of distress on people struggling with mental health issues and addiction. Some of his well-known books include When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress and The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture. These works advocate for a holistic approach to healing from adverse experiences.
As we have mentioned above, many researchers focus on the biological and genetic aspects of generational trauma. Overall, it’s clear that regardless of the precise biological chain of events, this distress is experienced in many ways. Unfortunately, people who have faced discrimination in the past, which could have led to trauma, can continue to experience the same dysfunction due to ongoing discrimination and prejudice. This reality highlights a need for a better understanding of not only the physical but also the social effects of trauma.
What does generational trauma look like?
Trauma is a complex topic, and according to the researchers and research links we have shared above, it can manifest in various ways. These include patterns of poor mental health, which include anxiety, depression and PTSD, as well as low self-worth and shame.
These mental health challenges also play out in family and social dynamics, which can lead to cycles of abuse and other destructive behaviours. Trauma can also be experienced culturally when larger groups of people experience the same adversity, for example, through war and genocide.
How to empower yourself to manage trauma
Intergenerational trauma is complex, and more research is needed to understand how it works from a physiological perspective. However, as paediatrician Candice Jones explains in her TEDx talk “Breaking the Cycle of Generational Trauma,” there is a process you can follow to help heal from this kind of distress. She talks about the three “R’s: Recognise, Resilience and Restore.”
“Recognise” means acknowledging trauma symptoms, which can include mental health struggles and behavioural issues. Resilience, the following R, is overcoming adversity through proper social support, whether from a mental health professional or a community. The final R is restore, which involves restoring the brain and body through various healing practices.
As she states in the talk, “We repeat what we can’t repair.” Therefore, we must find repair methods, counselling, and other body-based healing modalities. Healing can also involve talking about and hearing people’s testimonies of how they have worked to heal from adverse experiences in their lineage. It’s also important to note that while epigenetics may lead to the expression of particular vulnerabilities passed down generationally, it can also lead to many other positive inherited qualities, such as courage, perseverance, resilience, and hope.
Learn practical tools for managing mental health and healing
Seeking support if you are struggling with any manifestation of trauma is essential. As our experiences affect us all differently, getting competent support is crucial to prevent worsening or exacerbating existing distress. However, if you’re looking for additional tools to gain more perspective on this subject, SACAP Global offers a variety of online courses and workshops.
These courses include:
- Enhancing Mental Health: As people struggling with the effects of trauma can experience mental health challenges, this course can help to provide some practical tools for improving their wellbeing.
- Managing & Preventing Anxiety: Anxiety is one of the most common symptoms of trauma, so developing ways to self-regulate is helpful.
- Enhancing Self-esteem: Tools for Personal Empowerment: Low self-worth is another common outcome of adverse experiences, so boosting self-esteem can assist.
- Holistic Approach to Managing Depression: This course is not a substitute for counselling, but can help you gain insight into how to manage depressive symptoms, especially when your family has experienced it for generations.
- Introducing the EmotionAid Protocol: As we mentioned in the article, there are many ways to support and help trauma survivors heal. One of these modalities is Somatic Experiencing, which you can learn more about in this course.
- Trauma-sensitive Mindfulness for the Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD is very common in survivors of extreme trauma. Thanks to years of research in this area, there are now proven ways to manage the symptoms of PTSD, including mindfulness.
- Trauma-related courses: If you’re interested in exploring the concept of trauma, we offer four courses in this area: Intro to Crisis & Trauma, Crisis Interventions, Symptoms of Crisis & Trauma and Effective Crisis & Trauma Management.
Register for our online workshop, Genetic Psychology: A New Approach to Health, Healing and Wellness, for more insight into genetics and psychology and the link between genetics and wellbeing.
Related Courses
Enhancing Mental Health
Learn about mental health and how to enhance it. Explore mental health in a personal, community and workplace context.
Managing & Preventing Anxiety
Build practical tools and knowledge to effectively address and manage anxiety.
Enhancing Self-Esteem: Tools for Personal Empowerment
Go on a journey of introspection and self-reflection. Understand and enhance your self-esteem.
Holistic Approach to Managing Depression
Explore the intricate landscape of depression and learn how to effectively address and manage depression.
Introducing the EmotionAid® Protocol
Explore the EmotionAid® Protocol and understand the neurophysiology of stress and trauma and how it is held in the body.
Trauma-sensitive Mindfulness for the Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Gain insight into the treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) through the use of Trauma-sensitive Mindfulness.
Intro to Crisis & Trauma
Explore various concepts of crisis and trauma and develop a strategy for implementing a trauma-informed approach.
Crisis Interventions
Learn why specific crisis and trauma interventions are appropriate in addressing complex trauma.
Symptoms of Crisis & Trauma
Understand the differences between immediate and long-term effects of crisis and trauma and accompanying emotional and physical reactions.
Effective Crisis & Trauma Management
Understand which treatments and approaches are most effective in managing post-traumatic stress syndrome.
Genetic Psychology: A New Approach to Health, Healing & Wellness
Explore the real cause of illness and how it relates to a deep disconnection at a genetic level.