Generational Trauma – Loganalogy- Your Family Historian

Imagine stumbling upon a forgotten world hidden within your own home—a secret attic packed with trunks of letters, documents, and photos from distant lands like Germany and Sudetenland. Among these relics, you uncover chilling references to the Nazis, leaving you haunted by the echoes of the past. This is what happened to a couple I read about in one of my favorite historical fiction novels. They inherited the husband’s father’s house and discovered an attic filled with long-buried family secrets.

What intrigued me most was the wife’s insistence on continuing the investigation when the husband was ready to shut it down. The two had met as psychology majors in college, and she astutely connected their findings to the psychological importance of understanding family history. This story made me think—if gardening is well-known for its mental health benefits, could genealogy be another powerful tool for emotional wellness? It’s a question I couldn’t resist exploring.

Why is Emotional Genealogy Important?

Every living thing has origins and ancestors. We are all part of a chain of life. We owe our existence to those who came before us. Simply put, if they hadn’t lived, we would have no life. And yet, most people ignore their antecedents and have no knowledge of what and who preceded them. A tree cannot ignore its roots, or it will get no nourishment. The same is true for us. We can be nurtured by our roots, even if they weren’t healthy. They may have been toxic, but they also endowed us with intelligence, talents, and positive attributes. We can honor those who came before us, and what they endured so we could have life. It is possible to make sense of the dysfunction in our families by understanding where they originated and how they were handed down. And by understanding, we can decide not to pass the dysfunction on, and to change our family behavior patterns. And we can get relief from the rootlessness, so many of us feel. Finding out where we come from can give roots, solidity, and meaning to our lives. It can also help us to solve the mystery of who we really are.¹

That one sentence resonates deeply with me: “And by understanding, we can decide not to pass the dysfunction on, and to change our family behavior patterns.”

This is how I choose to live—by understanding, breaking the cycle, and healing through that awareness.

Think about it: memories, triggered by a sight or sound, stir up emotions, whether good or bad. Our stories, passed down through generations, are meant to be remembered and shared. They shape who we are, how we live, and where we find ourselves today.

So, don’t shy away from the past. Dive into your family history, whether it shines with triumphs or hides an ugly truth. Knowledge is power, and understanding your heritage is the key to breaking patterns and paving a better way forward. Your story is a treasure—cherish it.

Image ChatGPT: “Image reflecting the theme of emotional wellness with gardening and family history.” September 9,2024.

Fein, Judith. “What is Your Emotional Genealogy?” Psychology Today, 26 Jan. 2014, http://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/life-is-a-trip/201401/what-is-your-emotional-genealogy. Accessed 30 Oct. 2019. ↩︎

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My sister messaged me after reading How Our Ancestors Managed Anxiety and Stress: Lessons for Today. She told me that she has been more focused on ancestry because she’s been reading research on “generational trauma” and how it changes our DNA. She stated that if we consider from a more expansive perspective, it helps to make more sociocultural sense about how lived realities are passed to future generations.

I initially responded that I had done a blog post about this years ago, but in reality, my blog post was about “psychological inheritance.” Are they similar?

Psychological inheritance refers to inherited traits, behaviors, and reactions that are passed down through generations. Generational trauma, also known as intergenerational or transgenerational trauma, is a cycle of trauma that can be passed down through families, either directly or indirectly. It can include how people view life, and these traits can persist over time. Do You Know What Your Emotional Genealogy Is?

Generational trauma can include emotional and behavioral reactions from ancestors or older relatives that affect future generations. Some examples of trauma that can cause generational trauma include:
~Personal trauma, such as child or domestic abuse.
~Trauma experienced by a specific cultural, racial, or ethnic group.
~Major events like wars, slavery, the Holocaust, and colonial violence against Native Americans. Do You Know What Your Generational Trauma Is?

Trauma can be inherited through epigenetics, meaning that trauma experienced by an ancestor might influence how your genes are expressed. This can result in changes to your DNA expression, impacting your mood, reactions, health, and susceptibility to conditions. For example, Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, says that intergenerational trauma can be seen in how children adjust to their parent’s behavior. For example, if a mother freezes when her child laughs, the child might learn not to laugh in front of their mother.

So, what did my sister mean when she said it could change our DNA?

Intergenerational trauma is the theory that trauma can be inherited because there are genetic changes in a person’s DNA. The changes from trauma do not damage the gene (genetic change). Instead, they alter how the gene functions (epigenetic change).

It’s important to recognize and address intergenerational trauma in order to prevent passing it on to the next generation. The first step is acknowledging its existence, which can be difficult due to confronting painful family histories and accepting that parents or other relatives may have been sources of trauma.

Being aware of the signs and symptoms of trauma in yourself and your family is empowering. It’s important to learn healthy coping skills and emotional regulation techniques in order to break the cycle.

Creating secure attachments, especially between parents and children, can help break the cycle of generational trauma. This involves building relationships based on trust, safety, and emotional connection.

As we explore the depths of our ancestral roots, it becomes clear that the legacies we inherit are more than just physical traits or family stories. Whether through psychological inheritance or the complex mechanisms of generational trauma, our ancestors’ experiences shape us in profound ways. By understanding and addressing these influences, we not only gain insight into our own behaviors and emotions but also take crucial steps toward healing and breaking cycles for future generations. After all, our past doesn’t just belong to history—it lives within us, and how we choose to navigate it can make all the difference.

📸Microsoft Designer AI

Parker-Drabble, Helen. “Family Historians – Teasing out Psychological Inheritance •.” Family Historians- Teasing Out Psychological Inheritance, 2018, http://www.helenparkerdrabble.com/teasing-out-your-familys-psychological-inheritance/.

Dixson, E. (2021) Breaking the chains of generational trauma, Psychology Today. Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-flourishing-family/202107/breaking-the-chains-generational-trauma#:~:text=Their%20emotional%20history%20begins%20even,our%20shoulders%20from%20our%20parents. (Accessed: 17 August 2024).

Lassiter, Cheryl. 27 May 2014, drarielleschwartz.com/your-family-ancestry-awareness-of-trans-generational-trauma-facilitates-resilience/.

van der Kolk, B. (2024) The body keeps the score, Bessel van der Kolk, MD. Available at: https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score (Accessed: 17 August 2024).

Valeii, K. (2024) How does intergenerational trauma work?, Verywell Health. Available at: https://www.verywellhealth.com/intergenerational-trauma-5191638#:~:text=Intergenerational%20trauma%20is%20the%20theory,gene%20functions%20(epigenetic%20change). (Accessed: 17 August 2024).

(2024) Understanding generational trauma and breaking the cycle – holly hill hospital. Available at: https://hollyhillhospital.com/blog/understanding-generational-trauma-breaking-the-cycle/ (Accessed: 18 August 2024).