Tag: trauma

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).