Past experiences with untrustworthy adults and those affected by intergenerational trauma may find it challenging to seek help when necessary. This feeling of disconnection often leads to further feelings of isolation and loneliness.Ī traumatic event can also lead to difficulty in forming trusting relationships with figures of authority, like educators or medical professionals, due to prior experiences involving unreliable adults who were meant to safeguard them. In addition, when someone has endured a traumatic event, such as mistreatment or neglect during youth, it can be hard to build good connections with their guardians or relatives later in life. Intergenerational trauma can manifest in individuals as a sense of alienation from family, resulting in an estrangement that may lead to further desolation and loneliness.

LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing homophobia/transphobia etc.Īll these can lead directly or indirectly toward a cycle of intergenerational trauma.

African Americans living with the legacy of slavery.

Native Americans struggling with broken treaties.

This often results in generational trauma due to ongoing discrimination, leading to poverty and a lack of resources for future generations. Systemic oppression is a form of social injustice wherein certain groups are denied fundamental rights due to race or ethnicity, leading to generational trauma and deprivation.

Sometimes, these traumas are passed down through stories from survivors who experienced them firsthand.įor example, the consequences of colonialism in North America, including displacement from ancestral lands and the imposition of Western culture, have had a lasting impact on Indigenous populations. Trauma due to catastrophic occurrences, like wars and famines, is an all-too-common experience. Historical events such as wars or natural disasters can have long-lasting effects on individuals and families for generations to come. By exploring what causes intergenerational trauma, we can understand how best to address this difficult problem. Understanding the sources of generational trauma is key to formulating effective strategies for preventing it. Therapy and counselling can help you develop the strength to confront similar situations in the future instead of feeling powerless. The good news is that there are ways for those affected by intergenerational trauma to heal, so they don’t continue passing these negative patterns down through future generations – therapy is one of them.Ī trained therapist can help you identify your triggers while providing a safe space to process those feelings without judgment or shame. Generational trauma also has far-reaching implications for society, including systemic oppression based on race or gender identity and cultural erasure resulting in lost knowledge about traditional practices and customs among specific populations. Individuals may experience physical ailments related to the unresolved stressors from their ancestors’ experiences, including chronic pain or illness that any other medical diagnosis cannot explain.

This may result in problems forming ties with others or even self-destructive activities, for instance, substance misuse.

On an individual level, it may cause anxiety or depression due to unresolved issues from past generations. It can have far-reaching repercussions, impacting individuals and entire social groups. It can manifest in physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that are difficult to recognize and address. Intergenerational trauma is inherited distress that traverses through generations, usually through narratives, encounters and convictions.

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