Family members who have suffered traumatic events may have symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of intergenerational trauma may vary depending on the events that families have experienced and can be physical, emotional, or behavioral.

Individuals have varying reactions to traumatic events and oftentimes do not realize the impact of the event. Parents may model catastrophic or inappropriately numbed and emotionally disconnected responses.e.Parents suffering from PTSD may also have difficulty modeling a healthy sense of independence, appropriate self-soothing mechanisms and emotional regulation, and maintaining a balanced perspective when life challenges arise.Parents affected by trauma may be less able to respond optimally during usual developmental crises and in result, are unable to help their child comprehend the world in a healthy manner.These symptoms can impede the child’s ability to develop a reasonable sense of safety and predictability in the world. Parents may relive traumatic events, become emotionally detached and numb, or even experience dissociative episodes in which they become detached from reality.The following symptoms experienced by parents may impact their children: 4 There are various ways these parents can pass down their symptoms to their children. 3 Adult children with parents diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often describe damaged, preoccupied parents who were emotionally not available when needed. Traumatic experiences can be transmitted physiologically, environmentally, and socially. 2 How Transgenerational Trauma Is Passed On When historical trauma is left unaddressed, it can have a cumulative impact that reverberates across generations in the form of psychological, emotional, and even physical trauma. Other genocides that must be considered when thinking about historical trauma include (but are not limited to) the Rwandan genocide, the Bosnian genocide, and Darfur genocide. Transgenerational Trauma & GenocideĪccording to the Administration for Children and Families, historical trauma, such as the Holocaust and slavery, is intergenerational trauma experienced by a cultural group with a history of suffering from systemic oppression, more specifically known as genocide. When discussing intergenerational trauma, one must also think about historical events causing collective trauma that may have a lasting impact on generations to come, such as the Holocaust, refugee camps, and slavery, all of which have had enduring effects on generations of people worldwide. sexual, physical, or emotional), or natural disasters. Traumatic events that may lead to intergenerational trauma include parental incarceration, divorce, alcohol use disorder, domestic violence, child abuse (e.g. However, 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one traumatic event during their lifetime. When thinking about trauma and its impact, many people think about war veterans. No family or individual is immune to traumatic experiences that can have a lasting impact on the person as well as their family members. Who Does Intergenerational Trauma Affect? In some cases, the parent, unintentionally, will place the child in similar situations that led to their trauma. With intergenerational trauma, a child is exposed indirectly to the trauma of a parent, which can become a generational cycle. It can shape their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, but it can also affect their parenting, communication, and connection with their children. Trauma leaves a lasting impact on a person. 1 However, more research and discussions must be had about intergenerational trauma and the impact that it can have on families if not prevented or addressed. Much of the research that has been done on this topic has come out of studies that have looked at children of Holocaust survivors. The main way to help break the stigma related to intergenerational trauma is through knowledge and awareness, focusing on strategies to support families during these challenging situations. Stigmas related to transgenerational trauma many times come from the myths that are associated with seeking out mental health support. The intergenerational transmission of trauma can come about due to unawareness of the impact, but also from the stigma that may be related to getting treatment for mental health concerns. Intergenerational trauma is a term that is often not talked about, resulting in a lasting impact on later generations. Intergenerational trauma-sometimes called transgenerational trauma-is a term that is used to describe the impact of a traumatic experience, not only on one generation, but on subsequent generations after the event.