Breaking the Cycle: Understanding Generational Trauma

Many of us understand that directly experiencing a traumatic event or situation can have a direct impact on our lives. What if you didn’t experience the event yourself but are still dealing with the repercussions?

If that sounds familiar, you might be struggling with generational trauma. This occurs when trauma-related experiences are passed down from generation to generation within a family. Eventually, it becomes less about the experience and more about the family systems and patterns that are associated with it.

Generational trauma can leave emotional and psychological imprints that last long after the original event. By understanding what it is and how it shows up in your life, you can begin the work of healing—and become the generation that breaks the cycle.

How Is Generational Trauma Transmitted?

It may be hard to believe that trauma experienced generations ago could be affecting you today. However, there are a variety of ways in which families transmit trauma from one generation to the next.

It starts with parenting styles. The trauma experienced by a parent could impact the way they attach to their child. They may struggle with emotional regulation or have difficulty forming a secure bond. In return, this can cause dysfunction in the relationship and affect the way that the child sees themselves and the world. If the cycle isn’t broken, the same parenting style is likely to be passed down to their children, and so on.

Similarly, generational trauma can be transmitted through family narratives and beliefs. Every family has stories to tell. When family narratives reinforce negative patterns, it’s easy to internalize them as truth, often at the expense of your mental and emotional well-being.

Behavioral patterns also play a key role in generational trauma. Even parents who form secure attachments with their children may unknowingly repeat harmful behaviors inherited from their upbringing. These unconscious habits, passed down through generations, can persist even when they no longer serve or support wellness.

What Causes Generational Trauma?

Generational trauma can stem from a wide range of experiences. In some cases, it may be deeply personal—such as abuse, neglect, or ongoing family dysfunction—that leaves a lasting emotional imprint. In other cases, the trauma may be collective and historical. Experiences like slavery, the Holocaust, war, genocide, or forced displacement continue to impact the descendants of those who lived through them, shaping patterns of pain and resilience across generations.

What Can You Do?

It’s possible to break the cycle of generational trauma, and you’re already taking the first step by trying to develop a better understanding of it. Acknowledgment is a pivotal starting point toward truly healing.

Seeking professional support through an avenue like individual or family counseling is often the best way to break the cycle. Therapy can provide a safe space for you to express yourself and learn how to develop healthy coping mechanisms.

On your path, you have the power to create new patterns, ones rooted in healing, not harm. This might look like practicing self-care, embracing mindfulness, or reconnecting with your cultural roots. These intentional steps can help you rise above the challenges your family has faced.

If you believe generational trauma is affecting your life, know that healing can start with you. You have the strength to shift the cycle for yourself and future generations. We’re here to support you—reach out to our office today to set up an appointment.

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