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Article by: Nik Iman Nabilah
The whole notion that trauma can be passed down from one generation to another is quite a difficult idea to fathom. However, for the past few years, many therapists have been researching the roots of many mental health issues and have discovered the far-reaching impact of trauma, past and present. Inherited trauma can stem from learned behaviours that have been passed down from our ancestors to us or even be passed down genetically.
An example of learned behaviours could be growing up in an abusive household. Researchers interviewed volunteers about the abuse they experienced growing up physical or verbal. The volunteers who had experienced abuse showed that the imprint of this violence also took a toll on their children as their depression rate was 1.7 times higher compared to children of mothers who had not experienced an abusive household.
Be that as it may, inherited family trauma doesn’t just exist in the form of learned behaviour from a troubled childhood. This can be backed by research that suggests that trauma can stem from biology, meaning a person’s DNA could be affected by it. For example, studies by Rachel Yehuda, director of the Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research, suggest that the DNA of Holocaust survivors and their children showed changes to the “epigenetic markers” that attach to DNA and are able to switch genes on and off. This essentially means it is able to influence inherited traits or diseases.
This research was done by comparing blood samples and carrying out molecular analyses. The difference found was mothers who were exposed to the holocaust showed changes in the activity of a DNA segment involved in regulating the stress response, the jarring part was that their children, who were not directly exposed to the tragedy also showed these changes. While more research must be done to reach a proper conclusion, this was still a great discovery.
As prone as we are to generational trauma, we are also able to build resilience against it. So here are some suggestions for breaking the cycle of generational trauma.
First and foremost, is awareness, we can’t solve a problem if we don’t admit that there is a problem to begin with. Unpacking this internalised trauma, layer by layer can help us understand it better and work towards a realistic solution.
Next, is activism, addressing the trauma head on such as gun violence or abuse through advocacy and activism can be powerful for everyone, especially since many are afraid to voice these things out due to mental health issues being so stigmatised. Lastly, we should talk about it, communication within our own family is key when trying to solve these issues.
To end this, I would like to say that we are all products of our history whether we like it or not, but we have the power to change the future for ourselves and for the next generation to come.
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