Inherited trauma — sometimes called generational trauma — is the experience of having negative or adverse effects from a traumatic experience that didn’t directly happen to you.
Instead, the experience has been passed down through your family — possibly for generations.
Inherited trauma is more than just an idea, or story passed down through your family. It’s something that actually impacts your genetics. While a traumatic experience might not change a gene, itself, it can change the way that gene functions.
So, whether your family went through something extreme like a war or major disaster, or the trauma was more personal, it’s important to understand the signs of inherited trauma, so you can do what you can to break the cycle.
Let’s take a closer look at some of those signs and why they can be so prominent.
Depersonalization
Do you ever feel disconnected from the world around you? Maybe you even feel detached from yourself. If that sounds familiar, it could be a sign that you’re dealing with inherited trauma that you’re trying to avoid.
Depersonalization is often used as a defense mechanism. When you allow yourself to go emotionally numb, you’re less likely to feel the negative effects of trauma. A detachment from yourself can make it easier to deal with things like shame and guilt, which are more symptoms of inherited trauma.
Obviously, this isn’t a healthy defense mechanism. Detaching yourself from reality prevents you from having a full life, and can negatively impact everything from personal relationships to your career.
A Lack of Self-Worth
Again, it’s not uncommon for trauma survivors to feel a sense of shame and guilt, even if they’ve done nothing wrong. If you’re dealing with inherited trauma, you might take things one step further and struggle with your self-worth.
These feelings can stem from not truly knowing what you’re dealing with and just feeling “down” all the time. It’s not uncommon for people experiencing trauma to also deal with anxiety or depression.
You might also feel like there’s something wrong with you, so you allow intrusive, negative self-talk to take over your personal narrative. Unfortunately, that can create a vicious cycle that makes the other mental health conditions even worse.
PTSD Symptoms
Most people have a basic idea of what post-traumatic stress disorder is. But, you can experience PTSD symptoms from inherited trauma, even if you didn’t actually experience the event, yourself.
You likely won’t struggle with vivid memories or flashbacks. But, negative thoughts, a lack of interest in things, and feeling alone are all common when dealing with inherited trauma. It can also impact you, physically. You might have trouble sleeping, or practicing self-care. Again, these issues can make matters worse, especially with your mental health.
For example, the less sleep you get, the easier it is for anxiety and depression to take over, which can make you feel even worse about the symptoms you’re struggling with.
What Can You Do?
Once you’ve realized you’re dealing with inherited trauma, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. After all, how can you possibly break free from something that’s impacted your family for years?
Getting an official diagnosis is the first step. Talk to your doctor or a mental health professional about your symptoms and what you think they mean. After that diagnosis, you can personally accept the trauma for what it is. That’s not an easy admission, but it’s a necessary one if you want to heal.
Talk therapy is often helpful way to deal with the impact of inherited trauma. First, you’ll learn how to uncover the root of the issue. From there, you can not only learn how to manage your symptoms, but work through the trauma itself to find that it doesn’t have to control your life or define your future.
If you’re interested in learning more about inherited trauma, please Contact Us to set up a complimentary consultation.