Recent research by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that generational trauma can stem from biology, learned behaviours, and the collective experiences of a group. The findings suggest that trauma affects a person’s DNA and potentially influences the health of future generations far removed from the original traumatic event.
Unlike individual trauma, which stems from personal experiences, generational trauma—also called intergenerational trauma—is passed down through the family line as it creeps in and infiltrates the thoughts, behaviours, and emotional patterns of descendants for decades, if not centuries.
If that seems like a far reach and a challenging concept to grasp, you’re not alone. And yet, many therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, medical residents, and other physicians are now thoroughly examining the link of generational trauma in order to heal and break the cycle of dysfunction and pain in their patients.
What is Generational Trauma?
Generational trauma is the psychological and emotional load passed down by descendants who have experienced significant trauma. This trauma might have originated from a variety of sources, including war, systemic oppression, slavery, genocide, child abuse, domestic violence, alcohol and drug addiction, and neglect.
Studies have found that the trauma experienced by Holocaust survivors is also present in their children and grandchildren. This generational trauma manifests in anxiety, depression, substance abuse, patterns of dysfunctional relationships, and other mental health issues despite never having lived through the events of the Holocaust themselves.
Professor Janet Jacobs, who researches genocide, trauma, and collective memory, says, “Children of survivors may experience nightmares or feelings of anxiety, loss, and sadness that don’t connect to their present life but to the lives of their parents.”
From parenting styles to elders recounting stories of traumatic events to repeating the rituals of mourning, trauma is transmitted across generations in various ways, genetically, psychologically, and emotionally.

Genetically, new research shows descendants of trauma survivors possess “epigenetic markers,” which are chemical tags attached to their DNA. These tags have the ability to switch “trauma genes” off or on and can influence things like inherited traits or diseases.
This has the potential to predispose future generations to mental health challenges.
Psychologically, trauma is often passed down through learned behaviours and coping mechanisms that may have been adaptive for one generation but are maladaptive for another.
Emotionally, unprocessed trauma often manifests as unresolved anger, rage, fear, anxiousness, or sadness, which affects the entire family.
How does Generational Trauma manifest in successive generations?
If you or one of your family members are constantly feeling inexplicable grief or unease, struggling with trust or intimacy, or finding yourselves repeating harmful behaviours despite your efforts to change, it would be wise to look into your family history and the possibility of generational trauma.
Bessel van der Kolk, author of the best-selling book The Body Keeps the Score, explains trauma not just as an event in the past but as something that has a lasting imprint on the mind, brain, and body. As a result, trauma can be passed down through the generations, manifesting in all members of the family and community.
On individuals
Those in families affected by generational trauma often share a range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They might also find themselves struggling with low self-esteem, chronic stress, and a sense of worthlessness. All of this trauma negatively impacts their relationships, careers, and overall quality of life.
On families

Within families, generational trauma can create patterns of dysfunction that are incredibly difficult to break. These patterns often include cycles of abuse, neglect, and codependency.
Family members often find themselves repeating the harmful behaviours of previous generations even though they recognise the lasting damage those behaviours have caused and will continue to cause.
Families may also experience collective trauma responses, such as hypervigilance, where members are constantly on edge, expecting danger even in perfectly safe environments. These responses are not rational, but they are the emotional wounds of one generation simply being transferred to the next.
On communities
Communities that have experienced systemic oppression and cultural genocide or faced historical trauma, such as Indigenous populations, African Americans, and other marginalised groups, often suffer from collective challenges, including higher rates of substance abuse, mental health issues, and violence.
Breaking the cycle
It’s important to remember that it’s not the traumatic event itself that is being passed along the generational line but rather the anxiety and worldview surrounding it.
Sandra Mattar, a clinical psychologist, specialist in trauma-informed therapy, and director of training at the Immigrant and Refugee Health Center at Boston Medical Center, believes that “trauma is at the core of so many mental health problems.”
Breaking the inherited cycle of generational trauma and related mental health issues requires a broad approach involving both personal responsibility and collective healing.
Awareness and acknowledgment
Recognising and acknowledging generational trauma is the first step in breaking the cycle. You’ll need to explore your family history, examine possible sources of trauma, and learn how these traumatic experiences have shaped current behaviours and emotional patterns.
Therapeutic approaches
Trauma-informed therapy is a must for effective healing of generational trauma. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, family therapy, and other trauma-specific treatments are incredibly beneficial to process, release, and heal from generational trauma. Family therapy can be particularly effective as it gives the entire family an opportunity to communicate and heal together.
Personal responsibility
Healing from generational trauma also involves taking personal responsibility in the form of self-reflection, setting healthy boundaries, and seeking professional support when needed. It’s important to remember that while trauma may be inherited, you have the power to change your behaviours and emotional responses.
By breaking the cycle—you’re cultivating resilience and paving the way for your children to live free of generational trauma.

Cultural and community healing
In addition to individual and family healing, cultural and community-level interventions can be effective tools to address collective trauma. What does that look like? It could be community-based healing programs, cultural revitalisation efforts, and initiatives aimed at addressing systemic injustices.
What’s important is that the community heals together so that marginalised groups can reclaim their history, culture, and identity. These collective actions pave the way for future generations to thrive.
Healing strategies for Generational Trauma
To truly break the cycle of generational trauma, everyone involved should use strategies that promote healing and cultivate resilience.
At Camino Recovery, our specialised staff offer a wide range of therapies tailored to your specific needs. Your path to healing from generational trauma might use some of the following techniques and strategies:
Mindfulness and meditation
These practices encourage you to become more observant of your thoughts, emotions, and the physical sensations surrounding them. This awareness allows you to process and release trauma stored in the body. Studies show that regular mindfulness practice helps reduce anxiety, improves emotional regulation, and gives you a sense of inner peace.
Family therapy

Open and honest communication is essential for breaking cycles of dysfunction within families. By discussing past traumas and their impact on the family, all members of the family can begin to heal together. While this may initially involve difficult conversations, it is necessary for creating a healthier and more supportive family dynamic.
Building resilience through Individual therapy
Resilience allows you and your family to move forward from trauma. Building resilience involves developing the skills and mindset needed to cope with adversity and recover from challenges. Individual therapy will teach you these tools while creating a solid support network, practising self-care, and setting achievable goals.
Camino Recovery can help you heal
Are you experiencing dysfunctional family dynamics? Camino Recovery can help you overcome the effects of generational trauma and help you learn healthier strategies for life.
At Camino Recovery, we can help you heal from the wounds of the past and build a future free from the burdens of generational trauma. If you or your loved ones are struggling with the patterns of generational trauma, please reach out to us for support and guidance. Together, we can break the cycle.
Don specialized in addiction studies, earning an MDiv and a master's in Management, Administration, and Counseling. As a priest, he supported Step 5s in local treatment centers for nearly 40 years, excelling in "family systems work" in the addiction field.
Additionally, Don pioneered equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) in the US and UK during the 1990s. He authored "Equine Utilized Psychotherapy: Dance with those that run with laughter" and gained media recognition, including appearances on 'the Trisha Show' and features in The Daily Telegraph.
In the early 2000s, Don and his wife, Meena, founded Camino Recovery in Spain, providing tailored addiction treatment programs aimed at fostering happier lives.