Trauma can be passed from one generation to the next, even when it is shrouded in silence.
Silenced Trauma
Transgenerational trauma is not usually talked about and is therefore left unacknowledged.
When trauma is silenced, it cannot be processed and as such is often passed down through the generations.
Often transgenerational trauma is a kind of family secret. But it can be felt in the facial expressions, bodily postures or lifestyle of the person carrying the original trauma. Such subtle expressions of trauma can also be passed on to the next generation.
Silencing trauma only leads to its partial concealment. It is nevertheless present in the lives and relationships of family members and further generations.
Transgenerational Trauma and the Unconscious
The transgenerational transmission of trauma is usually un- or subconscious.
Just like individual trauma, transgenerational trauma impacts on people’s lives. This is usually not because of any one person’s fault.
Freud coined the term „repetition compulsion,” which refers to an unconscious repetition of trauma. The afflicted individual repeats certain emotional aspects of trauma, such as relational conflicts or certain behavioural patterns. This happens without conscious awareness, and also holds true for transgenerational trauma.
Often, people only have an intuitive sense that certain experiences of suffering cannot be explained by looking only at their individual lives. In such cases, they may be suffering from transgenerational trauma.
Transgenerational Trauma and Therapy
It was my own family history that sparked my interest in the transgenerational transmission of trauma, especially as it relates to the Holocaust.
In therapy we will reflect on the connectedness between the generations in your family and the trauma suffered. As the transgenerational transmission of trauma is usually silent and unacknowledged, it is especially important to understand the context and meaning of the transmission. This paves the way for the acknowledgment, witnessing and grieving of trauma, so essential for processing all the pain and suffering endured.
