Top 10 Questions to Determine If You Are Experiencing Generational Trauma
By Michael Cerreto
Generational trauma, also known as intergenerational trauma, is when the tough stuff experienced by one generation gets passed down to the next. It can show up in various ways, like feeling emotionally, mentally, or physically bad. If you're wondering if you might be dealing with generational trauma, ask yourself these questions:
Have there been any traumatic events in your family history? Consider your family's past experiences, including any known difficult or traumatic events that might have affected your ancestors and could still be impacting you today.
Have you seen any patterns of substance abuse or other harmful behaviors in your family? Family mapping can help you figure out if substance abuse or other behaviors have roots in your family's history, which could be a sign of generational trauma.
Are you feeling emotionally numb or detached from yourself? These feelings might be linked to generational trauma, which could be coping mechanisms developed in response to unresolved family trauma.
Are you struggling with unresolved or complicated grief? Difficulty dealing with grief might be linked to generational trauma, mainly if it's a recurring issue within your family.
Do you ever find yourself feeling alone or wanting to be by yourself a lot? Sometimes, this can be a response to generational trauma, as it might be something we learned from family members who went through tough times.
Are you often really jumpy or scared for no reason? These feelings might be signs of generational trauma, coming from a family history of always needing to be on high alert because of past bad stuff that happened.
Do you need help with forgetfulness or struggle to connect with others? These challenges might be linked to generational trauma and coping strategies used by previous generations.
Do you ever get mad or annoyed for no apparent reason? Feeling this way might be a sign of generational trauma, showing that past emotional struggles from your family's history could still be affecting you.
Do you have recurring nightmares or thoughts of death, dying, or suicide? These distressing experiences can be symptoms of generational trauma, indicating a deep-seated emotional impact that has been passed down.
Do you ever feel like you're under much pressure to do better or carry a sense of guilt that doesn't match up with your own experiences? These feelings can be connected to generational trauma, especially in communities that have been marginalized. In these communities, historical oppression has led to a legacy of constantly seeking validation and dealing with burdens passed down through generations.
It's important to note that these questions are not intended to form a clinical diagnosis but rather to serve as a reflection exercise to understand the potential impact of intergenerational trauma better.
If you're seeing these signs in yourself, reaching out to a pro might be a good idea. Mental health pros can give you different ways to cope and heal from generational trauma, like doing personal storytelling, family mapping, and getting support from the community.
References
Quirke, M. G. (n.d.). Intergenerational Trauma: Recognize These Signs & Symptoms. Retrieved from https://michaelgquirke.com/recognize-these-intergenerational-trauma-signs-symptoms/
Connecting Paradigms. (2016, September 30). Assessing Intergenerational Trauma. Retrieved from https://connectingparadigms.org/blog/2016/09/30/assessing-intergenerational-trauma/
Ezelle, S. (n.d.). Intergenerational Trauma: Q&A with Sherese Ezelle, LMHC | One Medical. Retrieved from https://www.onemedical.com/blog/healthy-living/intergenerational-trauma-sherese-ezelle/
PTSD: National Center for PTSD. (n.d.). Trauma Symptom Checklist - 40 (TSC-40). Retrieved from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/adult-sr/tsc-40.asp
USA Today. (2023, April 6). What is generational trauma? Symptoms and coping mechanisms. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2023/04/06/what-generational-trauma-examples-definition-and-symptoms/11549122002/
