Intergenerational Trauma

Question 1

Q1: What is intergenerational trauma?

Answer 1

Intergenerational trauma refers to the transmission of trauma symptoms, both psychological and physical, from one generation to the next, often due to unresolved trauma in previous generations.

Question 2

Q2: What are some common mechanisms of intergenerational trauma transmission?

Answer 2

Insecure attachment
Maladaptive parenting styles
Decreased emotional availability
Family stress accumulation
Dysfunctional communication styles
Severity of parental symptoms

Question 3

Q3: How can intergenerational trauma affect family relationships?

Answer 3

Poor parent-child relationships
Negative parenting patterns
Complicated personality traits or disorders
Unresolved emotions from past traumas

Question 4

Q4: What are some biological bases for intergenerational trauma?

Answer 4

Hormonal changes from trauma affect gene activity.
FKBP5 gene expression and glucocorticoid sensitivity linked to trauma.
Immune-related genes, such as MMP8, are also affected.

Question 5

Q5: What are examples of collective trauma experienced by First Nations Peoples?

Answer 5

Colonialism and dispossession
Racism and attempted genocide
The Stolen Generations
Persistent sociocultural disadvantages

Question 6

Q6: How does intergenerational trauma manifest in descendants of Holocaust survivors?

Answer 6

Increased likelihood of PTSD, mood, and anxiety disorders.
Endocrine and molecular changes compared to controls.
Altered gene expression, such as elevated FKBP5 levels.

Question 7

Q7: What is dadirri, and how does it relate to trauma healing?

Answer 7

Dadirri is an Aboriginal method of deep listening and healing, involving cycles of observation, reflection, learning, and action, emphasizing interconnectedness and responsibility.

Question 8

Q8: What did Helen Milroy highlight about transgenerational trauma?

Answer 8

Effects include disrupted attachment, impaired parenting, and family dysfunction.
Trauma impacts physical and mental health, community violence, and early mortality.
Children are affected even if shielded from ancestral trauma stories.

Question 9

Q9: How does intergenerational trauma impact physical health?

Answer 9

Trauma contributes to ongoing physical health challenges, making it a determinant of health disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.

Question 10

Q10: What can help in healing intergenerational trauma?

Answer 10

Understanding collective and historical trauma.
Promoting culturally sensitive approaches to healing.
Addressing systemic inequities and fostering resilience through community support.