Transgenerational Trauma is defined as a type of trauma that is passed by the first generation or persons who first suffered from the trauma to other generations to come. This is basically through sophisticated and complex post- traumatic stress disorder mechanisms. Trans- generational trauma is closely related to the inheritance and genetics. This type of transfer of trauma does not occur with a direct stimulus but rather it happens when the parent suffers a traumatizing event (Yehuda & Bierer, 2008). The first cases of transgenerational trauma were reported during the Second World War. This was mainly attributed to the Nazi Holocaust. This was mainly through the stories that the parents shared with their children on the traumatizing events they had to endure during the time of the war. This type of stories has a negative effect in relation to the way the children will grow because of the impact of the trauma that has been passed from the parent to the off spring. Another example of transgenerational trauma is the Genocide in Rwanda in 1994 which was a conflict between the Hotsu and the Tutsi. The tales about this incident has been told for years and as a results, it is carried the effects and passed it down over generations.
Causes of Transgenerational Trauma
Transgenerational trauma has been attributed to a number of things. However, in summary, it can be said that since the past generation could not carry that particular burden of trauma, the pass it on to the next generation which also cannot carry the burden hence the circle continues to infinity. Maurice De Witt, who was a Santa on Fifth Avenue observed a noticeable change in the way parents behaved following the holyday season after the bombing of the trade tower behavior the holiday season, he saya; “ parents would not let the hands of their children go. The kids sense that. It’s like water seeping down, and the kids can feel it... There is an anxiety, but the kids can’t make the connections.”( Danieli, 2008). Transgenerational trauma ferries out grief that is not acknowledged hence the other generation has to cope with ways of dealing with it sub- consciously and passing it on knowingly or otherwise to the next generation.
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How does one heal from Trans generational Trauma?
The California Based Evidence Clearing House came up with a treatment model for the transgenerational trauma and divided it into three phases. The first phase entails having a 90 minute trauma forum in groups of about 15-30 parents per group. They are enlightened to accept that they are undergoing trauma and to be able to acknowledge the grief. Diagrammatic evidence is used to enable the persons comprehend the process they are undergoing. Care takers are appointed to each group. In the second phase or Phase B, the care takers take part in seven individualized programs. Clinicians are trained on a rapid and effective way to reconstruct the patient’s perception of the trauma and how to deal with it. This can be through sharing their childhood trauma experiences if any. In the third phase, the care giver and the patients participate in the treatments sessions. Direct sand method is used to address to identify and address the patient’s trauma and how to approach the treatment. Lastly, the patients are put under therapy and counselling sessions (Bombay, Matheson & Anisman, 2008).
Conclusion
Transgenerational trauma is a rare condition in the society. It is possible for one to be suffering from it but not be able to acknowledge it and the effects thereof. It is however a part of post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and it is curable.
References
Bombay, A., Matheson, K., & Anisman, H. (2008). The Impact of Stressors on Second Generation Indian Residential School Survivors . Poster presented a t the annual meeting of the National Network for Aboriginal Mental Health Research. Montreal, Quebec.
Danieli, Y. (1998). Introduction: History and conceptual foundations. In Y. Danieli (Ed.), International handbook of multigenerational legacies of trauma (pp. 1-20). New York: Plenum.
Yehuda, R. & Bierer, L.M. (2008). Transgenerational transmission of cortisol and PTSD risk. Progress in Brain Research , 167 , 121-135. Print.
