Inherited Trauma

We know that children inherit certain physical traits from their ancestors, such as the colour of their eyes or the shape of their noses. Indeed, from the time a baby is born, the family instinctively scan the newborn in the hope of discovering some familiar features.  

However, in recent years there has been a growing body of research, which suggests that trauma can also be passed on from one generation to the next. This is referred to as transgenerational or intergenerational trauma. If we’re open to this possibility, we might even be able to notice anxieties, fears or defensive behaviours, that we have unknowingly adopted from our ancestors. 

This is clearly seen in history. For example, the colonisation of Australia had a devastating impact on First Nations people. They had lived on this continent, in harmony and good health, for over 60,000 years, but colonisation, in the late 1700s, changed everything. The people were denied their customs, language and identity, as well as their connection with each other. Their children were taken from them, given different names, abused horrifically and told that Aboriginal people were bad. No wonder they were called The Stolen Generations. (See: YouTube Intergenerational Trauma Animation)

The devastating trauma of these people was unknowingly passed down through the generations, who heard their distressing stories and witnessed their pain. Sadly, these people were no longer able to heal their hurts. Evidence of this has been seen in the escalation of broken relationships, violence, suicide and addiction to drugs and alcohol. In order to stop the cycle of trauma, First Nations people realise the vital importance of recreating safe and supportive communities, returning to their culture and building a strong sense of identity.

Another truly shocking event in history was The Holocaust when some six million European Jews were systematically murdered during World War II. It seems a miracle that anyone survived the concentration camps, where the prisoners experienced the horrors of starvation, disease, inhuman treatment and the constant fear of death.

More recently, some interesting research studies have found that genetic changes, stemming from the trauma suffered by Holocaust survivors, were passed on to their children.

• In 2015 Rachel Yehuda undertook a genetic study of 32 Jewish men and women who had been in concentration camps, witnessed torture or had to hide during the Second World War. They also analysed the genes of their children who were known to have an increased likelihood of stress disorders. These results were compared with Jewish families who were not living in Europe during the war. “The gene changes in the children could only be attributed to Holocaust exposure in the parents”, said Yehuda.

• Nathan Kellermann conducted a study in 2011 entitled, ‘Epigenetic transmission of Holocaust Trauma: Can nightmares be inherited?’ The results of his research enabled him to come to conclusions that were similar to others working in the field of epigenetics. His eloquent words are a poetic summary of his findings:

  ‘The Holocaust left its visible and invisible marks not only on the survivors but also on their children. Instead of numbers tattooed on their forearms, however, they are marked epigenetically with a chemical coating upon their chromosomes, which represent a kind of biological memory of what the parents experienced.’

In addition to studies related to epigenetics, there has been significant research undertaken in the field of cellular biology. 

• Between the 1980s and 90s, pioneering cell biologist Bruce Lipton discovered that our environment shapes us emotionally, psychologically and biologically. He discovered that signals from the environment could operate through the cell membrane, thus controlling the behaviour and physiology of the cell.  This starts as early as conception and continues throughout our lives. During pregnancy, via the mother’s blood, the foetus takes in numerous hormones and information signals generated by the emotions she experiences. 

Having read this far, you might be wondering whether the trauma we inherit from our ancestors can ever be truly healed. And if so, how? 

Since the days of Sigmund Freud we have come to realise that talking therapy can be an effective way of helping people who are troubled or in distress. If someone else listens to our story and bears witness to our sadness or confusion we know this can make a positive difference. But what if the trauma we hold within us is too deeply embedded and doesn’t respond to talking therapy alone? What can be done to heal these wounds?

Fortunately, there is information that is both ancient and modern, which might shed some light on this. 

• Hildegard of Bingen, was a German Benedictine abbess, born in 1098. She was a writer, composer, philosopher, mystic and visionary, as well as a medical writer and practitioner. She held the belief that we ourselves are energy fields and are connected to the energy fields of others, including our ancestors and the universe.

• Later on, this concept grew to embrace the idea that these energy fields carry within them all the knowledge and great wisdom of the ages. This universal source of knowledge has been called the Akashic records and can be found in Esoteric Buddhism in 1883.

If our energy fields really are connected to those of our ancestors, maybe it’s not beyond the realms of reason to think there could be a way to access this knowledge. In turn, we might then be able to use the information to bring about healing, not just for ourselves but also for our forebears.

Energy Therapy techniques have been around since the 1980s. (See Therapy). They integrate Eastern approaches to the mind and body with Western psychotherapy and focus on releasing embodied trauma. 

Some 10 years before I retired, I trained and started practicing in one of these energy modalities called Advanced Integrative Therapy (AIT). Like other energy therapies, AIT is a powerful but gentle way of expelling trauma from our energy and nervous systems. Using this treatment enabled me to witness my clients heal in more profound ways than I’d ever seen before. Evidence of this is remarkable in my book, The Girls Within - A true story of triumph over trauma and abuse.

I’m aware that parts of what you’ve read might seem far-fetched or difficult to digest. But if you have been stimulated by some of the ideas put forward, please do some exploring. In addition to The Girls Within, I can highly recommend, It Didn’t Start With You, by Mark Wolynn.