Trauma That Sits in Our Bones
Historical, Collective, or Intergenerational Trauma
Historical, collective, or intergenerational trauma refers to the psychological and emotional wounds passed down through generations within a community or family due to a shared, collective experience of trauma. These traumas can stem from events such as wars, genocides, slavery, colonisation, migration or systemic oppression.
Examples:
Holocaust Survivors:
Holocaust survivors experienced extreme persecution, loss, and trauma during World War II. Studies have shown that their children and grandchildren often exhibit signs of trauma, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD, despite not having directly experienced the Holocaust themselves.
Researchers have identified changes in stress hormone levels and gene expression in descendants of Holocaust survivors, indicating a biological transmission of trauma.
Experiments with Mice:
In scientific experiments, mice exposed to traumatic experiences (e.g., electric shocks paired with specific smells) exhibited behavioural and physiological changes.
Remarkably, their offspring, even without direct exposure to the trauma, showed heightened sensitivity to the same smells and stress responses, suggesting that trauma can be biologically transmitted across generations.
Shamanic Perspective:
In many shamanic cultures, it is believed that it takes up to five generations to fully heal and clear the trauma experienced by an ancestor. Shamans view trauma as an energy or spiritual wound that can be inherited and must be addressed through spiritual practices, rituals, and healing ceremonies.
Trauma Beyond the Mind:
Trauma is not just experienced on a cognitive level; it is deeply embedded in the body and manifests through emotional responses. This type of trauma is often beyond the understanding of the conscious mind and is experienced through physical sensations, emotional reactions, and physiological responses. It affects how individuals react to stress, form relationships, and perceive the world around them.
Combining these perspectives highlights how trauma can transcend individual experiences, affecting entire communities and subsequent generations. It underscores the importance of addressing and healing these wounds not just on a psychological or biological level, but also through cultural, spiritual, and embodied practices.