Intergenerational Trauma: What We Don’t Talk About, But Carry Within Us

Trauma is not always confined to the person who directly experiences it. In recent decades, psychological research has revealed that the impact of trauma can span generations. Known as intergenerational trauma, this phenomenon occurs when the psychological wounds of one generation affect the mental, emotional, and even physical wellbeing of subsequent generations.

In the Australian context, intergenerational trauma is particularly relevant to First Nations communities, survivors of war and displacement, families impacted by domestic violence or abuse, and those who have experienced systemic oppression or poverty. But it can also show up more subtly in everyday family dynamics, shaped by unprocessed pain passed down through beliefs, behaviours, and relationships.

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What is Intergenerational Trauma?

Intergenerational trauma, sometimes referred to as transgenerational trauma, refers to the transmission of trauma related stress and psychological patterns from parents (or caregivers) to children and even grandchildren. This transmission is not only relational but can also involve biological, psychological, and social mechanisms.

The concept was first studied in depth among the children of Holocaust survivors, who often displayed high levels of anxiety, hypervigilance, and emotional dysregulation despite not directly experiencing the original traumatic event. Similar patterns have been observed among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia, particularly in relation to colonisation, the Stolen Generations, and ongoing systemic discrimination.

How Trauma is Transmitted Across Generations

There are several pathways through which trauma can be passed down:

• Attachment and Parenting Styles

  Parents who have not processed their own trauma may struggle to form secure attachments with their children. They may be emotionally unavailable, overly protective, or inconsistent, leading the child to develop anxious or avoidant attachment styles. These relational patterns often repeat across generations.

• Modelling and Learned Behaviours

  Children often internalise the emotional responses and coping mechanisms of their caregivers. If a parent copes through withdrawal, substance use, or aggression, children may adopt similar strategies.

• Family Narratives and Silences

  Sometimes trauma is transmitted through the stories told within families—or through the absence of those stories. Silence around significant events can leave children confused, unsettled, and anxious, sensing something is wrong but not having the context to understand it.

• Epigenetics

  Emerging research suggests that trauma may alter gene expression. While DNA itself doesn’t change, traumatic stress can leave epigenetic marks that influence how genes are activated or suppressed—potentially affecting stress regulation, immunity, and mental health in future generations.

Signs of Intergenerational Trauma

While the manifestations can vary, common signs include:

• Persistent anxiety or hypervigilance without an obvious cause

• Difficulty trusting others or forming secure relationships

• Emotional dysregulation or intense mood swings

• Guilt, shame, or self worth issues that feel “inherited”

• Repeating harmful relationship or coping patterns seen in previous generations

It’s important to note that not every child of a traumatised parent will experience trauma themselves. Protective factors such as supportive relationships, stable environments, and trauma-informed care can significantly buffer the effects.

Healing Intergenerational Trauma

Recovery involves recognising the patterns, understanding their origins, and developing new ways of relating—to self and others. Psychological therapies can play a powerful role in this process.

Evidence based approaches include:

• Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT): Helps individuals identify and reframe unhelpful beliefs or thoughts tied to trauma.

• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): A therapy designed to reduce the emotional distress associated with traumatic memories.

• Attachment based therapy: Focuses on repairing relational patterns and promoting emotional security.

• Family systems therapy: Works with intergenerational dynamics and helps families understand how inherited patterns affect current functioning.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, healing may also involve reconnection with culture, community, language, and land. Culturally safe and community-led services are essential for this process.

Moving Forward with Awareness and Compassion

Understanding intergenerational trauma can be a powerful step towards breaking cycles of pain and dysfunction. It invites compassion for ourselves and for those who came before us. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting the past—it means acknowledging it, giving it context, and choosing a different way forward.

Whether you’re someone affected by intergenerational trauma or a professional supporting others through it, remember that change is possible, and help is available. The past may shape us, but it doesn’t have to define our future.