Many times we find that struggles that our ancestors have endured, more recent relatives, and ourselves are the same struggle, just different people. There is a concept called intergenerational trauma in which the trauma experienced in a family gets passed on re-experienced throughout the generations and the affects are passed down as well to those in the family.
It is never easy to take on traumas that in some cases have been normalized in our family. In some families it may be uncontrolled anger, substance use disorder, or physical, emotional, psychological, financial, sexual abuse. It is repurposed in a dysfunctional way as a rights of passage or evidence that you are “strong enough” to be in the family. It often leaves us with the impossible choice of taking care of ourselves and healing versus being “loyal” to the family and holding the secret.
Choose healing, be the trauma interrupter in your life and family. Reach out to me if you need help in doing this.
Dr. Wanda Therapy and Consulting Services 